Chapter 55
Wolf
Seasons they are turning and my sad heart is yearning
I hear again the songbird weep below his tone
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
The dusky light the day is losing
Orchards, poppies, black eyed Susan
The earth and sky that melts with flesh and bone
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
The air is thick and heavy all along the levee
Where the geese into the countryside have flown
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
Well, I'm preaching peace and harmony
The blessings of tranquility
Yet I know when the time is right to strike
I take you 'cross the river, dear
You no need to linger here
I know the kinds of things you like
The clouds are turning crimson, the leaves fall from the limbs and
The branches cast their shadows over stone
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
The boulevards of cypress trees, the masquerade of birds and bees
The petals blinking white, the wind has blown
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
The trailing moss in mystico, the purple blossom soft as snow
My tears keep flowing to the sea
Doctor, lawyer, indian chief, it takes a thief to catch a thief
For whom does the bell toll for, love?
It tolls for you and me
Old pulses running through my palm, the sharp hills are rising from
Yellow fields with twisted oaks that grow
Won't you meet me out in the moonlight alone
Moonlight by Bob Dylan
AN: This chapter was inspired by Heart from S2 of SPN. Really touching.
"Hello, detective." The Coroner greeted as Jack entered the morgue in Chicago, he and Grace got a case of possible werewolf attacks there, Sam and Dean was helping Garth in Junction City and Ellen and Jo was babysitting the kids which was Kane and Marie.
"Hey, Doc. You got a body?"
"Sure did." The M.D walked over to the compartment and opened the compartment to reveal a young man in his late 20's, well built. He had stitches on his chest, stomach, shoulders and his throat. Poor guy, it's a shame to see a life gets wasted.
"Damn, that's a pretty cruel bite." Jack commented,
"Yep, let me tell you ya. I've been a coroner for over 25 years, I thought I seen it all but clearly I was wrong." he replied,
"Obviously. Anyway, have you determined what bit him?" Jack asked,
"Not yet."
"Off the record?" The Coroner looked around to make sure that no one was here and hears of what he was about to say.
"I'd say the guy was attacked by a wolf. But unless I know that the zoo is missing one of their lobos, I'm going with pit bull." He then eyed Jack to make sure that he doesn't tell anyone. "I never said those words here, got that? I like my job."
"Loud and clear, Doc. By the way, this guy… does he have a heart missing?" Jack said,
"How did you know?" he asked surprised.
Jack shrugged, "Lucky guess."
Jack went back to his motel room where he and Grace was staying. She was cleaning her gun in living room with sliver bullets on the table.
"Did you find anything at the morgue? Was the DA the first?" Grace asked,
"Actually, the first guy. I took a little look at cases that were similar somehow and they were. Several men went missing over the past couple of years. The bodies washed up later in bay. No solid conclusions to figure it out who or what killed them." Jack replied as he sat down across her.
"Their hearts missing?"
"Uh,huh." Jack nodded, "they were all male escorts working at the south side of Chicago, specifically at Howard Street. At this moment, the cops are trying to keep things under control, but they're looking for a serial killer."
"Is there a lunar cycle?"
"Yes, month after month. All the murders happened in the week leading up to the full moon."
"Which happens to be this week with the dead DA?" Grace concluded;Jack nodded confirming the statement.
"Sweet." Grace grinned excited as she finished cleaning her gun.
"Huh, someone is in a good mood." Jack declared,
"Why can't I be? It's the first time we work on a case together without any help, just like old times. Besides it's been some time since we hunted a werewolf. "
"Okay, Crazie Gracie. No need to happy about it." Jack said, the nickname Crazie Gracie was mentioned the first when she got a bit trigger-happy on a hunt not long ago when they were teenagers.
"I'm just thrilled, that's all, Jackie. So what's our next move?"
"Talk to the guy who found the body."
"I don't get this. I already gave my statement." The guy who found the body, Mike said as he stood by the door to his apartment in front of Jack and Grace.
"We just need to verify some things." Jack said, then a pretty blonde girl from next door came out of her apartment and saw the exchange. Mike spotted
"This is my neighbor, Brenda. Brenda, this is Detective…"
"Bridge. And Detective Gilbert." Jack introduced him and Grace.
"Okay, I guess I'll leave you to it." Brenda replied, "See you later tonight."
"Yeah, I'll be there." They watched Brenda leave and headed to the elevator.
"She's nice, you know. Caring, kind. She dropped by the day after."
"We get it. Can we come in?" Jack asked, Mike led them in to the kitchen and sat down at the table.
"So, you knew Francis at the DA's office?" Jack questioned, that was the name of the body.
"Yeah, we've been working together for three years, now. He was a nice guy." Mike answered,
"So you knew all about him?"
"Pretty much. And a bit more."
"But?" Grace questioned, Mike sighed.
"To be honest, he was a womanizer. Hit everything that move in a heartbeat. You know the type."
"Yeah, I do actually." Grace agreed, when she met Dan, she thought that she met her match but that was not the case as time went by.
"Did he have any enemies?" Jack questioned,
"I thought that it was an animal attack." Mike said confused,
"We're just covering all the areas. Anyone who had a beef with him, an client or ex?" that put Mike in some thought and Grace noticed that.
"You know, now you mentioned it, there was somebody. My ex; Miranda Adams. after we broke up, she's been stalking me. She thinks that there's something between Brenda and I. It escalated to a fight at my apartment, luckily though it wasn't too serious."
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"It was the night when Francis died, actually. We were all grabbing drinks at this bar, and she showed up."
"And?"
"Nothing, she was just watching me. And then she was gone. It was a bit scary." Jack and Grace exchanged a look.
"What do you think?" Jack asked as they exited the apartment building and headed to the Mustang.
"Stalker ex-girlfriend? Well, she had a fight with the neighbor and she was there that night."
"You think that's she our whacked out doggy dog?"
"Possible. It's a theory, at least." Grace shrugged,
"We've had worse."
"True." Grace agreed,
"What say we pay Miranda a visit?" jack suggested as they stepped in to the Mustang and drove to Miranda's apartment.
When they got there, Jack and Grace went to the front door. it was locked.
"Got a lock pick?" Grace smirked, Jack chuckled as he took her arm and flung in to Miranda's apartment. There they looked around the place, Jack walked over to the kitchen approaching the fridge.
"Anything, bro?"
"Nothing." Jack shook his head as he opened the refrigerator, "just some leftovers and a bottle of wine." As he turned to the freezer a door opened, close and then a crash that was not far from them. Jack stepped out of sliding door and spotted claw marks running down to the ground.
"Grace!" Jack motioned her to come as she joined them, "See that?"
"Yeah, werewolf." Grace sighed, and then they heard a gunshot not far from them. They left the apartment and ran down to street where they found a officer clawed into pieces.
"Oh damnit. Grace, call 911." Jack sighed as they walked over to the dead officer.
"On it." Grace took out her cellphone and dialed in 911,"I think it's safe to say that Miranda is our chick Oz."
"Yeah, if she's out there, that means Mike is in big trouble." Jack concluded; they were in for a wild ride.
The next day they were in front of Mike's front door, the Cahills knocked on the door that caused Brenda to come out of her apartment to see what's taking place
"What's going on?" she asked,
"Police business." Jack answered, Mike opened the door to answer it.
"What is it?" Mike asked,
"We need to talk… privately." Jack replied glancing at Brenda. He let them in to the kitchen.
"Do you want some coffee?" Mike asked,
Jack shook his head, no. "Has Miranda been here?"
"Hmm, not really."
"What do you mean?"
"She was outside last night. Just… Looking." The Cahill's exchanged a knowing look and Mike noticed that, "Has she done something?"
"We're not sure but we just don't wanna take any chances… so, one of us should stay here in case she stops by. Where does she work?" Grace asked,
"She works at a local bar downtown. I can get the address if you want."
"That would be great, Mike." He nodded and left to get the address.
"Who's going to stay?" Grace asked,
"We settle this like we always do." Jack made a fist, rock paper, scissors. One two three, Jack had paper while Grace went for scissors.
"Ah, come on." Jack groaned,
"I'm still undefeated, Jackie. Ok, two of out three." They did it once again and once again, Grace won.
"Damnit. Why do you have to stay here?"
"Because I'm older, wiser and sexier." Grace smirked,
"Whatever." Jack rolled his eyes as Mike went back to them with a note that contained the address.
Later that afternoon, Grace went to buy some takeout from a local restaurant nearby when she walked up on Mike wearing a towel as he came out of the bathroom and he had a nice physique. Grace froze in spot and stared with her mouth open in awe.
"See something you like?" Mike teased with a grin on his face, Grace shook her head snapping out of it as her cheeks turned red in embarrassment and murmured "sorry" looking down.
"I ordered some food downtown, if you don't mind of course."
"Sure, let me put some clothes on first." Mike replied as he headed to his bedroom, Grace put the food at the kitchen and stood still for a moment trying to process of what she just saw.
"Oh my God." Grace groaned as she covered her face with her hands as her cheeks again turned red, just then her cellphone ringed and she went to answer the call.
"Yeah."
"Let me guess, you saw Mike naked, didn't ya?" Jack stated,
"How did you…"
"It's not the first time that happened. Remember the german exchange student at high school? Rumor had it, you visited the boys locker room to see him and gave his lederhosen a wild ride."
"Shut up, bro." Grace shook her head, "So, did you find her?"
"Nope, went to the bar she was working at, the manager told me that she hadn't been there all week, but I might have a clue of where she might be."
"That's good, call me when you find her." Grace ended then sighed heavily,
"Poor me."
"Haha, are you actually saying that Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time?" Grace asked as she and Mike ate the order she got from the local restaurant in the kitchen.
"No, I'm not saying the greatest. I meant one of the greatest, ever." Mike replied,
"If you say so. I can think of many legends in NFL but if I have to pick one, it'll have to be Lawrence Taylor. One of the best Linebackers ever."
"I agree to that statement." Mike agreed,
She giggled a bit, "You know, can I ask you a question? It's – it's a little bit personal."
"You got my un-dived attention. Go ahead." Mike said, allowing it.
"What were you doing with Miranda?" Grace asked, Mike chuckled bitterly at that.
"I don't know. I mean, it's not like she introduced herself like "Hi, I'm possessive and controlling and I like to follow people. Wanna be my boy-toy?"
"Well, we all make mistakes."
"Yeah, well, mine's wanted by the cops. You wanna know why I stayed with her? Really?" She nodded urging him to tell her why, "I was too insecure to leave."
"I doubt that. You seems to be a strong character to me." She stated,
"Yeah, well, some stuff happened. My life changed, I changed. For the better."
"What happened?" Grace asked curious,
"I got robbed by a girl."
"Really?" Grace laughed a bit , "A girl?"
Mike chuckled, "I know, ha ha. And don't get me wrong, it embarrassed the hell out of me. But then it hit me. I could keep feeling sorry for myself, or I could take control of my life. I chose the latter. First thing I did was tell Miranda that she had to go."
"Good for you." She nodded in approval, she went through the same thing with Dan so there was something that she could relate to. She was too scared to leave because of him but one day she had enough and she left him with Marie. It was a great decision for her in the long run.
"I felt good for the first time in a very long time, you know."
"Wow, you're a bit unusual." Grace commented,
"Unusual, like…" Mike pointed his finger to the head
"No, no. Unusual, like…impressive." Grace assured,
"You think so?" as she was about to answer, her phone ringed ruining the moment.
she smiled apologetically at him when she picked up the phone.
"I found her." Jack told her,
"Good, don't take your eyes off her at all times."
"Don't worry, Gracie. My eyes are glued, catch you later." Jack hung up.
Later that night, Jack followed Miranda to her house not far from town. He waited outside gunready for the werewolf to show up when he heard glass shatter inside and then the lights went off.
"That can't be good." Jack muttered as he ran to the house and burst through the door and saw the werewolf hovering over Miranda's mauled body. It turned towards him whose eyes widened in shock; it was Mike. His eyes had turned an electric blue, and her teeth have turned to bloody fangs. Growling, he lunged at Jack who sidestepped and cut him on his arm. Mike hissed in pain as he jumped out of the window and left.
An hour later, Jack was on his way back to Mike's apartment.
"Oh, man." Jack shook his head, "Grace is not going to like this."
Jack pulled out his cellphone and called his sister.
"Jack, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Listen, the werewolf isn't Miranda. It's Mike. I found him eating her like a subway sandwich."
"What?"
"Yeah, great job of keeping an eye on him."
"Jack, I've been here the whole time. He's asleep."
"He wasn't an hour ago. Check his right arm below his elbow. I cut him with a sliver knife." He hung up.
Mike woke up in his and noticed that he was naked, covered only by bed sheets. Grace noticed the wound on his arm,
"Where is my shirt?" Mike asked and then spotted Grace who was upset and hurt in his bedroom. "Grace? What's going on?" Grace left the room and went to the front door with Mike following. "are you going somewhere?"
She wasn't as she locked the front door and turned to Mike. "I'm not going anywhere and neither are you."
Jack knocked on the door to Mike's apartment and Grace opened to let him in to see Mike tied to a chair.
"How you doin'? My head feels great, thanks." Jack said sarcastically,
"We need to talk." Grace said and she led Jack to another for a private conversation. "He has no clue of what I'm saying to him. He thinks that I'm crazy."
"He could be lying, you know." Jack argued,
"Maybe, or he isn't. He is totally oblivious about his turning. Doesn't remember a thing." Grace countered,
"I don't know, killing his colleague and the crazy ex doesn't sound rash and unconscious."
"Yeah but still…"
"Still, he's a werewolf. Even if it means that he's telling the truth, there's nothing much he can do about."
"I'm not going to put a bullet into his chest." She shook his head no,
"However, there might be another way we can get the job done without having to kill him."
"Really? How?" Jack asked,
"I read a bit of John Winchesters journal. Uh, his theory was that if you kill the werewolf who bit you, you return to normal."
"Really, does it really work?"
"In theory." Grace shrugged, sheepishly.
"Great." Jack sighed unhappy about it.
"It's worth a shot."
"We don't even know where to start looking, all right?"
"Actually we do." Grace led him back to the living room where Mike was at still tied up.
"Mike, when were you robbed? Please. It's important, all right? Just answer the question
"About a month ago." Mike replied with a sour look
"Did you see the perpetrator?"
"No, she attacked me from behind."
"Did she bite you?"
Mike looked at her with a surprised look on his face, "How did you know that?"
"Where?"
"On the back of my neck." Mike leaned his head a little exposing a scarred lump that was the size of a golf ball.
"Oh, that is a serious hickey. Believe me, it could have been a lot worse. Where were you at the time?" Jack asked, grimacing
"Walking home from a buddy's loft". Mike replied,
"Let me guess. Not too far from Howard Street?" Mike nodded, Grace glanced at Jack with a look which he recognized quickly. It was hunting time.
Jack stood at Howard Street anticipating the werewolf while Grace were watching Mike in his apartment, Jack wasn't agreeable on it thinking that Grace is emotionally involved with Mike but she assured him that she's not. Then he heard a man gasp in horror not far from him. He followed the noise to a backalley where he saw a man in suits running away for his life from the werewolf. As the wolf was about to kill him, Jack pulled out his gun that was loaded with sliver bullets and aimed at the wolf.
"Hey!" Jack called it out, as the werewolf looked up to him; he shot the werewolf straight to the heart three times. The man in suit stood up and glanced at Jack.
"Go!" Jack ordered, the man wasted no time doing that. Jack walked over the dying wolf and kneeled down. Her eyes returned to normal as the fangs retracted. It was Brenda, the next-door neighbor.
"Help me. What's happening?" She asked pleading
"Brenda, you're going to be ok. Just hold on." but it was too late as she let out a dying moan as her heart stopped beating minutes later.
Jack sighed as he closed her eyes. She was dead.
In morning, Mike woke up in his bedroom and saw Grace by the bed. He surveyed the bedroom and saw furniture that was overturned, and there are claw marks covering every inch of the walls.
"It should be over now. You'll never see me again. Goodbye Mike." Grace said as she stood up and left the bedroom. She left the apartment and stood by the door trying so hard not to cry right now. Not now, not ever.
"It was a little sad, you know. Brenda had no clue of what was going on." Jack told Grace as they were in the Mustang outside of Mike's apartment building, "Hey, why do you think she turned Mike instead of just killing him in the first place?."
"I don't know. I mean, she kind of seemed to have a thing for him." Grace said looking up at the apartment building
"Probably, maybe her primal instinct did, too."
"Yeah. Something like that."
"So speaking of Mike." Jack teased which Grace frowned at him.
"Please don't…"
"No, no. Don't please me, sis. You liked him, he's the first guy you got romantically involved with since Dan."
"Jack, he thought I was a crazy chick."
"You saved his life." Jack pointed out ,
"He doesn't know that." Grace countered, then sighed sadly. Just then Mike appeared at the car window.
"You know, for a stake-out, your car's a bit eye-catching." Jack and Grace shrugged, saying maybe. "What are you still doing here?"
"To be honest, uh, we're pretty sure you're not gonna wolf out tonight. But we've gotta be a hundred percent, so…you know, we're lurking." Jack said,
"I know this sounds crazy." Grace added,
"I'm pretty sure it does. Well, if we're gonna wait it out…we might as well do it together."
"You were telling the truth, weren't you? About everything. What you did... it was to help me." Mike said as they went back into his apartment.
"Yeah." Grace replied quietly.
"I did all of those horrible things…when I turned."
"You didn't know."
Mike exhaled as he took a deep breath trying to understand of what he just learned, "So, when will we know for sure? Moonrise?"
"No, I don't think so. You turned middle of the night last night. I think we've gotta hang in until sun-up."
"Well, looks like we got ourselves some free time." Jack stated, "Poker?"
They stayed in his apartment through the moonrise in the night, hanging out and some hours later they watched the sun rise. No signs of wolf turning for Mike, which meant only one thing: he was cured.
"Did it work, guys?" Mike asked, hoping.
"Yeah, I think so. " Grace answered, relieved.
"Thank you, Grace." Mike thanked him and turned to Jack,"You too Jack."
"No problem." Jack shrugged, then he left the apartment knowing that these two are going to have a private moment.
"Listen, Mike…" Grace began,
"It's all right." Mike interrupted,
"No, not really.. I know I scared the crap out of you, all right? I mean, I tied you to a chair."
"That's right up there with me scratching up your face."
"There's just no way we could go back, you know? Before it happened." Grace told him the truth. Mike was a good guy but they can't be together as much as they want to.
"You're right. There's just no way." They stood there for a moment or two in their spots,
"Oh, to hell with it." Grace sighed as she gave in to the temptation kissing Mike passionate, he immediately responded the by kiss lifting Grace up and pushed her against the wall. They went to the bedroom striping their clothes off. All the frustration was being released by having passionate sex. A few hours later, they were sleeping in bed together, completely content with each other.
The next morning, Grace woke up smiling as she sat up, she had one of her best nights ever in her life. But her delight was about to turn to shock when she saw Mike by the window in his werewolf form. But before she had a chance to catch him he escaped by jumping through the window leaving her stunned.
After she got dressed, she ran to her motel room and banged on the door. Jack answered it.
"He turned." Grace said, catching her breath.
"What?" Jack asked
"I couldn't grab him in time."
"We'll find him, Gracie." Jack assured his big sister as he went to get his jacket that was on the table. Once he put it on, they left the motel and went to the Mustang.
"I called Dean. he's got nothing except he knew that severing the bloodline wouldn't work. He already tried that theory."
"So how come he didn't turn when we were with him?"
"Yeah, about that." Grace said sheepishly, Jack realized that tone, she only does that when she's about to tell him something embarrassing .
"You didn't sleep with him, did ya?" Grace laughed nervously, Jack groaned when he got the answer.
"Well, now we know how he wolfs out. He has to be asleep." Jack said with a pointed look to Grace who avoided his gaze.
"Look, we've gotta find some way to help him, some legend we missed or something." Grace said,
"Even if there was, don't you think that some we know would tell us about it?" Jack asked the obvious,
"Well, we have to look harder then." Grace replied, Jack sighed sadly at that.
"Gracie I hate to say this, but… I don't think that we have any other option. I mean, he's a nice guy but there's a part of him that is evil."
"No, no." Grace shook her, not wanting to believe this.
"I'm sorry but it is true." Just then Grace's cellphone ringed, she went to answer it.
"Grace?"
"Mike, where are you?" Grace asked,
"I don't – I don't – I don't know where I am."
"Well, do you see any street signs?"
"Uh…yeah, yeah. West Adams Street."
"Ok, We're coming to get you, just stay where you are." Grace told him,
After they picked up Mike and headed back to his apartment. There they sat down in the living room with a gun on the table that was loaded with sliver bullets. They stared at it for a long time.
"I don't remember anything. I probably killed someone last night, didn't I?" Mike said,
"We don't know that for sure." Jack replied,
"Is there something else we can try to make it go away?"
"We'll find something. I mean, there's gotta be, right?" Grace assured Mike or herself.
"That's not exactly true, Mike. You deserve to know this. " Jack said as he was about to break the bad news."We've scoured every source. There's just no cure."
"Is he right, Grace?" Mike asked Grace about it, she stood up and walked away getting emotional right now. She will not let them to see her cry.
"Well, we could lock you up at night, but…when you bust out, and some night you will, someone else dies. I'm sorry. I am." Jack told him honest,
"Well, I guess this is it." Mike said,
"Don't talk like that, please." Grace said,
"I don't wanna hurt anyone else. I don't want to hurt you, Grace. "Mike grabbed the gun and brought it to her who was on the verge of tears right now.
"I can't do it myself. I need you to help me."
"Mike. no." Grace shook her head
"Grace…I'm a monster." Mike smiled sadly,
"You're not to me. There's has to be another way, right."
"You tried. I know you tried. But this is all there is left. Help me, Grace."
"I-I can't." Grace stuttered,
"I can't live like this. This is the way you can save me. Please. I'm asking you to save me." She shook her head no as silent tears were pouring now, Jack walked over to them and carefully took the gun from Mike. Jack led his sister into another room.
"I'm sorry, Grace." Jack said looking sympathetic
"He's right, you're right." Grace replied,
"Gracie, I got this."
"He asked me to."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Please." Grace begged, holding out her hand. Jack gave the gun to her and she walked back to the living room aiming the gun at Mike. Jack flinched as he heard a single gunshot. A few moments later, Grace returned and walked over to Jack. She broke down as she went on her knees sobbing, Jack rushed to her aid and hugged his sister, letting her cry into his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Grace." Jack said over and over again comforting his big sister as a tear of his own strolled down his cheek.
Hasn't she been through enough as it is? But then again, when do the Cahill's ever catch a break?
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way
Through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven.
Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please, begging please.
Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
