AN: I truly appreciate the comments I've received! I've responded to each and every one at the end of the chapter. You guys are the greatest!
Nothing deep here, nor will it be terribly long. Thanks for reading!
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Sammy talked in his sleep pretty much every night, so Dean had learned to tune it out years before. Now, he didn't wake up unless Sam's tone indicated fear or pain, or if he said Dean's name. So it took Dean a very tired few minutes to figure out what had woken him up.
Sam's voice was neither urgent nor worried, but it was insistent. "No," he said, sounding disgruntled. "'M not allowed to answer the door."
Sam repeated variations on the theme a few times. Dean rubbed his eyes and squinted at his brother. Sammy was frowning slightly, but his eyes were still closed. "Sammy?" Dean yawned. "Sammy, why are you talking about the door?"
Sam muttered incoherently. Dean shook his shoulder and Sammy gave an adorable scowl, scrunching his face up. "Sammy, why are you talking about the door?"
Sam finally opened his eyes and blinked at Dean as if he'd never seen him before. "Dean, make them stop knocking," he grumbled. "I wanna sweep."
Dean didn't hear anything, and he was really tired. "What knocking?"
Sam gave a very irritated sigh. "I'm not s'posed to answer the door."
Dean was puzzled, but he wasn't going to get anything more out of the tired tot tonight. "That's exactly right. Good job. Just go back to sleep, Sammy."
Sam scowled at Dean for one more second, obviously more asleep than awake. Then he pulled the covers over his head and curled up against Dean's chest with a sigh.
Dean chuckled softly. But it was a long time before he got back to sleep.
WINCHESTER * WINCHESTER
Chief Larsen accepted the help of the "feds" with fairly good grace. It didn't hurt that Susan from the diner was his sister-in-law. Or that the missing 6-year-old was his neighbor. He all but admitted he was overwhelmed.
Sam kept shooting glances at Dean, and he knew it was because he was playing so nice with the p.o. He felt for the chief, though, who was obviously suffering with the parents. Everyone knew that if the children were outside in this weather, they were dead.
There was something about the entire situation that was bothering Dean...well, something other than the fact that little kids were missing. But he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was.
The chief was just asking a deputy to make them copies of the files when Deputy Lindberg from the front desk burst into the office. She was an attractive blonde that Dean definitely would have flirted with if not for the feeling of desperation that hung heavy in the air.
Now, Lindberg's professionalism was gone. Eyes wide, she cried, "Chief, Missy is gone!"
Larsen jumped to his feet. "Another neighbor of mine. Four years old. You wanna come out? You'll want to take one of our SUVs." Dean nodded, Larsen tossed him some keys, and that fast they were following at least half the police force north of town.
"Sammy," whispered Dean, feeling just how surreal this was. "I'm driving a cop car. Lights flashing and everything."
Sam sent him a smile, but it was a little strained, given what has precipitated the situation.
"You'd have made a good cop," Sam said obviously to defuse the tension just a little.
"No need to be mean," Dean sniped, but his heart wasn't in the banter and they fell silent as they pulled up behind the other SUVs to a large brick house that was just shy of a mansion.
Despite the subzero temperatures, there were maybe 20 people on the expansive lawn. Larsen went up in Dean's estimation by quickly taking control of the scene and arranging for a search of the area. Without even looking at Sam, Dean knew they'd be joining. It didn't matter that they knew they'd be unlikely to find the child or that it made more logical sense to be researching what had taken her and the others. Sam wouldn't be able to walk away from the shell shocked parents without helping look. And, honestly? Dean was right there with him.
They weren't dressed for it, but that didn't matter either. Somebody found them anoraks, hats, heavy gloves, and even boots that fit them. By the time they were ready to search their sector, people had set up a station with hot coffee. Dean's anger burned at this...whatever this was stealing the children of these good, innocent people.
The house was one of about 15 atop a small rise that overlooked a heavily wooded area and a small lake. There were far too many places that a child could be, and you'd never see them until you were right on top of them.
"Where are the footprints?" asked Sam over the sound of their own steps crunching in the snow. Dean just shook his head. He'd had the same thought -- nobody could have crossed the fresh snow to get in or out of the house without leaving a completely obvious trail. It just pointed to a supernatural explanation all the more.
As they searched farther down the slope, a feeling of revulsion, even fear, swept over Dean. He didn't want to go near the iced over lake. No, he didn't want Sam near it.
He wasn't about to try and explain that to Mr. Independent, especially when he couldn't explain it himself. But he did find himself staying between Sam and the lake.
The third time they stopped into the house to warm up and check in, Sam and Dean found that they were the only ones still out searching. Larsen looked at them with new respect. "Thank you for your help, agents."
"What can you tell us?" Dean asked, sure the family wasn't up for an interview.
Larsen sighed. "At exactly 3am, the alarm system shut off. It's supposed to alert the police department if it's shut off without the code being entered, but it just shut down. The only fingerprints in there belong to the family. The front door was unlocked but closed, again no outside fingerprints. We're not even sure Missy could have reached the doorknob. Hers were the only footprints between the door and the gate, which she definitely could not have reached to unlock. But it was unlocked. There were three of Missy's footprints beyond the gate. Then they stopped."
The chief turned back to face them, his face suddenly vulnerable. "Tell me, agents, what do I do with that?" He cleared his throat and visibly calmed himself.
"You keep doing what you are doing," said Sam. "And let us talk to Jenna. I promise you we'll be gentle. Together, we'll get to the bottom of this."
Dean was so proud of his brother at that moment. The whole situation was a little surreal -- he couldn't ever remember being quite so cozy with law enforcement at any level, but Larsen seemed like a good man who really cared. And he was in over his head up against something that wasn't human. Sam was giving the chief support in his bleeding heart way. And yeah, Dean loved him for it.
Of course, he was still Sam's big brother. So as they drove back to the station to pick up the Impala, he had to comment. "You and the chief have quite the bromance going on. Did you want me to give you two some alone time or what?"
"You're an idiot," scowled Sam, rubbing his hands over the chilled skin of his face.
Dean smirked, but he couldn't hold it. Kids were missing. Something evil was out there. And beyond that, there was something about the entire case that was scratching at the back of Dean's brain, and it was making him twitchy.
Sam was side-eyeing him again, so Dean eyeballed him right back. "Man, we need to get you thawed out, Jack Frost. You look like an icicle."
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Timelady66: Okay, that made me laugh! Message received. I do think you're right about Dean as a kid...and it's a pet peeve of mine when they don't act their age. I'm glad you pointed it out. :-)
Shazza: I'm always so glad to have you reading! I'm happy that you're interested so far.
Iozzamingo: Oh thank you so much! I'm going to keep on with the story -- I didn't expect this response from a story idea that didn't initially blow my hair back. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Scealai: I'm always happy to see your name! Carrying on.
BruisedBloodyBroken: You gotta read what you like! But I'm happy you're around for the ride. LOL about the muse! You couldn't be more correct!
BitterSweetJoy: Oh, you are so very nice. Thank you so much!!!
sfaulkenberry: That's what I get for changing my mind about where to put this! It was going to be second season...then first...then second, and I just missed fixing it. Thank you for telling me so I could fix it. No coordinates from beyond the grave!
Blondie: Do you know me or what? :-) You know I love fitting in Weechesters whenever I can!
printandpolish: Yes, it is both! I'm in Michigan but have visited Minneapolis and Madison, WI many times, as well as places like Iron Mountain...but usually only in the summer.
bagelcat1: Do you really think I'd miss out on a chance for schmoop? hehe Thanks for reading and commenting!
writingtrainingwheels: Thank you! I was thinking of some work John could do at the house, and my dad used to do small engine repairs at night, so I had John doing the same thing...but maybe research would have been more in character.
MaddyWinchester2000: Thank you so much! You actually reminded me of something that I'm going to include down the line. I appreciate you reading and commenting!
Jenjoremy: I'm not sure anybody has ever said they love my brain before! *snicker* Your wish is my command, and I'll keep at it.
ChronicAlcoholic76: Thank you!!! You are very kind.
stedan: Thank you for your compliments and for reading even though it's still in process. I try to post at least one chapter per day.