A/N: Here we are my dear readers, the end of the line, the last letter, the last short story. I hope you have enjoyed this journey and will come back for my next story that I will be posting next week called 'Changed, But Still Me'. I would love to know what letter you liked the best. A couple of my favorites to write were D, M, S and T,U. I enjoyed taking the brothers back to their youth to do a hunt. As always, the second part will be posted on Sunday and we will put this story to bed. Thank you guest Kathy for your continued reviews. It would make my day to get reviews; if you have a moment please leave one. North Carolina will be on a Stay At Home mandate starting Monday. Stay safe wherever you are. NC


Z

Part I

The young woman stood by the bodies draped in white sheets and sobbed quietly begging for it to be a bad dream, for none of this to be real. This was all her fault, if she had not been arguing with her parents, her Dad would have seen the deer running into the road and could have avoided it. But instead, the impact caused the deer's body to smash through the windshield; its antlers piercing her Mom's chest, going through her heart, killing her almost instantly.

Her Dad's reflexive, panicked jerking of the wheel sent the car into a spin on the wet pavement and over the steep embankment, where the airbag failed to inflate and his head was rocketed forward and then backward with such force, it broke his neck and his chest was crushed into the steering wheel, as the car impacted with the huge trees, killing him in a matter of seconds.

She had survived with only minor injuries and crawled from the car to the road above flagging down help, but it was too late for her parents. She knew without being told that they were dead, and it had been ruled an accident by the local highway patrol that found the body of deer near the car where it had been thrown.

"Miss," a kind voice spoke to her. "We need to move the bodies, is there some one we can call for you?" the coroner asked laying a warm hand on her cold arm.

"No," she whispered. "I have no one else." She watched the techs push the gurneys away and could not accept this was it for them. They were both still young and had a full life ahead of them. An idea started to build in her mind, and she knew what she had to do. "I will need to make the funeral arrangements, but it may take me several days. Will you keep the bodies here until I contact you?"

"Yes, my dear. Take your time and let me know when things are in place. There is no need for autopsies since this was a traffic accident and no other vehicles were involved. I will keep them in storage until you are ready."

"Thank you, you are too kind."

Aurora turned to leave, casting her eyes one more time to her parents and whispering in her mind she was going to make this right. She headed back to her one-bedroom apartment and got online to begin her search. A yellow legal pad sat beside it so she could take notes. Aurora was a highly intelligent woman that graduated college at the age of twenty. Her parents helped her rent her apartment when she didn't want to stay with them any longer. She wanted her freedom to spread her wings and soar.

Upon graduation, she had found a job as a computer software consultant and was loving it. It was like it was in her blood, anything to do with computers came naturally to her. She remembered from one of her classes how the Greeks used necromancy to supposedly bring people back to life and was going to research the ritual and see what it entailed and if she could do it. Her only desire was to bring her parents back to her.

It was hours later that Aurora sat back and rubbed her burning, scratchy eyes and looked at the notes she had taken. She needed to visit the library on campus and find a shop that sold herbs and crystals that she needed for the ritual. It wasn't as complicated as she expected and knew she could do it. After making a list of what she needed, Aurora grabbed her jacket, wallet, and keys before heading back out. She knew the library stayed open until ten pm and she still had a library card so she could check books out.

Aurora's car was parked in her designated spot and she climbed into her Toyota Corolla and cranked it to pull out and head across town to the campus. Her college professor touched briefly on necromancy and how it was used, but she intended to delve deeper, as deep as she needed to give her parents a second chance at life.

spn

The library parking lot was not very full, and Aurora found a decent space near the front doors. She parked and got out to head inside going directly to a computer terminal. She began typing, looking for books she needed and writing down the call numbers before heading into the racks to find the books. There were several books that were in the reference section and couldn't be removed from the library. She got a form to fill out requesting certain books thinking making a copy of the pages needed would have to do.

Aurora found a quiet place and began to scan the books taking notes. She lucked out on the fifth book that was an old, tome on black magic that had an entire chapter on necromancy and gave her the information she needed. She was sure no one knew how powerful the book was and made sure no one was looking when she slipped it into her pack. She wasn't above stealing if it got her what she needed.

After searching the other books, Aurora took them to the return cart and left them. She hurried from the room and snuck out a different exit so not to set off an alarm with the book in her pack. She ran for her car and headed to the business section of Litchfield to find a new age shop and was going to check out an occult shop while there. She was sure between the two of them, she could get what she needed.

Time was not on her side and she wanted to get the ritual done as soon as possible because Aurora knew that her parent's bodies were decaying and she couldn't stop that, but hoped when they came back it would stop the process or at least slow it down until she could find a way to reverse it or stop it.

spn

The store owner picked up the piece of paper and looked over items on it and looked back up arching an eyebrow at Aurora.

"What are you planning on doing with these things?" she asked skeptically since this wasn't her usual request from customers.

"Science project," Aurora shrugged hoping she wasn't going to ask too many questionings.

The owner gave her a once over before picking up the list and disappearing into the back through a curtained opening.

Aurora looked around at some of the things on display noting voodoo and hoodoo objects, crystals, figurines, all kinds of books, all of it more for tourist than the real practitioners of the dark arts. She was sure the good stuff was kept in back away from prying eyes. She walked around the store as she waited for the owner to return. Aurora picked up some polished stones and turned them in her hand feeling the coldness and smoothness of them. She looked up fifteen minutes later when the owner stepped back out carrying a brown paper bag.

"Did you have everything on the list?" she asked hopefully.

"I did," she stated. "I don't know what you are planning, but you need to very careful," she cautioned Aurora.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Two hundred and thirty-five dollars."

Aurora pulled out a charge card to pay for the purchases. It was a small price to pay if she could bring her parents back. She waited as the owner ran the card and had her sign the screen. She printed out a receipt for Aurora and dropped it into the bag.

"You shouldn't be messing with things you know nothing about," she told Aurora handing her the bag.

"I'll be fine," she answered taking the bag and hurrying from the store with it clutched tightly to her chest. Her car was parked several blocks away and she kept her head down and walked down the sidewalk dodging other people. Once Aurora got back to her car, she unlocked the driver's door and dropped into the seat, letting out the breath she was holding. She had what she needed to perform the ritual, now all she needed was to retrieve the bodies and take them to a private place to do it. She needed a van and could rent one of those.

Her parent's home had a large basement and would be the perfect place for her to set up and keep them. Once she had it cleaned and furnished, she could bring them there. Her plan was moving on to the next phase and she was getting excited. She was one more step closer.

spn

Aurora had cleared out a section of the basement and set up sawhorses for the caskets. She had gone to a funeral home and paid the owner a substantial amount of money to pick up her parents and bring them to their house. They were put in the heavy cardboard caskets that were used for cremation and brought in through the basement door to be left on the sawhorses. She was going to have a fake funeral and bury empty caskets so no one would think anything was suspicious.

After gathering her notes and the tome she had stolen from the library, Aurora set about preparing for the ritual. She took a heavy marker and began to draw the Greek symbols on the inside lid of her mother's coffin, double checking that she was making them right. She was going to start with her Mom and then once she saw if it worked, bring back her father.

It almost made her sick to stitch the wound on her mother's chest closed and put a pad over it after reading any wounds sustained during death would not heal and might leak fluids as the body continued to deteriorate. She didn't like the sound of that and was going to research a way to stop it.

Once the Greek symbols were done and the casket sealed, Aurora took the bag of magical ingredients, sitting up an altar between the caskets. She referred to the tome and the ritual as she began to mix the ingredients in a metal bowl. The last thing she added was her own blood, before tossing a match into it and chanting in Latin the spell.

The flame caught and a burst of fire shot from the bowl as plumes of black rolling smoke started filling the room. Aurora coughed and covered her mouth wondering if she had done something wrong. Without warning, the smoke started swirling and spinning before it found the casket with her mother and was absorbed into it. The flames died and the smoke disappeared, leaving Aurora unsure of what just happened. She didn't know how long the entire process would take and moved to a chair to sit down. All her energy was drained from her and she felt exhaustion clouding her mind. Aurora couldn't help it as she nodded off, not able to stay awake any longer.

Aurora jerked awake when she heard crashing and someone crying out in fright. She sprang to her feet and found her mother standing by her casket looking around in shock. Aurora had dressed her in cotton pants and one of her favorite blouses. Her face was pale like she hadn't seen the sun in a very long time. She looked confused and lost as she looked around the room and over to her daughter.

"Mom?" Aurora called to her moving slowly so not to startle her.

"Aurora, what is happening? Why am I in the basement? And what are these caskets doing here?"

"It's okay Mom. Why don't you just sit down over here and rest. I'll explain everything to you." Aurora led her mother to a chair and sat her down. She cupped her face in her hands as tears began to roll down her cheek. "Mom, I love you so much," she cried wrapping her arms around her cold body.

"I love you too dear."

spn

Dean walked into the library to find his brother on his laptop and looked around for Castiel and Jack. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that they had Castiel back because Jack wished it.

"Hey, where's Castiel and Jack?"

"Castiel took Jack out for a walk in the woods to get him to relax. He thought it would help him with accessing his powers."

"Alright. What are you doing?"

"I think I've found a case," Sam told him turning his laptop so he could see the article he found.

"How 'bout giving me the cliff notes?"

"There's been three deaths in Worthington, Minnesota. All three claimed to have seen a ghost just before their deaths."

"Worth checking out, I guess."

"It's not that far, a little over six hours and when we're done, we could go by and see Jody and the girls," Sam offered.

"Yeah, and maybe Jody will invite us for a meal."

"I knew you wouldn't pass up a homecooked meal," Sam laughed. "What about Cas and Jack?"

"They can stay here and…Bond. Besides, it would probably do Cas some good to have a little downtime since he's just back from the dead."

"It'll be like old times, just you and me on a hunt then," Sam replied. "You know we haven't had one of those in a while. Maybe this will be like before everything went to crap, a simple salt and burn."

"Yeah, it'll be nice. I'll text Cas and let him know we're heading out and to stay near the bunker. Is there enough food here for Jack? You know how he eats, and Cas will probably join him." Dean pulled his cell out and started typing a text to Castiel.

"I just made a food run two days ago; they should be good."

"Well then, let's pack, I'll meet you at the car."

Sam closed his laptop and packed it away before getting up to head for his room to get ready. It felt good to be working a case with Dean like the old days. Those were simpler times when they didn't have to deal with super monsters, God, the Darkness, angels falling, the Devil being released, Leviathan, British Men of Letters invasion, discovering alternate worlds, and now, raising the devil's son. Their lives were so messed up, it would be good to have a simple hunt like they were raised to do.

Twenty minutes later, Dean and Sam were barreling down the interstate toward Worthington, Minnesota. It would be late by the time they got there, so, they would get a room and start working the case the next day.

Sam had pulled up and printed files on everything he could hack into from the locals before they left and was going over it while they still had light to see. He glanced up for a moment listening to the engine roar on the Impala and smiled to himself. The sound never got old and he looked over at his brother as he tapped his fingers to the beat of the music playing on the radio. This was like how it used to be except they were younger, not as scarred and with a lot less burdens to bear on their shoulders. He went back to studying the reports lost in his thoughts as the Impala sped down the roadway.

spn

Dean decided to stop at a family run motel at the town limits and sent Sam in to get a room. He waited outside as he watched his brother through the window filling out a card, paying, and getting a room key. He followed Sam around the side of the office building and to a corner room near the exit. It seemed old habits never died, and they fell automatically back into their roles with ease.

"You want the bathroom first?" Sam asked as he sat his bag on the bed away from the door.

"Yeah, it'll give you more time to do your primping before bed," Dean teased digging out his bathroom bag and heading into the bathroom.

Sam gave him a bitch face and rolled his eyes at his remark as he got out his own bathroom bag and some cotton pants to sleep in. He looked around for the remote to turn on the television to watch while he waited. He ran across Dr. Sexy, MD and knew Dean would want to watch it so he left it there. Dean was out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later and dropped onto his bed with a happy sigh when he saw what Sam was watching. Sam gathered his things and headed into the bathroom to do his routine so he could go to bed.

The only noise in the room when Sam came out of the bathroom was the low voices coming from the television and the soft snores coming from Dean, who was asleep. Sam was careful as he reached to gently pulled the remote from his hand making him roll over and mumble something in his sleep. Sam froze until he was sure Dean wasn't going to wake up before stepping back and going to his own bed. He slipped under the covers and settled before turning off the television and the lamp between their beds. He let the even breathing of his brother lull him to sleep.

spn

"Wake up," a male voice called to Sam as his leg was slapped pulling him from a dream and he raised his head to look bleary eyed at his brother. It seemed morning came quicker when they were working.

"'m up," Sam slurred dropping his head back to the pillow and closing his eyes again.

"Sure, you are," Dean said sarcastically. He grabbed the covers and gave them a jerk, pulling all them off Sam's prone body, making him whine and reach around searching for them. "Do I have to pull out the cold water?" Dean threatened.

"Okay! Okay," Sam insisted pushing his body to a sitting position and swinging his legs to the side. He sat on the side of the bed and looked over at his brother who was dressed and moving around the room.

"Get your suit on so we can get breakfast and visit the locals," Dean told him glancing his way to be sure he was actually awake.

"Riiii-tttt…" Sam yawned, and he stretched his arms out and rolled his shoulders.

"Gee, like looking at the Grand Canyon," Dean noted watching Sam yawn widely.

"Jerk," Sam mumbled getting up to grab his suit bag and make his way to the bathroom.

"Don't take all day in there, bitch," Dean told him.

Sam pushed the door shut with his butt and turned on the water to get a quick shower. He checked his face trying to decide if he needed to shave or if he could get by another day. He ran his hand over his jaw and thought he could wait another day. He dropped his clothes on the floor and stepped under the hot spray, letting it beat on his head and wet his hair. He knew Dean would have a cow if he didn't speed it up and didn't take the time to enjoy the shower. He quickly shampooed his hair and soaped his body before rinsing. He shut the water off and grabbed a towel to dry off. He put on his clothes and dried his hair with the towel before running his fingers through it. He took one more look at his reflection before picking up his clothes and opening the door.

"'bout time," Dean commented. He grabbed the room key and car keys before heading to the door not checking to see if Sam was following.

Sam huffed at him and dropped his clothes on his duffle before finding his boots and putting them on. He adjusted his suit jacket and hurried out after his brother hoping he wasn't getting left behind. He found Dean waiting with the car running as he barely got the door closed before he pulled out. He didn't say anything sensing Dean was starting to get into the hunt. It was feeling like old times.

spn

After breakfast at the diner down the street, they went in search of the local sheriff department to see if they had additional information on the cases. Dean pulled into the parking lot and into a visitor's space, stopping the Impala, then cutting the engine. They got out and headed for the entrance.

It was set up like most stations they had been in over the years with a front desk and deputy manning it. They stopped at the desk and waited for him to look up and acknowledge them.

"Yes, can I help you?" the deputy asked.

"FBI, Agents Wilson and Platte. We'd like to see your sheriff." Dean replied flashing his badge as Sam did the same.

The deputy looked them up and down for a moment before picking up his phone and pressing a couple of buttons. He mumbled some words and listened before hanging up.

"You can have a seat; the sheriff will be out in a moment."

"Thanks," Sam nodded looking and seeing the plastic chairs against one wall. He moved with Dean to take a seat and wait for the sheriff.

Ten minutes later, an older, gray haired man in uniform stepped from a door behind the desk and stepped to the brothers.

"Good morning, I'm Sheriff Watson, how can I help the FBI?"

"Agents Wilson and Platte. Can we talk somewhere private?" Dean asked glancing at the deputy who was not hiding he was listening to them.

"Of course, we can talk in my office. If you'll follow me," he told them leading the brothers through the door and to the squad room. There was a corner office to the back that he led them to, motioning to two chairs in front of his desk as he moved around it to sit down.

"My partner and I were sent to help with the investigation on the recent murders you've had in your town," Dean told him.

"Funny, I don't remember asking for any help with that."

"We just go where our boss sends us," Sam shrugged. "He doesn't like being questioned about his orders."

"Well, you're here, maybe you can shed some new light on the cases," he sighed sitting back in his desk chair. "I gotta tell you this one is a strange one. I have statements from one spouse and friends of another victim that said they were being haunted. It seems something was following them just before their deaths."

Dean and Sam looked at each other for a moment, silently communicating.

"Was there anything else odd about cases?" Sam asked.

"We couldn't find any evidence of the killer. No DNA, no fingerprints, no hairs, no murder weapon. My CSI guys are at a lost to what could have killed them."

"Could we get copies of your reports and interviews?" Sam asked. "We may want to follow up with the witnesses."

"Of course, I'll have one of my deputies get that for you."

"If you want to put it on a flash drive will be fine."

"Alright, better get Sally to do it. She's more computer savvy than some of the others are." He picked up his desk phone and press a couple of buttons before talking with they assumed was Sally.

"Are there any connections with the victims?" Dean asked.

"Well, they knew each other by sight, it is a small town. But they weren't best friends or anything."

"We'll need to see the bodies too."

"Morgues in the basement hospital. I call Doc Roberts and let him know you'll be stopping by. If you do find out more details on anything, I expect you will let me know."

"We will and if you learn more, here's my card with my number," Sam replied pulling a card from his pocket and giving to the sheriff.

"Alright," he said looking at the card for a moment before placing it on his desk.

"Which way to the hospital Sheriff?" Dean asked seeing their conversation was over.

"Take a right out of the parking lot, go through two stop lights and turn left. You'll see it on the right about four miles down that street."

"Thanks, should we wait out front for the records?"

"That'll be fine, I'll have Sally bring the drive out to you. You agents have a nice day."

"You do the same Sheriff."

Dean and Sam stood and shook the sheriff's hand before letting themselves out of his office. They headed to the door leading to the front to wait. It wasn't long before a woman in uniform stepped out and glanced at them, before smiling.

"Hi, I'm Sally, here's what you wanted," she told them holding out the drive.

"Thank you Sally," Dean purred giving her his best smile. "Maybe I'll be seeing you around."

"You never know," she replied arching an eyebrow as she looked him over.

Sam nodded to her and took the drive, giving his brother a slight push toward the door. Now wasn't the time for Dean to be hooking up while they were still working the case. Dean frowned at him but headed out the door with Sam close behind him.

"What's the rush?" Dean complained as he headed for the car.

"You can hook up later Dean. Right now, we need to go see the bodies and try to find the witnesses to talk to so maybe, we know what we're hunting."

"Spoil sport," Dean grunted at him as he dropped into the driver's seat.

"You remember the directions the sheriff gave for the hospital?" Sam asked as he grabbed his computer bag from the back. He took out his laptop and opened it, letting it boot up. Once the flash drive was plugged in, he brought up the reports and scanned through them to find the names of the witnesses, writing them down along with addresses and phone numbers.

"Yep," Dean replied pulling out and turning right onto the street. He followed the directions and pulled on the road the hospital was on. He followed the signs around to the side of the building and found the back entrance. Once he found a parking spot, they got out and headed inside to find the morgue.

"After this, we can track down these witnesses and see if we can get more info about the hauntings."

"Sounds like a plan," Dean nodded as they walked down the hall in search of the morgue.