Chapter 7: Hook Man
"Coffee delivery." Riley said, nudging Dean's chair. He had been watching Sam on the phone, his brother's laptop open in front of him. "He still on the phone?"
"Yeah." He said and took the coffee from her. "Thanks, Blondie."
"Mmhm." She hummed and then rubbed at her temples as she sat back down at the table.
"All right?"
"Just a headache." She murmured, ignoring Dean's look of disbelief, and glanced at the computer. "Got us a case?"
He nodded and smirked as Sam approached.
"Your half-caff double vanilla latte is getting cold over here, Francis." He teased, hoping to get a rise out of his brother and his obviously foul mood.
"Bite me." Sam snapped out and joined them at the table.
"So, anything?"
"I had them check out the FBI's missing person's database. No "John Doe's" fitting Dad's description. I even ran his plates for traffic violations."
Dean sighed. "Sam, I'm telling you. I don't think Dad wants to be found."
Riley saw the darkened expression on Sam's face and gestured at the computer rapidly. Dean winked at her in thanks and she felt a flush heat her face.
"Check this out." Dean turned the computer towards Sam and Riley took a hasty sip from her coffee "News item out of Plains Courier. Ankeny, Iowa. Its about 100 miles from here."
Riley leaned closer too, reading along with Sam. The headline read: "Mysterious Death of Fraternity Brother"
"Mutilated body was found near victim's car," Sam read aloud. "-parked on 9-mile road."
"Keep reading." Dean waved a hand.
"Authorities are unable to provide a realistic description of the killer. The sole eyewitness, whose name has been withheld, is quoted as saying the attacker was invisible."
"Could be something interesting." Dean shrugged, watching his brother's expression.
"Or it could be nothing at all. One freaked out witness who didn't see anything? Doesn't mean it's the Invisible Man."
"But what if it is? We've never had that before." Riley said excitedly and smiled at Sam. "We could at least give it a chance. Please, Sammy? You know John would check it out." She batted her big blues eyes at him, and he sighed. Dean knew he couldn't resist and smirked. Like Sam, she perfected the "puppy-eyed" look.
"Fine." His little brother snorted, half-smiling at her. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Wonder who she learned it from?" His big brother replied, and Sam rolled his eyes.
Beaming, she popped up from the chair. "Gonna go pee before we hit the road."
Dean cut off the engine and they moved to get out of the car. Riley hopped out and stared up at the frat house before her, shaking her head a little.
"One more time, why are we here?" Sam questioned.
"Victim lived here." He turned to the blonde who was leaning against the car. "You waitin' here, Blondie?"
"Yup. I can only imagine how that place smells." She wrinkled her nose and Sam snorted. Dean chuckled and turned towards two guys working on a car nearby.
"Nice wheels." He said to them and Riley snorted at the dumbfounded looks on their faces. "We're your fraternity brothers. From Ohio. We're new in town. Transfers. Looking for a place to stay."
The guys pointed at the Frat house behind them.
"Thanks, fellas."
Sam watched his brother's back tense as they exited the building. He started to question him, the words right on the end of his tongue, but then saw the problem.
Riley was perched on the front of the Impala, a guy about as tall as Sam, but much bulkier was leaning toward her, hands on either side of her hips trapping her there. He could tell she was uncomfortable and looked ready to wallop the guy a good one. Smirking, he shoved his brother forward on the steps.
"Better break it up before he gets punched. Riley doesn't look very happy with the attention."
Dean narrowed his eyes at the frat guy that tried to be handsy.
Before he could intervene, Riley's admirer was knocked onto his ass, looking stunned as he rubbed his jaw.
"I said "No"." The girl snapped, sliding off the Impala gracefully in her dark blue floral printed dress. She had changed into it while they had been inside. "Take a hike, buster or its your nose next."
"You gotta arm, sweetie. No need to be so hostile." He stood up ready to make another unwanted grab at her when Dean took hold of his arm.
"I wouldn't." He practically growled. "I'm pretty sure she doesn't want you to touch her."
"Get off, man. She's just playing hard to get."
Sam appeared on their other side, and the guy didn't like the way the two men looked at him.
"I think you better go. My brothers don't mess around." Riley pointed out, folding her arms across her chest. Sam grinned at the guy and Dean arched an eyebrow.
The guy looked from one face to the next before retreating up the street, like a kicked dog.
"Thanks." She turned to the Winchesters. "So, what'd you find out?"
"Well, Sam here is good at painting the frat guy's back." Dean smirked and Riley laughed.
"What?"
Sam scowled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Jerk. So, Rich was dating a girl named Lori Sorenson. Her father is the reverend."
"They are holding a service for Rich today at the St. Barnabas Church." Dean added.
Riley got out of the Impala, glancing up at the church. The last time she had entered a church, was the night she left her dad's. She had stopped by Eli's father's house. He lived in a little house right next to the church.
"Pastor Jim?"
She heard shuffling of papers and books.
"Be out in a second." He called back.
After a second, the office door unlocked, and a familiar face blinked at her. He still appeared the same, same dirty blonde bowl haircut and facial hair around his mouth and covered his chin. The only thing that seemed to change was that his face looked older somewhat. More tired. She knew the reason for that.
"Riley Singer." Pastor Jim Murphy beamed, coming out to hug her tightly. "It's been a few weeks since you've come to see me." He held her back and looked her over appraisingly. "You don't look like you've been eating or sleeping, honey."
"How are you?" She asked quietly.
"I'm dealing. It's difficult not to just...go after whatever it was." He sighed and then shook his head. "I miss him terribly and I know you do as well."
Riley looked at her feet. "Have you heard anything else?"
"No. Wild stories, but nothing quite like that." He regarded her quietly for a moment. "You haven't been looking still have you? we've been over and over it."
"It's something we-I'm missing. I just know it. there had to be something."
"Riley, I don't want you looking anymore." He said taking her arms firmly. "You're not going to find Eli's killer by running yourself into the ground. We all looked, even your father and he's one of the best. I can try to get a hold of John Winchester again, but it'll be same, and he'll tell you the same."
"I'm going to keep looking. I have too."
"Riley, honey it wasn't your fault-"
"I should have gone back. I should have stayed. This is on me and I'm going to find his killer." She retreated towards the door and he followed her between the rows of pews.
"Riley Ann, please listen-"
"I'll come back when I've found it. When I've found his body." She ran down the church steps, tears blurring her vision. "I promise, I'll find it!"
"Riley!"
"Riles." A hand on her arm startled her. It was Dean. He and Sam were looking at her worriedly.
"Hm?"
"We're heading in now if you're done daydreaming."
"Sorry." She muttered and Sam frowned as his brother walked on.
"What's the matter?"
"It's nothing, Sam."
"Headache?" He asked quietly, leaning closer to her so Dean wouldn't hear.
"No, no. Just got lost in my thoughts." She hurried after Dean who was waiting impatiently by the doors. Sam looked after her and sighed.
They could hear the reverend talking and Riley tried to stop Dean from slinging the doors open.
"We should wait until he's done talking." She hissed at him, but he opened the door anyway.
"Ladies, first." He grinned at her and she looked at Sam who shrugged.
Once they were inside, Dean came in as well. The door slammed shut behind them pausing the reverend's speech. Everyone in the church peered back at them and Riley felt her face grow hot with embarrassment. Sam ushered them into a pew in the very back as the townsfolk turned back around and the reverend started in again.
"Oh, god." She groaned. "That was so not quiet." She looked up from her hands to see a girl in the front row, peering back at them, or Sam rather.
"...as a community, and as a family. The loss of a young person is particularly tragic. A life unlived is the saddest of passings. So, please, let us pray. For peace, for guidance, and for the power to protect our children."
Everyone bowed their heads in prayer. Sam glanced at his brother and elbowed his arm. Dean looked at him and then at Riley and then bowed his head.
They found Lori watching a friend leave and approached her.
"Are you Lori?" Sam asked and she turned around.
"Yeah."
"My name is Sam. This is my brother, Dean." Dean waved.
"Hi."
"And our sister, Riley."
She extended her hand to the other girl.
"Nice to meet you. We just transferred here to the university."
Lori smiled. "I saw you inside."
Sam shifted. "We don't wanna bother you. We just heard about what happened and..."
"We wanted to say how sorry we were." Dean added and riley nodded.
"I kind of know what you're going through. I-I saw someone..get hurt once. It's something you don't forget." Lori looked at him sympathetically. They glanced over as her father approached them.
Dad, um, this is Sam, Riley, and Dean. They're new students."
Dean shook the reverend's hand.
It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I must say, that was an inspiring sermon.
The reverend smiled. "Thank you very much. It's so nice to find young people who are open to the Lord's message."
Riley rolled her eyes at him and then saw that Sam wanted to speak to Lori alone and smiled at the reverend.
"Actually, Reverend Sorenson, with us being new in town," She smiled brightly. "We're looking for a new church group."
Dean nodded encouragingly behind her and they led him off to talk some more about the church groups.
"We have plenty of youth groups and I believe there is a spot open for a roommate at the place my daughter is staying."
"Is there?" Dean asked, raising an eyebrow in interest. "Sam and I have already found a place. My sister is eager to make new friends, so that would be perfect." Riley scowled at Dean from behind the reverend's back before plastering on a smile when he looked at her.
"That would be just wonderful."
After circling around and coming back to Sam and Lori, the reverend told his daughter bout Riley's interest in the housing.
"Great. If you want to come by later, I can show you around and introduce you to the others."
Riley smiled. "Fantastic."
"I hate you." She griped as they went toward the back of the library.
"What? Now you're part of the action."
"I don't want to be stuck in a house of sorority girls." She grumped and Dean smirked at her.
"Ah, come on, Blondie. Naked pillow fights." His eyebrows wiggled as he spoke, and she rolled her eyes.
"That is so not what happens in reality." She scoffed at him. "Too much cattiness and gossip."
He slid an arm around her shoulders and grinned down at her. Riley tried not to dwell on how that gesture made her heart want to explode inside her chest.
"Come on, take one for the team."
"All right already, get off me." She said, shoving him away with a laugh.
Dean winked at her and then turned to Sam.
"So you believe her?"
He nodded sincerely. "I do."
"Yeah, I think she's hot, too."
Riley snorted and Sam rolled his eyes.
"No, man, there's something in her eyes." He tried to explain, but he knew Dean wasn't listening. "And listen to this: she heard scratching on the roof. Found the bloody body suspended upside down over the car."
"Wait, the body suspended?" Dean stopped walking abruptly and turned to face them, Riley nearly bounced into him. "That sounds like the—
"Hook Man." Riley said and Sam nodded.
"That's one of the most famous urban legends ever. You don't think that we're dealing with the Hook Man."
Sam shrugged. "Every urban legend has a source. A place where it all began."
"Yeah, but what about the phantom scratches and the tire punctures and the invisible killer?"
"What if it's a spirit not a man?" Riley offered and Dean tilted his head.
"Good point, Blondie."
Riley looked at the long row of books around her and sighed. "Research time, I guess."
Sam nodded. "I'll talk to the librarian, you two find us a table." He wandered off as they went toward the back of the library."
Riley looked up as the librarian came toward them, boxes in her arms that she set down heavily on the table.
"Here you go." She announced. "Arrest records going back to 1851."
Dean leaned closer and blew some of the dust off the top of the first box, dragging it over toward him. "Thanks." Riley sneezed and gave him a cross look.
Sam pulled the other box over to him.
"So, this is how you spent four good years of your life, huh?" He coughed, waving more dust and the blonde next to him hid her nose so she wouldn't sneeze again.
Sam waved dust off the top of the second box. "Welcome to higher education."
"Ugh, so glad I didn't go." Riley groaned, pulling some of the files out to read over.
Dean snickered and Sam cracked a small smile.
Hours later, they were still searching. Or at least Dean and Sam were. Riley had fallen asleep, her head propped against Dean's arm. He didn't blame her for falling asleep over the many files they had searched through and was about to nod off himself.
"Hey, check this out." Sam called and Dean rubbed a hand over his face before nudging Riley.
"Riles."
"Huh?" She said, leaning up and then grimacing at him. "Sorry."
He shrugged. "It's fine. You weren't drooling this time at least."
A disgusted look crept across her face and he smirked.
"I do not drool!"
"Good thing, because this is my favorite jacket." He teased and danced away when she swatted at him. Sam rolled his eyes and cleared his throat to get their attention. "1862. A preacher named Jacob Karns was arrested for murder." He read and they came over to see what he had found. "Looks like he was so angry over the red light district in town that one night he killed 13 prostitutes." He pulled a paper out for them to read over his shoulder. "Uh, right here, "some of the deceased were found in their bed, sheets soaked with blood. Others suspended upside down from the limbs of trees as a warning against sins of the flesh."
Dean pulled out another sheet. "Get this, the murder weapon? Looks like the preacher lost his hand in an accident." Riley grimaced at the drawing of a man who a hook attached to his arm. "Had it replaced with a silver hook."
Sam pointed at the top of the paper in his hand. "Look where all this happened."
"Nine mile road." Riley read and he nodded.
"Same place where the frat boy was killed."
Dean smirked at his brother. "Nice job, Dr. Venkmen. Let's check it out."
"Not fair." The girl scowled when they pulled up to the sorority house.
"Riles, you need to keep an eye on Lori. See if you can find out anything else that might help us." Sam told her and she sighed at the pleading eyes he was giving her.
"Ugh, fine."
"Have fun with the sorority girls." Dean teased. "I want pics if there is a naked anything."
"Um, ew. No." Riley rolled her eyes. She felt Dean take her arm and she glanced at him, eyebrow raised curiously.
"Hey, all joking aside, try to get some sleep okay? I know you've been having trouble."
She shook her head. "I'm fine, Dean." She tried to pull away, not wanting to look at him. She had tried to hide her nightmares but apparently, he knew about them. It made her stomach flutter unnervingly at how well he knew her.
"Riles, I saw how you were at the church this morning."
"I'm fine." She frowned at him. It was bad enough that he was letting her know he knew her sleep patterns, but now he was trying to bring that up? "It was nothing and I'm over it."
"Bullshit."
"Let it go, Dean." She huffed.
"We are talking about this later." He warned her and she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, go Hook Man hunting and freaking call me if you find it."
He watched her go, frowning a little. Sam looked at him when he finally got into the car.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing."
Sam shrugged at the answer and glanced out the window.
Riley heard her phone buzz and sighed, tugging it off the nightstand with her eyes still closed. She sat up and looked over at the other girl in the room that was sleeping soundly and stood up, tip-toeing to the bathroom. She gently shut the door and perched on the sink.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Riles...Um...So we got news." Dean's voice drifted from the phone and she had a hard time hearing him over the noises that was happening in the background.
"You find Hook Man?"
"Not exactly." Dean said into the receiver and it took Riley a moment to register what exactly she was hearing over the phone.
"Ugh, you got arrested?"
"Yeah, but no worries. I got this."
"Do I need to come bail you two idjits out?"
"No." He said and then chuckled. "I can talk my way out of it."
"I'm sure you can." She said dryly and then yawned. "Well, I didn't learn anything new. Just that Lori and her dad aren't really getting along right now."
Dean paused. "Sam and I will be out by morning. We'll look again."
"And you are taking me with you this time!"
"Yeah okay." He snorted. "Now get some sleep. We'll pick you up in the morning."
The phone clicked and she sighed, rubbing her temples. "Arrested."
She came out of the bathroom, clicking the light off and got back into the bed. Her roommate was still out, snoring away. Smiling at the normalcy of it, she got under the blanket before snorting softly. Dean and his crazy ways. Smiling, she shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Blood...Screaming...Dripping blood down the walls, splashing the carpet...More screaming. Painful cries. Screams...Screams...
Riley jerked awake as it became clear that the screaming was no longer in her dreams. It was real and it was coming from down the hall. Scrambling up out of the bed, she ran out of the bedroom and into the hall spotting several distraught girls crowding a doorway.
She shoved her way through, pausing at the sight. Taylor, the girl who she had seen talking to Lori the day before at the church was lying dead in her bed. Blood was everywhere, dripping off the flowery white sheets of the bed and into a puddle on the floor. Above the dead girl's bed, written in blood and carved into the wall by something sharp were the words "Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light?". Part of the Hook Man legend, Riley frowned figuring the carving had been done by the hook. Below it however, also drawn in blood and etched by the hook, was a large cross and four smaller crosses around it. Not part of the Hook Man legend. Time to call the boys and see if they got out of jail yet. It was definitely a spirit, the smell of ozone was very strong and overpowered the smell of blood.
Riley glanced over at the other side of the room and was a bit surprised to see who was there. Poor Lori, Taylor's roommate, was huddled on her bed, rocking back and forth and crying. None of the other girls moved.
"Someone call 911 and someone call Lori's dad!" She shouted over her shoulder before moving over to the poor girl. "Hey, Lori. It's okay." She said softly and tugged the blanket off her bed and around the shaking girl's shoulders. "Let's get you out of here, okay?"
Once she made sure that Lori was safe downstairs and away from the scene, as most of the girls now were. Riley pulled her phone out.
"Dean, you guys free?"
"Yeah, what's happening?" He asked, hearing the lightened tone in her voice which meant she knew something. "Just saw a bunch of cops take off."
She explained to him what happened and that Lori was once again at the scene, only this time she hadn't seen it.
"Sorry. Fell asleep." She apologized, kicking herself mentally. "Didn't hear a thing. Look, I'm gonna leave the bathroom window open okay? The one attached to Lori's room. Front of the house. You'll have to climb to get in."
"Not your fault, Blondie." He said firmly. "It happens."
"Yeah, well. The window will be open. You've got to see the room. I have to go out of the house and check on Lori, talk to some people so they don't be suspicious. Tell Sam to text when ya'll are done." She hung up before he could anything else.
"Thank you for staying with her." Rev. Sorenson said to Riley who nodded at him with a small smile.
"It's no problem, Reverend."
The man turned to the sheriff, frowning.
"I just want to take her home."
The sheriff sighed. "I understand that, Reverend. But Lori's now connected to two murders, and I can't ignore that."
The reverend looked ready to blow a gasket. "Listen to me. Arrest her now, or let me take her home." He said angrily.
The man sighed. "Make sure she's available for questioning."
"Thank you." He nodded and turned toward his daughter. "Sweetheart, you ready to go home?"
She nodded, standing up to walk with him.
Riley glanced behind her to see a pair of boots disappear through the top left window and smiled.
Riley hopped down from the little stone wall and onto the pavement below. The boys were leaning against the front of the Impala and were looking at her as she emerged from the bushes. She was wearing her pajamas, a skimpy tank top and a pair of shorts. She hadn't been allowed to change when the police and ambulance showed up. Dean's eyebrows rose.
"Nice getup."
"Wouldn't let me go back in the house to change." She rolled her eyes crossing her arms to keep warm as she quickly walked to the car. "Glad you boys parked close. I'm freezing my ass off." She said, opening the back passenger side door and grabbing her jacket. "You smell that ozone in Lori's room?"
"Yeah." Sam nodded. "And that passage was right out of the Hook Man legend."
"What about the crosses? That's not part of it." She said, leaning against him for warmth.
Sam handed her a paper from the library file. "It's the same symbol." He showed her and Dean the drawing of the hook and dangling to the hook was a silver charm that had the crosses on it. "Seems like it is the spirit of Jacob Karns."
Dean nodded. "All right, let's find the dude's grave, salt and burn the bones, and put him down."
"After execution, Jacob Karns was laid to rest in an Old North Cemetery. In an unmarked grave." Sam read aloud.
"Well damn." Riley cussed. "Don't make it easy for us."
The three of them shared the same annoyed look.
Sam sighed. "So we know it's Jacob Karns. But we still don't know where he'll manifest next. Or why."
Riley frowned lightly. "Sam, I think it has to do with Lori. I mean that's twice it happened to someone around her."
Dean nodded. "Right, I'm with Blondie."
"Okay, well we'll need to do more research then."
"Super." The older Winchester grumbled and Riley snorted.
"There's a party tonight. I heard about it from one of the other girls."
Dean looked excited.
"I'll met you there then." Sam said, rolling his eyes. "I'm faster at research any way."
Dean leaned against the wall, watching Riley dodge another frat boy. She spotted him and headed over to him, blue eyes sparkling with relief to see him.
"There you are." She said. "Lost you when we came in."
"You got friends." He said stiffly, eyeing the forlorn frat boy that was still gazing at Riley. She didn't turn around and just waved him off.
"Eh, not my type." She responded and then glanced around the room. "Seen Sam yet?"
"No."
She fidgeted and he sighed.
"Stop it." He said abruptly and she frowned at him, turning her head. "Stop blaming yourself."
"I was in the same house, Dean. I should have heard something." She said, scowling at him.
"If Lori didn't hear anything and she was in the same room, you wouldn't have." He pointed out. "Not your fault."
"Whatever you say."
"No, not whatever." Dean moved so that she now had her back to the wall. "By the way we haven't finished talking about yesterday." Riley frowned deeper and then ran a hand through her hair. "What's going on?"
"Look, it's just hard to look at a church after Eli. It reminds me of him and Pastor Jim, okay?" She admitted.
Dean's face softened. "Yeah, I get that. But you have to forgive yourself for that."
"I'm trying." Riley smiled faintly, then she spotted Sam, waving him over.
"Man, you've been holding out on me. This college thing is awesome!" Dean said, winking at a pretty girl that walked by.
Sam rolled his eyes. "This wasn't really my experience."
"Let me guess. Libraries, studying, straight A's?" His brother nodded at him. "What a geek. Alright, you do your homework?"
His younger brother nodded again and started walking toward the back of the house where less people were. Riley and Dean followed him.
"Yeah. It was bugging me, right? So how is the Hook Man tied up with Lori? So I think I came up with something." Unrolling some papers he handed them to Dean. Riley looked over his shoulder as he read aloud.
"1932. Clergyman arrested for murder." He turned to the next one. "1967. Seminarian held in hippie rampage."
Sam led them into a deserted corner. "There's a pattern here. In both cases, the suspect was a man of religion who openly preached against immorality. And then found himself wanted for killings he claimed were the work of an invisible force. Killings carried out—get this—with a sharp instrument."
"So, the connection to Lori is through her dad? The reverend?"
Sam nodded and Dean did too in understanding.
"Yeah, so he openly preaches against immorality? Except maybe this time, instead of saving the whole town, he's just trying to save his only daughter."
Dean tilted his head in thought. "You think he's summoning the spirit?"
Sam shrugged. "Maybe. Or, you know how a poltergeist can haunt a person instead of a place?"
"Yeah, the spirit latches onto the reverend's repressed emotions, feeds off them, yeah, okay." His brother nodded in agreement.
Riley frowned. "And without the reverend ever even knowing it. I don't think he realizes it."
"Either way," Dean began and faced Sam. "-you should keep an eye on Lori tonight."
"What about you?"
Riley watched Dean gaze longingly at the pretty blonde by the pool table. She was smiling at him, pressing her chest out further. Riley scowled.
"I'm gonna go see if I can find that unmarked grave. Blondie you're with me." He said, giving the girl at the pool table another look before shaking his head in disappointment.
"Or I'll go and you stay here and flirt with the drunken college girls." She countered.
Dean rolled his eyes. "All right, I'm coming." He snaked an arm around her. "No, need to be jealous."
"Get off me you jackass." She elbowed him in the ribs and Sam rolled his eyes.
"Try not to kill each other."
After walking through the cemetery awhile, Riley pointed her flashlight at another grave.
"Dean, over here!" She called and heard him walk up behind her. The headstone was engraved with the cross symbol.
"Yahtzee! Here, we go."
Riley set down her flashlight and grabbed a shovel, helping Dean dig. Neither spoke as they dug, focusing on the job.
"That's it. Next time, I get to watch the cute girl's house." Dean complained and Riley rolled her eyes before her shovel hit something hard.
"Got the coffin." She said and Dean helped her bust it open. Inside lay the remains of Jacob Karns.
"Hello, preacher." He greeted and tossed his shovel out of the grave before hauling himself out of it. Riley tossed her shovel too and started climbing out. Dean grabbed her hand, hauling her out of the grave when her foot slipped, and she landed on top of him. "Well, hello." They were face to face, noses brushing.
Flushing, she rolled off him and stood. "Thanks for the help. Got your supplies?"
Dean watched her for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah." He got up too and grabbed his bag from the ground, digging though it until he found the salt and lighter fluid. Riley tossed a generous amount of both on the bones as Dean lit a match.
"Goodbye, preacher." He said and then tossed the match inside the grave. The bones burst into flames and they watched them burn for a moment. "Let's go, Blondie."
They quickly packed up after reburying the bones and started for the car.
"Riles, we need to talk." He said quietly. Her hair was blowing in the light breeze and it distracted him for a moment when she turned her head to look at him.
"About what?"
"Sam told me about the Shifter. About what it said to you when it was wearing my face."
"Oh, god, Dean, please don't." She stopped walking and turned to him with a sigh. "That Shifter was being a jerk, okay? Just let it go."
"We need to talk about it, because I wasn't telling you everything about that night."
She shook her head, backing away. "Don't." She said firmly. "Don't. It's not funny."
"I didn't say it was funny." Dean scowled and moved toward her. "Why are you pushing me away before I even talk?"
She looked away. "What do you want then?"
"I have to tell you the truth."
"I've had years to recover from the truth you said the first time."
"I hurt you that badly?" He asked quietly.
She whirled to face him, disbelief, hurt, and anger on her face.
"Yes! You ripped my heart into pieces. And I..." She paused, swallowing hard. "You threw it back into my face."
He was quiet for a second, running a hand over his face. "I know. You were fifteen. I was twenty-one. What was I supposed to say?" He said at last.
She shook her head. "Well, that wasn't it. I know I was young, but what you said…" She trailed off and took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter anymore. Let's just forget it. You were right anyway." She began walking again.
He looked at the ground and then back up rapidly. It was now or never.
"No, I wasn't." He said firmly and she looked back at him with confusion, pausing mid-walk. "I was angry, Riley. Not at you, but at myself. I knew that it wasn't all that incubus. I had feelings for you, Riles. I just couldn't admit it. It's not just about the age difference at the time, okay? I was developing feelings for you that weren't brother/sister. You were different."
"Don't say that." She said, voice cracking. "It's not funny."
"I don't...It's not a joke, Blondie." He blew out a breath of frustration.
"Then why are you saying all this to me now?" She was watching him warily and he thought she might run if given the chance.
"No one had ever said me that before." He admitted, glancing at the moon rather than look at her. "And meant it in the way you did. I didn't know what to do or what to say. So, I pushed you away. I had too."
"Let's just go back to the car. Sam might be calling."
"Dammit, you would just listen to me for five minutes!"
"I don't want to have this conversation." She snapped back, trying to walk away, but he followed her.
"Well, tough. Because I'm not done." He scowled. "You asked me why and I'm trying to tell you. You've ruined me for other women, Riley. Did you know that?" He demanded right behind her as she stalked back to the Impala. "I couldn't stop thinking about how I felt with you that night. Every time I kiss another girl, let me finish," He warned when she spun around, mouth open with a glare in his direction. "I never again felt the intensity that we had that night. That I had with you. It was real."
Her eyes were shining with hope and caution. He hoped he had a chance to make it right with her now that she was really listening.
"Surely you moved on, Dean. You made it abundantly clear you had no feelings for me. That my feelings were sick." He winced at that. "You had to have moved on."
"I shouldn't have said that. At the time, I didn't know what to say. I wanted to kiss you again, but I got freaked out. I mean...you said it."
"Because I said I loved you?"
"Yes." He said and heaved a sigh. "I didn't want you to make a mistake by choosing me. Especially when you were only fifteen and hadn't dated anyone before. I didn't want to take that choice from you."
Riley moved closer to him. "Dean...You thought I would regret it?"
He nodded. "Well, yeah. I mean I thought you'd get over me. Like a crush. That's why I pushed you away. I had to."
She sighed. "Okay. I understand now." She turned around. "I guess I would have done the same at the time."
"Now where are you going?"
"To the car." She said in confusion.
"That's it?"
Riley frowned. "Is what it? You just admitted that you at the time had feelings. Like I did. Now we can move on without a lie."
Dean slapped a hand to his forehead. "Seriously? Why do you think I'm telling you all this?"
"I haven't figured that out." She scowled at him. "And you haven't really answered me. Why are you saying this to me now? What is it that you want?"
He laughed a bit, surprised by the question. "What I do I want? I want...I want-Oh, hell I hate talkin'!" He exclaimed and grabbed her arm, yanking her toward him and kissing her heatedly on the mouth.
Fireworks and electric sparks went through her body at the feeling of his lips on hers. The real Dean Winchester and not the Shifter.
She opened her eyes when he pulled back for air, she hadn't realized she had closed them. They were trading breaths, eyes locked on one other. Riley had ended up with her arms around his neck, her fingers gripping his jacket. His own hands were on her hips, squeezing lightly.
"Dammit." Riley backed away, out his arms rapidly. "Don't do that."
"Don't do what? Kiss you?" He stepped closer and she backed up again.
She nodded, tears appearing in her eyes. "You can't."
"Hey, Blondie." He said softly, cupping her cheek. "Hey, it's all right. I was an ass. But I never stopped thinking about you. I did mean it."
"Is this because of the Shifter?"
"No," He said with a heavy sigh. He knew she'd think along those lines and mentally kicked himself for not telling her sooner. "I lied that night with the incubus. That's what I keep trying to tell you."
"Dean-" She began, but couldn't continue. The hand on her face was distracting. He was being so gentle with her and she fought against leaning into it. Could she trust him?
"I'm being serious, Riles. I shouldn't have pushed you away like that. Because I hurt you instead of handling it better. I just thought it was easier for you to hate me. I'm sorry."
That was it. That was what she had wanted, a real apology.
He moved closer to her and she didn't move away. "I'm sorry." He said again softly, leaning his head down. "Give me a chance, okay? A real one." She leaned her face into his hand and he tugged her closer, catching her lips in another kiss. This one was slower, and her eyes fluttered shut once more. Her body melted against his instantly, and his hands slid up to cradle the back of her head, fingers sliding though her hair.
"I'm sorry." He whispered once more against her lips and she shivered. His tongue lavished her lower lip, seeking entry and with a sigh she opened her mouth. She tasted sweet and warm. He backed her against the side of the Impala, and she tightened her fingers in his jacket with a moan as his hard body pressed against her in all the right ways. Encouraged by her response, he grabbed her hips and lifted her onto the hood of the car, moving between her thighs.
He didn't want to move too fast, but the little sounds she was making were driving him crazy. He rested his hands on her thighs, squeezing. He felt wetness on his face and pulled back. Tears were spilling down her cheeks.
"Riles...Hey." He stroked her cheek, wiping away tears and giving her a look of concern. "I-"
Shaking her head, she stroked his face and he felt his skin tingle with her touch.
"It's okay." She echoed his words and he nodded, understanding her tears. It was real. Now there was nothing to separate them, nothing to hinder their feelings. It was real.
She pulled his mouth down to hers, her back arching as she whispered his name against his lips and her hands slipping under his shirt to touch heated skin.
"Fuck." He cursed and hitched her thigh higher up his leg, bending to kiss down her neck as she leaned back against the Impala's hood. He was sending warmth throughout her body and she wanted more.
"Dean..."
"Yeah, baby?" His hands were gliding up her stomach as he growled the words. She shivered from the feeling of his hot hands sliding up her skin, just barely skimming her bra. She squirmed under his touch, feeling electric pulses through her body.
Dean's phone began buzzing in his pocket and he cursed, pulling away from her.
"Bad timing, Sammy." He said and then rolled his eyes. "Never mind. What's going on?"
Sam filled him in and then Dean told Riley as she slid off the Impala, straightening her shirt.
"We're on our way." He said and ended the call. They stared at one another for a moment. Neither one knew what to do.
"We better go then." Riley said at last and started to walk past him.
"Hey," He took her arm and pulled her back to him. "This isn't over." He murmured and kissed her heatedly. She wasn't used to the affection and she blinked at him for a second.
"What was that for?"
"To keep you interested."
"Got something in mind?" She asked, smirking at him.
"Damn right." His eyes darkened as he made eye contact with her and Riley felt her stomach clench in anticipation and nervousness as heat flared in her cheeks. "I've had a lot of time to think about it since we started hunting together again."
Riley didn't know how to respond to that. That was over three months ago. It hadn't occurred to her that he might feel the same as she did when she was around him. she knew that she shouldn't think about it until the case was over with or it would drive her crazy.
They arrived at the hospital as the sun rose in the sky and went looking for Sam. Riley spotted him talking to the sheriff down the hallway and waved at him. They were being blocked off by a few other officers.
"You can't go through, sir." The officer was saying to Dean.
"No, it's alright, we're with him. He's our brother." Dean waved to Sam. "Hey! Brother!" Sam waved back and the sheriff nodded at the officer to let them pass.
Sam met them halfway.
"Are you okay?" Riley asked him and he nodded.
"Yeah."
"What the hell happened?"
"Hook Man."
Dean's eyebrows rose. "You saw him?"
Sam nodded and frowned at them. "Damn right. Why didn't you torch the bones?"
"We did." Riley told him. "Are you sure it's Jacob Karns' spirit? That's the bones we torched."
"It sure as hell looked like him." Sam argued. "And that's not all. I don't think the spirit is latching on to the reverend."
"Who?" She asked.
"I think it's latching onto Lori. Last night she found out her father is having an affair with a married woman."
Dean shrugged. "So what?"
"Immorality, Dean." Riley pointed out.
Sam nodded. "She told me she was raised to believe that if you do something wrong, you get punished."
"Ok, so she's conflicted." The older Winchester nodded. "And the spirit of Preacher Karns is latching on to repress the emotions and maybe he's doing the punishing for her, huh?"
"Right. Rich comes on too strong, Taylor tries to make her into a party girl, Dad has an affair."
"Remind me not to piss this girl off. But Riles and I burned those bones, we buried them in salt, why didn't that stop him?"
Riley smacked her own forehead.
"What?"
"The hook. It wasn't in the coffin. We would have seen it. The spirit has to be attached to the hook."
"So, like the bones, the hook is a source of his power." Dean nodded in understanding.
"So if we find the hook..." Sam trailed off.
"We stop the Hook Man." They said at the same time and grinned. Riley smiled at them.
Sam had immediately noticed a difference between Dean and Riley. What had happened last night? He thought back to Dean saying he interrupted something. What exactly had he interrupted? Were they hooking up? He didn't mind it, in fact he was rather glad of it. He had always considered Riley a sister to him and she was suited for his brother. She knew their past, she had a past too, and knew Dean as well as he did.
Dean sent Riley a heated look and she immediately sent him a look of "Seriously?" as she badly hid a flush of her cheeks. Sam almost snorted aloud at his brother's lascivious grin. Now they would never pay attention.
The blonde cleared her throat. "Here's something, I think. Log book, Iowa State Penitentiary." She ran her finger down the page. "Karns, Jacob. Personal affects: disposition thereof."
Sam tilted his head. "Does it mention the hook?"
She frowned. "Maybe. Hold on." She scanned the page again. "Upon execution, all earthly items shall be remanded to the prisoner's house of worship, St. Barnabas Church."
"Isn't that where Lori's father preaches?" Sam asked.
Dean nodded. "Yeah."
"Where Lori lives?"
"Maybe that's why the Hook Man has been haunting reverends and reverends' daughters for the past 200 years."
"Yeah, but if the hook were at the church or Lori's house, don't you think someone might've seen it? I mean, a bloodstained, silver-handled hook?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Not unless it got melted down into something else." Riley pointed out.
Dean nodded in agreement. "Let's check the church records."
They continued searching over the papers until Sam sat back with a sigh.
"St. Barnabas donations, 1862. Received silver-handled hook from state penitentiary. Reforged." Riley and Dean groaned. "They did melt it down. Made it into something else."
"It doesn't say what?" The blonde asked hopefully.
"No."
She sighed. "I guess we're going to have to chunk everything silver into a fire."
Dean parked the car a little way from St. Barnabas Church and they got out.
"Alright, we can't take any chances." He was saying as they walked toward the church. "Anything silver goes in the fire."
"I agree." Sam nodded and looked at his phone. "So, Lori's still at the hospital. We'll have to break in."
"Alright, take your pick."
"I'll take the house." He said and then glanced at Riley. "You go with Dean."
Dean started toward the church as his brother turned toward the house.
"Hey." Sam turned to him. "Stay out of her underwear drawer."
Sam rolled his eyes as Riley laughed and walked away.
"Quit looking at me like that." She laughed as Dean gave her another suggestive glance. "We're on a case."
"Nope. Won't now that I can." He grinned at her like a big kid and she shook her head. She tossed another silver platter into the fire.
Sam came down the steps with a bag over his shoulder.
"I got everything that even looked silver." He said and handed it Riley.
"Better safe than sorry." Dean nodded and helped her throw the items in the fire. A creak above them, made them freeze. Then they heard footsteps. Dean grabbed his gun and gestured at Sam. "Move, move." Sam went up the steps cautiously, Dean behind him and Riley at the back.
Sam stepped out of the basement and peered into the main hall of the church. A familiar girl was sitting at a pew, crying. It was Lori. Riley poked him.
"Go talk to her." She whispered and grabbed Dean's jacket, pulling him backward. "We will keep throwing things in the fire." Sam nodded and wandered down the aisle as Dean closed the door to the basement.
"Alone again." He smirked at her.
"Shut up, you goof." She laughed softly.
Once the rest of the silver was tossed in, they waited on Sam to finish up with Lori. Riley sat on a crate across from the fire, watching it glow. She felt Dean's jacket brush her arm as he sat next to her.
"One of the reasons Eli thought I was cheating on him was because of you." She said softly, eyes glued to the fire. She didn't want to look at him. "I lied too. I hadn't moved on from it. I thought about it all the time. I had hoped that you'd come for me. Stupid really, but I wished it all the same." She finally looked at him and he was watching her solemnly. "I did love him. I just didn't...love him the way he needed I guess." She sighed. "It's confusing."
"I get it." He said quietly. "I told you that I couldn't stop thinking about you. And I want you to be sure about me."
She cupped his face with one hand, stroking his cheek with a small smile. "I've never been more sure."
He looked uncertain himself and she frowned lightly. "Dean?" He averted his eyes, but didn't move away from her hand. "What's wrong? Is it me? Are you not sure about me?"
"No, no, it's not you." He murmured. "I just don't really know what you want from me." She frowned deeper and he shifted. "I'm not used to long-term; I mean. I don't know how."
She relaxed and shook her head. "Well, I sort of jumped into a proposal awful fast without sorting out my feelings first so, I'm not used to it either." She slid her hand into his and squeezed lightly. "We can both try."
He squeezed her hand back and then smiled at her.
A scream came from upstairs and they heard a crash.
"Obviously we didn't get all the silver!" Riley yelped as Dean pulled her off the crate, his hand still tangled with hers. They ran for the stairs, hurrying up them to get to Sam and Lori.
They burst through the door to the basement and ran down the row of pews before turning a corner and heading for the pastor's office. There they could see Sam shielding Lori, holding his bleeding arm and the flickering apparition of the Hook Man.
"Sam, drop!" Dean yelled at his brother and shot at the ghost who disappeared seconds before the rock salt hit. Riley slid past Dean and into the room with Sam and Lori.
"How bad is your arm?" She questioned, taking his wrist and turning it.
"It's not deep." Sam said, winced when she pushed up his sleeve.
"Yeah, it's not deep, but it's still bleeding pretty bad."
"I thought we got all the silver." He demanded of Dean who shrugged.
"We thought we did!"
"Then why is he still here?!"
"Well, maybe we missed something." Riley rolled her eyes and then looked at Lori. "Where'd you get that necklace?" Sam turned too.
"My father."
"Where'd your father get it?" Dean asked quickly.
"He said it was a church heirloom and he gave it to me when I started school?"
"Is it silver?" Sam demanded and she nodded rapidly. He leaned forward and took it from her neck
The sound of something grating on the wall made them freeze. Dean turned his head, eyeing the hall behind him. a long scratch appeared dragging along the wall. The invisible hook doing damage as it creeped closer. Sam tossed the necklace to Dean who tossed him the gun and two bullets. The older Winchester sprinted off and Sam tried to load the gun.
"Give it!" Riley demanded, taking it from him and shoving her flannel into his arms. "Hold it on your arm, stop the bleeding." Cocking the gun, she aimed at the top of the wall, where the ghost was still dragging his hook along the plaster. She fired at the wall, blasting a hole where she hoped the ghost had been. The hook stopped dragging and Riley rapidly reloaded the gun.
She turned around to aim again, but the Hook Man was there ready for her. With a hard whack from his iron wrist, Riley was sent sprawling to the ground, the gun sliding out of her hands.
"Son of a bitch!" She swore and Sam grabbed her ankle dragging her backward toward him and Lori. She scowled, scrambling for the gun. "Damn it, Sam!"
"You can't reach it!" He argued back. Riley glanced up when she heard the ghost make a strange noise. Very slowly, the edges of the ghost's coat caught on fire and the hook melted away. In flashes of light and ash, the Hook Man was gone.
Dean ran down the hall, stopping just outside the door.
"Well, we got him that time." Riley said from the floor.
He snorted and Sam shook his head.
The next morning, Dean and Riley met with one of the police officers while Sam was getting checked on at the back of one of the ambulances. Lori was next to him, making sure he was okay.
"And you saw him too, the man with the hook?" The police officer asked, narrowing his eyes in disbelief at the two in front of him.
Riley nodded. "Yes, sir. We all did. We fought him off the best we could, and he ran. Damaged the inside of the church." She said as innocently as possible, her eyes wide with faked fear. The man's face softened.
"And that's all?"
"That's all, sir. I swear."
"All right." He glanced at Dean eyes hardened again. "Listen you and your brother-"
"Don't worry we're leaving town." He said and took Riley's arm. "Come on."
They went back across to the car and Riley laughed. "What in the hell did you do to him?"
"He don't like out of towners." Dean smirked back and she laughed again. Getting into the car, she noticed him glancing at his brother in the rearview mirror. Sam was talking to Lori.
"It's not fair. He finds someone nice like Lori and can't seem to catch a break."
"Yeah."
Sam came to the car and slid into the backseat.
"We could stay." Dean offered softly.
"Yeah, Sam. officer friendly would never know." Riley added.
Sam only shook his head. Lost in his own thoughts.
Dean glanced at Riley who smiled sadly, and he started the car, pulling out and away from Lori.
She knew that Sam needed time to sort out his feelings and that she and Dean were going to have to do some thinking of their own. She loved Dean, more than she had ever loved anyone else, but Dean wasn't that comfortable with his feelings yet. Sure, he was attracted to her, he had admitted to that, but...as he had said in the church basement, he didn't know about long-term. Maybe it was just lust between them and nothing more. Had she been wrong? Or was she just being paranoid that he'd dump her or leave her after they finally hooked up?
Dean's hand slid across the seat and grabbed hers, startling her. He had never done that before. He undid the clenched fist she hadn't realized she had made and tangled their fingers together.
She looked at him and smiled, all doubts floating away as he smiled back. Maybe she was paranoid after all.
"Aha!" A voice cried and Dean jumped, his hand flying out of hers and back on the wheel. Sam suddenly leaned over the seat. "I knew something was going on between you two!"
"Shut up." Dean muttered with no anger. "Don't know what you're talkin' about."
"Hey, I'm just glad you both stopped being so stubborn. I thought I was going to have to shove you into a room together and lock the door."
"You still can." Dean smirked and Riley stifled a laugh at Sam's regretful expression. "That's actually a good idea, Sammy. Next motel stop. You probably want to get a room far, far away. Ain't that right, sugarpie?" He asked, squeezing Riley's knee. She laughed and swatted his hand.
"Would you behave? You're traumatizing your brother."
"Oh, god." Sam groaned and Dean laughed.
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