After dinner and helping to clean up around the kitchen Sam and Dean decided they were both exhausted after the long day spent driving and bid Starina and Donovan goodnight before heading back upstairs to the guestroom. The power was still out so they had to borrow the kerosene lamp to see by while they got ready for bed. While Sam was in the bathroom brushing his teeth Dean pulled back the covers on his bed and lay down but he found himself unable to relax. Something had been nagging at him since Starina had told them she was an Empath but he couldn't quite place what it was.

"Something on your mind, Dean?" Sam asked as he exited the bathroom.

Dean shook his head. "I dunno Sam, something doesn't feel right," he admitted.

"Like what?" Sam frowned a little, setting the lamp on the bedside table between the two beds and sitting down.

"Starina says she's an Empath, right?" Dean asked and Sam nodded. "And that's all about that mind-reading and feelings and stuff. If that's all there is to being an Empath then how was she able to heal you?"

Sam thought about it for a moment, racking his brains for a possible explanation but nothing immediately came to mind. Exactly what normal person could have such powers?

"Well, she's not an angel or a witch..." he thought out loud.

"So she says," Dean put in.

"She talked about magic when she told us about Donovan," Sam said thoughtfully as he recalled the conversation from earlier. "Could one of them have accidentally used some kind of fertility spell? She said herself that she didn't think she'd get pregnant by him."

"How do you "accidentally" use a fertility spell?" asked Dean. "If you ask me I think Loverboy down there knocked her up on purpose."

"Or someone else cast the spell," Sam suggested. "And Donovan doesn't strike me as the type to do something like that. You've seen the way he behaves around her."

"Could be an act," Dean shrugged. "You know what monsters are like, Sam. They'll do anything to get what they want. Ol' Donny lost his whole clan, right? And dragons are already rare so how do we know this isn't some play to produce more dragons to replace the ones that were killed?"

"I don't think that's the case," Sam said doubtfully. "Donovan hates hunters and he put himself between us and her when we walked in the door. And did you see how he went rigid when we told them where the car broke down?"

"You mean where you told them," Dean said pointedly. "And yes I did see that. I think there's more going on here than they're telling us."

"Yeah, there's a lot that's not adding up," Sam agreed as he climbed into bed. "We'll have to wait until morning and see if I can do some research. Maybe I can find some answers."

"Sounds like a plan," Dean yawned as he pulled the blankets up and rolled over. It was only now he realised how tired he really was. "G'night Sammy."

Sam rolled his eyes in annoyance and pulled the covers up as well. "It's 'Sam'," he corrected irritably as he reached over and put the lamp out. "G'night Dean."

Within minutes of their heads hitting the pillows both brothers were out like the lights, neither waking even as the storm continued to rage outside. By the time the sun rose the next morning the storm had blown away, but thick heavy clouds still continued to linger with the certainty of more storms to come later. When Sam woke up there was a little sliver of sunlight shining through a crack in the curtains and the sounds of animals calling outside. Sitting up and looking at the clock on the wall he saw it was just after seven thirty.

"Hey Dean, wake up," he called over to his brother.

But Dean continued to snore so Sam got up and went over to the other bed. "C'mon Dean, time to get up," he said as he shook Dean's shoulder gently.

Dean grunted and rolled over as he buried himself further into the blankets. "Go 'way Sammy, 's too early," he grumbled, his voice muffled by the quilt.

Sam considered trying again but decided against it. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to let his brother sleep in today. After getting dressed and leaving the room as quietly as he could Sam went downstairs but there didn't seem to be anyone around. The living room was empty and so was the kitchen. Were Starina and Donovan still asleep?

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine..."

Sam frowned a little as he heard soft singing coming from outside. Walking up to the sliding glass door that led out onto the back porch he saw Starina standing at the railing looking out over the farmyard and the hills beyond, singing something he'd never heard before.

"Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Without no seams nor needle work
Then she'll be a true love of mine..."

Curious, Sam opened the sliding door without making a noise and stepped outside and much to his surprise, there were two horses standing outside the rail, one bay and another a chestnut, and both of them looked like they were about to fall asleep as Starina sang.

"Tell her to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strands
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
Then she'll be a true love of mine

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine..."

Sam smiled to himself as the song came to an end and the nearest horse, the chestnut, lifted its head and gently nudged Starina's shoulder, making her smile and kiss it on the nose as she stroked its forelock.

"About time you got up, Sam," she said without looking at him. "I've been waiting for one of you to make an appearance."

Sam blinked and cleared his throat sheepishly. "Oh uh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything," he said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Don't be," Starina chuckled as she kissed the horse again. "I knew you guys wouldn't be up as early as me so I was keeping these two company while I waited for you."

"What's his name?" Sam asked, gesturing to the horse.

"Her name is Josey," Starina chuckled again as the horse in question nudged her arm, demanding more attention. "And her partner in crime over there is Priscilla. You wanna watch yourself with her, she flirts with everybody."

"And Josey?" Sam held back a laugh as the mare continued to demand more petting.

"She's an attention junky," Starina frowned, playfully pushing Josey away who snorted and tossed her head. "She was orphaned at birth and hand-raised, that's why she's acting like a puppy. The other horses are down in the paddock so you'll probably see them later. Now, how about some breakfast? I've got some pancake batter ready."

"Sure, sounds great," Sam nodded as he followed Starina into the kitchen. "So have you lived here long?"

"Only about a year or so," Starina answered, washing her hands in the sink and lighting the stove. The power was back on now so she didn't need to use matches. "I came out here to advance my studies in horsemanship. I signed up for an apprenticeship with a local trainer but I had to put everything on hold when this happened," she said as she gestured to her belly.

"That's a bummer," said Sam as he sat down. "Are you gonna go back? You know, after the babies are born?"

"I hope to, yes," Starina nodded. "I would've kept going but when you're working around half-ton sticks of dynamite with minds of their own the risks are too great. Horses can be unpredictable and it's very easy for someone to get hurt, even when they actually know what they're doing."

"I didn't realise horses could be dangerous," Sam admitted. "They always seem so placid to me."

"Oh yes," Starina said seriously as she set the skillet on the stove. "Even with the best trained horses and the most experienced riders in the world accidents happen all the time. There's a saying that you can take a horse out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the horse. I love them with all my heart, but I won't put my babies in danger, not for anything."

"Where's Donovan?" Sam asked, suddenly noticing that the dragon wasn't present.

"He's out chopping wood," Starina sounded irritated as she waited for the first pancake to cook. "I'd do it but it's already hard enough getting him to let me do the chores in the morning. I don't know what his problem is. I'm pregnant, not dying."

"He's probably worried about you," Sam said seriously. "You're having twins, after all. How far along are you?"

"Thirty six weeks, but my midwife told me they could come anytime now," Starina said as though she were doing nothing more than commenting on the weather. "In fact she said she was surprised that I haven't gone into labour already, twins usually come earlier."

"And you're not concerned?" Sam asked, surprised.

Starina raised an eyebrow at him. "What for? The babies are going to come out whether I'm ready or not. There's no point in sitting around waiting for it. It'll happen when it happens and until then I'll carry on as normal. Now, do you and Dean drink tea at all? I don't drink coffee and neither does Donovan so I don't buy it."

"I don't mind tea now and then, I'm not sure about Dean though," Sam replied, inwardly hoping that his brother wouldn't make a fuss.

"Well, if he doesn't he can get some when we go into town later," Starina shrugged as she put the kettle on the stove as well. "I need to get some stuff and you two have your investigation to carry out."

"Yeah, if we can get the car started," Sam sighed as he remembered the Impala's drained battery. "I still can't believe the battery ran out like that. It wasn't that long ago that Dean replaced it."

"Really?" asked Starina, stopping and turning to look at him with concern. "It ran out, just like that?"

"Just like that," Sam nodded. "Never seen anything like it. Has it ever happened to you?"

"No, never," Starina shook her head. "I've had my phone suddenly run flat but a car? That's news to me."

"Do you have any idea what might've caused it?" asked Sam, keeping his tone casual.

Starina seemed to think very seriously about this as she paused in her cooking. "There're any number of spirits that drain energy in order to manifest, but I've never heard of anything that could drain a car battery so quickly. Cameras and phones I can understand but this and the blackouts in town? I'm starting to think this isn't your everyday garden variety spook."

Just then Dean wandered into the kitchen, yawning widely and stretching his arms over his head. "Morning," he mumbled as he sat down next to Sam. "Please tell me you have coffee."

"You took your time," Starina teased as she set two plates loaded with pancakes and a bottle of maple syrup in front of them. "And no, there's no coffee."

Dean looked at her in disbelief. "What're you talkin' about?" he asked tiredly. "Everyone has coffee."

"Well I don't," Starina said pointedly, setting two steaming mugs on the counter as well. "You'll have to settle for tea instead. A nice cup of English Breakfast should perk you up."

Dean opened his mouth to argue but was quickly silenced with a kick in the leg behind the counter. "Ow! Okay fine, whatever," he relented.

"Well dig in boys, you're illegally parked and we need to get your car going before somebody nicks it," Starina said in a no-nonsense way as she left the kitchen to go back out onto the porch. "Put your dishes in the sink when you're done!"

Dean looked at Sam in confusion. "Nicks it? The hell does that mean?"

"I think she meant before someone steals it," said Sam. "But get this, I asked her again about the blackouts and she seemed worried when I told her about the car battery."

"So did she say what might've caused it?" asked Dean eagerly.

"She said she's never heard of anything that could drain a car battery that fast," Sam said in a low voice to make sure he wasn't overheard. "She thinks it's not a regular ghost."

"But what kinda ghost causes blackouts and drains car batteries?" Dean frowned. "It doesn't make sense. What about Dad's journal? Is there anything in that about battery-draining spirits?"

"I've read it a hundred times," Sam shook his head. "Apart from phones and cameras regular ghosts don't seem capable of draining enough power to black out a whole town or drain a car battery. I think she's right, we're dealing with something else."

"I'm startin' to think she's right too," Dean agreed reluctantly as he sipped some of the tea. It actually wasn't bad but he wasn't going to admit it out loud.

"So what d'you wanna do?" asked Sam.

"Well first things first, we get the car started," Dean began. "Then we go into town and talk to the locals, see if they can give us more clues. Probably won't hurt to check out the local history, either."

So after breakfast the brothers began the difficult task of pushing the Impala down the long driveway and into the farmyard behind the house. Donovan offered to help (most likely at Starina's suggestion) but Dean was quick to refuse so the dragon leaned against the side of the house as he watched them struggle to push the car through the mud. By the time they got it into the yard they were filthy, sweaty and tired.

"This is a beautiful car," Starina commented as Dean popped the hood. "Chevy Impala, right?"

"Yep, that's my Baby," Dean said, inwardly swelling with pride.

"My Dad loves classic cars," said Starina as she looked in the open window to admire the interior. "My grandfather did, too. They used to take me to classic car shows back home when I was a kid. Funny, this one kinda reminds me of Pops," she added fondly. "He always loved Chevys. He liked vintage Porsches and Lamborghinis too but Chevys were his favourite."

"Were?" Sam frowned a little.

"Pops died when I was twelve," Starina said sadly. "Broke Dad's heart. They used to do everything together. He never really got over it. He still took me to car shows, though. When my brothers were born he started taking them, too. Taught them everything he knows."

"He didn't teach you?" asked Dean.

Starina smiled as she straightened up. "I admire good machinery and workmanship, but my interest lies with horses," she said. "I come from a long line of horsemen and women, something of a family tradition. Now, you need jump cables, right? I'll go get them."

The farmyard consisted of three buildings. One was a large red-painted barn that contained the stables where the horses were kept and there was a small chicken coop attached to it. Another was a corrugated iron shed with two roller doors where Starina parked her old, rough-looking pickup, a new X-Trail and two quad bikes and the third was more of a garden shed which contained tools, a small workbench and other equipment.

"Ugh, this place is a mess," Starina said irritably as she searched for the cables in an old plastic milk crate. "It's a dog's dinner in here. I can never find anything when I need it!"

"Uh, do you need any help?" asked Dean who was standing just outside the door with Sam.

Starina sneezed and quickly exited the shed as she rubbed her nose, her eyes watering. "Go for your life. I need to take an antihistamine!"

As she went back into the house for the medication Sam and Dean took over the search for the cables while Donovan took to watching them from the doorway, watching them with suspicion in his gaze. It was clear to both Winchesters that the dragon still didn't trust them.

"Better be careful, there might be a rattlesnake hiding in there," he warned darkly.

Dean went white at the mention of a rattlesnake and made a hasty about-face. "That's it I'm outta here!"

"Dean, get back here and help me find the cables!" Sam grabbed him by the arm to stop him from leaving. "There're only a few boxes in here, it won't take long."

Dean huffed but, albeit very reluctantly, hefted a box off a shelf and began digging through it while Sam pulled another milk crate out from under the workbench.

"Oh wait they're in here," Sam called out after pulling out an old, moth-eaten pair of gardening gloves and a rusty hand saw. "What the hell?!"

"What's wrong Sammy?" Dean asked and Donovan straightened from where he'd been leaning on the doorframe.

Sam held up the cables and they looked as though someone had hacked at them with a knife. And they hadn't just hacked at them, either. Wires had been cut and ripped out altogether, rendering the cables completely and utterly useless.

"Are you serious?" asked Dean in disbelief. "We need those cables to get the car started!"

Just then Starina returned and stood beside Donovan. "What's going on in here?" she asked, frowning. "Did you find them?"

"Yeah we found them," Sam said as he held up the destroyed cables.

Starina's frown immediately changed to a look of astonishment and confusion. "What in Ériu's name?" she gasped as she went over and took the cables from him. "What the...how did this happen?"

"You tell us, that's how we found them," said Dean angrily.

"But I... I don't understand," Starina looked lost. "A neighbour borrowed these two weeks ago and they were fine when he returned them. I put them right back in here, locked the door and haven't been back since."

"Could someone else have got in?" asked Sam.

"Starina has the only key," Donovan spoke up, looking puzzled himself. "But why would someone break in to slash the cables? There's not even anything in here worth stealing."

"Well that's just great, we're stuck here!" Dean threw his hands up in frustration.

"Cool it!" Starina ordered. "Now I don't know how or why this happened but there's no point in throwing a hissy fit about it. You guys can borrow the X-Trail and I'll take the truck, okay? I need to go to the hardware store while we're in town anyway so I'll get new cables while you two do your investigation. Sound like a plan?"

Sam and Dean glanced at each other. They both knew that they really didn't have any other options unless they wanted to walk or ride horses into town.

"Okay fine," Dean relented, agitated at the thought of driving anything other than his beloved Impala.

"Alright," Starina agreed as she turned and left the shed. "And get that spider off your head, Dean. I don't want it my new car!"

Donovan smirked nastily as Dean swore and brushed his hands over his hair a few times, making quick work of brushing the little black spider onto the floor. Dean glared at it as it scuttled away under an old and rusty toolbox before he could squish it.

"Damned spiders!" Dean muttered as he left the shed.

A few minutes later Starina had handed Dean the keys to her new X-Trail and was getting ready to leave herself. The plan was that the brothers would follow her into town and meet her at a local coffee shop later when they were finished talking to the locals about the blackouts. Before Starina got into the truck Donovan stopped her, holding both her hands in his and gently pulling her close.

"Please be careful, my love," he said softly as he leaned his forehead against hers. "You know our babies are going to come soon."

"I'll be fine Donovan, I won't be long," Starina promised as she planted a kiss between his eyes. "Keep an eye on everything while I'm gone, okay? See you later."

Donovan looked pained but nodded before lovingly nuzzling her cheek and heading back to the house.

"What was that about?" asked Sam as Donovan went inside and shut the door.

Starina sighed sadly. "He doesn't like being alone," she explained, turning to face him. "Up until I found him last year he'd been on his own, and then I spent all day every day for three weeks by his side while he healed. After what happened to his clan he won't come into town with me and risk being discovered and hunted again."

"Why doesn't he disguise himself then?" asked Dean.

"He won't do it," Starina shook her head. "He told me everything he saw and heard when his clan was killed and what was done to him when the hunters tortured him. What he went through, what he suffered? I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Can you blame him?"

"I guess not," Dean admitted.

"Then let's get going," said Starina as she climbed into the driver's seat. "There's another storm coming and I wanna get back before it hits."

Sam and Dean looked up at the sky and sure enough there were heavy, black storm clouds gathering on the horizon again, a sure sign that another storm was brewing. Deciding not to waste anymore time the brothers got into the X-Trail and followed behind the truck. The drive into town was slow because the road was muddy and slippery so they had to watch their speed.

"When we get into town you to go to the library and check out the local history, see if anything like this has happened before," Dean said a few minutes into the drive. "And if we've got enough time see if you can learn anything about Empaths."

"The first one shouldn't be a problem, Empaths on the other hand..." Sam trailed off.

"Well, you're smart, you're bound to find something," Dean said simply. "I'll go straight to Town Hall and see what I can dig up. Everything that goes on in the area would end up there."

They reached the town half an hour later. It seemed a nice, peaceful place with not too much traffic, bright green front lawns and people seemingly content in going about their daily business. They pulled up behind Starina in front of the coffee shop she'd told them about and got out to quickly go over the plan again.

"Okay Sam, the library's two blocks that way," Starina said as she pointed him in that direction. "Just go straight ahead and follow the signs. And watch out for Miss Rutterman, she's the librarian and she's a nasty piece of work, so avoid her if you can. Dean, if you go along the road here and take a left Town Hall's about five minutes away. We meet back here at one o' clock, yeah?"

"Got it," Sam nodded and headed off.

"Right, back here at one," Dean agreed and headed off as well.

"And Dean, no stopping to flirt," Starina added sternly. "I'll know if you do."

"Okay fine," Dean huffed but decided not to push his luck and went straight to Town Hall.

It was a grand-looking concrete building, typical of most town halls that Dean had been to in the past. As he walked up the steps he fished a fake ID out of his pocket and pinned it to his shirt, confident that he could easily pass off as representative from a power company. He pushed open the heavy glass door and approached the young (and attractive) blonde secretary at the front desk.

"'Scuse me," he said politely to get her attention and she looked up from her keyboard. "I'm Jim Craig and I'm here about the issues the town's been having with blackouts."

The lady stood to take a closer look at his ID, Dean noticing the name Michelle on her nametag. "You guys are back again?" she asked disbelievingly as she sat down again. "You were here the other day!"

"Yeah I know Ma'am, but they sent me to do a follow-up," Dean lied easily. "You had another blackout last night, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but that was because of the storm," Michelle sounded frustrated. "But even when there's not a storm around for miles the power keeps going out. It's been going on for months and everyone's getting tired of it. You wouldn't believe the number of complaints I've had to take."

"Any idea when it started?" Dean asked as he took a notebook and pen out of his pocket.

"They've been going on for about a year now," said Michelle. "It's not unusual for the power to go out once or twice during the stormy season, but even after storm season was over it kept happening. It's gotten especially bad in the last few months."

"Really?" Dean asked as he took a few notes. "Has anything else been going on?"

"Oh, don't get me started on the ghost sightings!" Michelle rolled her eyes. "Nearly every day we get someone coming in here saying they've seen a ghost!"

"Ghosts?" Dean raised his eyebrows and Michelle nodded. "Any idea what kinda ghost?"

"Are you kidding me?" asked Michelle. "You don't actually believe in them, do you? I mean, ghosts aren't real."

"Call me an open-minded sceptic," Dean put on his most charming smile.

"Well, people keep saying they've seen weird lights around the pylon tower just outside of town," Michelle went on, leaning forward a little bit. "You know, where the powerlines are?" she asked and Dean nodded. "Just last week the Mayor himself said he thought he saw something out there. Didn't go into detail about it, though. He looked like he was really scared."

"Is the Mayor available to talk?" asked Dean hopefully as he added more notes. "About the power failures, that is."

"Sadly no," said Michelle. "After his little "encounter" he decided he needed a vacation and went to visit family in Miami. Won't be back for a fortnight."

Dean inwardly cursed but kept his composure. "Well it's pretty important that I talk to him," he said as he took a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. "If he calls could you let him know I was here and that I need to speak to him as soon as possible?"

"Sure thing," Michelle smiled and nodded as she took the card. "So uh, how long are you in town?"

"Probably a few days, depending on what else we can find out about the blackouts," Dean said.

"Where're you staying?" Michelle asked as she toyed with her hair.

"Oh, we're staying with someone just outta town," Dean explained as he put the notebook away. "My car broke down and she said I could stay with her until it's fixed."

"Ah, you mean Starina Rose?" Michelle said brightly.

"Uh, yeah," Dean answered, a little surprised at her change in tone. "You know her?"

"Not personally, but she's a really nice person," Michelle said enthusiastically. "Came over from Britain last year. Poor thing was a mess when I first met her. Scared of her own shadow."

Dean's interest was piqued. "Is that right?"

"Oh yes," Michelle nodded. "I think she's really been through something, you know? She said she had to leave her whole family behind."

"Did she say why?" Dean asked, making a mental note to tell Sam about this snippet of information the first chance he got.

"I asked her, but she wouldn't tell me," said Michelle. "I get the impression that it's a touchy subject, if you know what I mean. Made me wonder if she fell out with them or something."

"Did she tell you anything else?" Dean pressed.

"No, I just helped her out with some registration papers and that was it," Michelle shrugged. "She gave me a jar of homemade jam to thank me but I don't see her much. She only comes into town when she needs something. Good thing she has a midwife for a neighbour because she's having twins soon."

"Yeah I know," Dean said. "Well anyway I gotta get going. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime," Michelle smiled. "If I hear from the Mayor you'll be the first to know!"

Dean removed his fake ID as soon as he was out of sight of the building and headed back to the coffee shop, grabbing the biggest cup of coffee available before heading off to talk to the locals. After talking to several people and hearing some rather interesting stories he paused in front of an old building that had the words, "O'Malley's Antiques & Collectables" printed on the large front window. Just beyond the glass on display were two old wooden rocking chairs each with an antique china doll sitting on it. Between the rocking chairs was a table with a chessboard on it with the pieces set up to look like a game was in progress. Curiosity getting the better of him, Dean pushed open the door and went inside. The elderly man sitting behind the counter looked up as the bell on the door jingled.

"Morning, Sonny," he greeted as he stood up. "How can I help you?"

"Oh I'm fine thanks, Pops, I'm just browsing," Dean said as he paused beside a glass cabinet that held an array of old pocket knives.

"Suit yourself then," the man said as he sat back down and picked up a newspaper. "You holler if you find something you like."

"Actually I do have some questions, sir," Dean said as he walked up to the counter.

"No need to call me 'sir'," the man chuckled as he put his paper back down. "Makes me sound like an old man. The name's Grant."

"Okay then, Grant," Dean went on as he took the fake ID out of his pocket for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "I just wanna ask you a few questions."

"Ah, you're here about the blackouts?" Grant said as he peered at the ID through his rounded glasses and Dean nodded. "Well, I dunno how I can be of any help there, Sonny. I just work here in the shop and sell antiques."

"Well yeah, but has anything like this ever happened before?" asked Dean.

"I've lived here all my life, Sonny," Grant answered seriously. "I've seen and heard many things, but I've never known the power to fail the way it has been of late. And it's not just the lights goin' out, either. The TV won't work, the stove, the phones, everything just stops. Started last year."

"Have you noticed anything else?" Dean asked as he lent on the counter. "People acting weird, cold spots, strange noises?"

"Now that you mention it," Grant said as he lent on the counter as well. "It ain't the people actin' weird, it's the animals."

Dean frowned at this. "How so?"

"My neighbours have a farm, chickens and cows and the like," Grant went on. "Lately they've been sayin' that the chickens ain't layin', cows have stopped producing, the dogs go crazy in the middle in the o' the night barkin'. They have security cameras and such but they've never been able to see what the dogs are even barkin' at."

"So nobody's actually seen anything?" Dean pressed and Grant shook his head. "Lights? Shadows?"

"Not that I know of," Grant shook his head again. "Why? Is it something to do with the blackouts?"

"Now sure yet, just covering all bases," Dean said as he took a card out of his pocket. "But if you remember anything else gimme a call."

"Will do, Sonny," Grant nodded as he took the card.

As Dean turned to leave the bell on the door jingled again and a man in a business suit nearly pushed him into a huge and rather expensive-looking china vase.

"Oh, excuse me, I'm sorry," the man muttered distractedly, not even looking at Dean as he went up to the counter.

"No problem," Dean muttered but the man didn't notice as he began talking to Grant.

Dean looked at his watch as he left the store. It was twelve thirty, time to head back to the coffee shop to meet up with Sam and Starina. When he got there Sam was already waiting for him, a folder with a few papers in it sitting on the table in front of him.

"Hey Sam, how'd you go?" Dean asked as he sat down, then he noticed the sour look on Sam's face. "What's up with you?"

"When Starina said that librarian was a piece of work it was an understatement," Sam answered bluntly. "That woman stalked me the whole time I was there! She spied on me through a gap in the books like she thought I was up to something!"

"Well you do look suspicious," Dean joked and Sam glared at him. "So did you find anything?"

Sam huffed. "I looked through the records cover to cover, there's absolutely nothing in this town's history about unexplained power failures or any other strange happenings."

"What? Nothing at all?" Dean asked disbelievingly.

"Nothing at all," Sam repeated. "The place is clean. But I did find some information about Empaths," he said as he pushed the folder towards Dean who took it and opened it. "Nearly everything I found describes Starina to a tee. Sensing and feeling other people's emotions, being highly sensitive and intuitive, understanding, nature loving."

"But they're not miracle workers," Dean observed as he read over the papers in the folder carefully. "Doesn't say anything about Empaths being able to heal or read minds."

"Exactly," Sam said. "Some Empaths have been known to have clairvoyant abilities but the way Starina described our memories? There's too much detail."

"So what're you thinkin'?" asked Dean as he closed the folder again.

"I dunno, Dean," Sam shrugged and shook his head, looking defeated. "I'm stumped."

"Well luckily for us I had a bit more luck," Dean said as he took out his notebook. "I've spoken to a few people and they all told me more or less the same thing. Blackouts started last year, a few people have reported weird lights near the power pylon, and apparently the Mayor had a close encounter last week that scared him so bad he skipped town."

Sam frowned. "A close encounter with what?"

"Apparently he was so scared he couldn't talk about it," Dean shrugged. "The chick at Town Hall said they've been getting complaints about ghost sightings, and guess where?"

"The power pylons," Sam answered.

"Yeah, and get this," Dean went on. "The chick I spoke to said Starina came over from Britain last year and was in a bad way when she got here, seemed to think that she had a falling out with her family or something."

"Starina told me she was doing an apprenticeship with a horse trainer here," Sam looked a bit confused at this information. "She didn't say anything to me about falling out with her family."

Now it was Dean's turn to look puzzled. "When did she tell you about an apprenticeship?"

"This morning," said Sam, feeling a little guilty that he hadn't mentioned this earlier. "While you were still asleep we got talking."

"Really? What else did she tell you?" asked Dean.

But before Sam could answer Starina returned, sounding a little out of breath as she came up to the table and set her bags down.

"Sorry I took so long guys," she said irritably as she straightened up, rubbing her back. "I went to both hardware stores and the garage and no one has jump cables!"

"You're kidding me right?" Dean asked.

"Uff, no word of a lie," Starina said as she sat down and rested a hand on her belly. "I even tried to get you a replacement battery but everyone I spoke to said they didn't have one suitable for the Impala in stock. One guy said he could order one in but it won't be here for a least a week. Sorry guys, I tried but no dice."

"Oh, well that's just great," said Dean in exasperation.

"Relax Dean, we're going to be here for a few days anyway," said Sam. "We might as well stick it out while we get the job done. Thanks for trying anyway, Starina. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Starina said as she fanned herself with her hand. "It's just hot today. I hope you guys had more luck than I did. What'd you find out?"

"Well, apparently people have been seeing weird lights around the pylon tower just outside of town," Dean explained.

Starina blinked in surprise. "That's just behind my place," she said. "But I've never noticed any lights, although I suppose I wouldn't have seen anything since I'm always indoors after dark. Do you think they could have something to do with the power failures?"

"We don't know yet," Sam answered. "We'll have to investigate further. Maybe go out to the pylon and take a look around."

"Are you sure that's necessary?" asked Starina, looking slightly worried. "I mean, I agree that you need to have a closer look, but near powerlines? That's dangerous!"

"We're hunters, Sweetheart, dangerous is how we live," Dean said matter-of-factly.

Starina was about to say something else but thunder rumbled overhead, effectively silencing her. Looking up at the sky the three realised that a storm had started gathering, big, heavy storm clouds beginning to block out the sun.

"We'd better head back," Starina said as she hefted herself up. "I'll need to put the horses back in the barn before the storm hits. If there's anything you wanna get do it now because I'm not waiting around."

Deciding they didn't want to wait around either the brothers gathered up their stuff and went back to the X-Trail while Starina put her shopping in the backseat of her truck before climbing into the driver's seat. As they drove away and the sky quickly darkened, watching from the shadows, a man in a business suit and holding a briefcase stood and gazed at the two vehicles as they disappeared into the distance, a phone glued to his ear.

"Yes, sir," he muttered as an evil grin split across his face. "Yes, sir. I've found her."

AN: For those who don't know the song Starina sings at the beginning of the chapter is called 'Scarborough Fair' and is a traditional English ballad sung by Simon and Garfunkel.

AN#2: Please review!