Chapter 3: Overprotective Brothers

Author's Note: I know that the Headless Horseman has a real place in history. I'm planning on using that later in the story as a plot twist :-). Thanks for reviewing and for any constructive comments. I hope everyone is enjoying the story.

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Sarah was smart enough not to get into a car with two men she didn't know, so she drove to the café while Sam and Dean followed behind her. They parked in the lot and headed for the door.

Loud music was coming from somewhere down the road, a bar most likely. No matter what was wrong in the world you could always count on the town drinking establishment to still be open for business and for the regulars to keep coming.

They all walked into the café. Patty's shift must have ended because she wasn't there. An older woman with a name tag that read Wilma showed them to a booth in the back corner.

"Just coffee for now," Dean said. He noticed Wilma giving Sarah a reproachful look, one that said her boyfriend was only dead a few days and yet here she was with two strange men.

"Is it going to be a problem for you?" Dean asked. "Being here with us, that is?"

"People will gossip for a day or two, but that's all," Sarah admitted.

"What about Tom?" Sam inquired. "Is there any chance he'll show up here?"

"He shouldn't. Not as long as the bar has booze," Sarah replied. "I know Tom was rude to you earlier, and I apologize for that, but he was just looking out for me. He's my big brother. Both he and Jim were always so protective of me after our parents died. Jim had just turned eighteen and Tom was seventeen. At first the state tried to take me away because I was only twelve. They wanted to put me in a foster home, but Jim opened the auto shop and proved to the courts that he could take care of me and Tom. Those two raised me to tell the truth."

During Sarah's story of her protective brothers Sam couldn't help but look at Dean. Sure enough, Dean was looking back at him with a knowing smirk on his face.

"Anyway, that's why Tom was so rough on you two earlier. After Jim was…was killed…reporters started showing up on our door step, but then when Brian was murdered too, well, you have no idea how crazy it was. I mean, they even came to the funeral. It was awful. I don't even know why I'm telling you this. If Tom knew I was talking to you right now he'd freak."

"I know it's hard to believe," Sam explained, "but we really are here to help."

"You two aren't reporters are you?" she asked.

"No," Dean replied. "We…we solve mysteries…ones that other people can't solve, ones that make no sense to other people because the truth is just too hard to believe sometimes."

"Well, I really hope you can help me, because I feel like if I don't get some help soon I'm going to go crazy for real."

"For real?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, the Sheriff already thinks I am. He said to Tom that I was so overcome with grief that I must have imagined it all, that there was just no way I could possibly be right."

"Right about what?" Dean asked.

"About how Brian died. Brian…he was my boyfriend. Actually, the night before he died he…he asked Tom if he could marry me." Once more Sarah was overcome with grief and put her hands to her face and cried.

Instinctively Sam put a hand on Sarah's shoulder and comforted her. He handed her a napkin from the dispenser and she wiped her eyes with it.

"No one knows," she continued. "He died before I had the chance to share the news. Brian was the first man that I ever dated that my brothers actually liked and hadn't threatened to kill." She laughed and cried at the same time.

"I can't believe a few weeks ago I had two brothers and a man who loved me with his entire heart, and now it's just me and Tom. I feel like my whole world has come crashing down and I haven't got a clue what to do anymore. Tom…he's a wreck. He's trying to hold it together for my benefit. He feels he's the man, he's older, he's supposed to be the strong one, but I know. Lately he's been practically keeping me under lock and key he's so afraid, and at night he's started drinking at the bar. He was never like that before. I mean, sure, he liked a cold beer now and then, but he never drank just for the sake of getting drunk, like he does now."

"It's not always easy, being the big brother. The need to protect your siblings can be so strong at times that it borders on obsession," Dean told her.

Sam knew Dean was talking about their relationship with each other and made a point of not looking Dean in the eyes. Instead he focused on Sarah.

"Sarah, what did you see the night Brian died?"

"We were coming home from the movies. Brian had taken me out on a date after proposing. It was late by the time the movie ended. We were halfway home when Brian slammed on the breaks. A person was kneeling…or…crouching in the middle of the road. We could see his back to us because of the headlights. Brian got out of the truck to see if the man was okay. He looked hurt or something. The minute Brian put his hand on the man's shoulder he…he stood up and drew a sword from somewhere. I screamed. I remember screaming. Brian just stood there staring at that thing. It was a man with no head. I swear…I know it sounds crazy, that I sound crazy, but I saw it clear as day in the headlights."

"What type of clothes did it have on?" Dean asked.

"They were old looking. Not old as in worn out, but old fashioned with ruffles on the sleeves and stuff. Then, out of the blue, that thing swings the sword and Brian's…Brian's head…it just…was gone. I saw it drop to the ground and then Brian's body fell like it was in slow motion."

"Sarah, what happened then?" Sam asked.

"I screamed. Then that thing turned around to face me, only it didn't have a face, but that's what it did none the less. It seemed to see me. I slid over to the driver's seat, put the truck in reverse, and floored it all the way back to the intersection. Then I turned the corner and went straight to the police department and told the sheriff. The sheriff and his deputy drove out there and found Brian's body, but just like Jim, his head was gone. They still haven't found their heads."

"Did you see Jim get killed?" Dean asked.

"No. I was working at the fudge shop when Tom drove up and came inside to tell me what had happened. Jim had been murdered at the auto shop. Brian had left to get get some food and when he came back Jim was dead, head gone."

"So this thing attacked in broad daylight?" Sam asked.

"No, it was about eight at night when Tom came to see me. On the weekends the fudge shop stayed open later because of tourists." Sarah picked up her cup of coffee.

"Did you know Jacob Rains?" Dean asked.

Sarah's hand stopped in mid-air, the cup of coffee hovering over the table. "Um, no, not really." Her voice was quivering and her hand was shaking.

"We heard he was flirting with you," Dean said.

"Oh, that, it was no big deal. He just said some off the wall comments. Brain told him to get lost and that was the end of it."

"Are you sure?" Sam asked. "This could be important."

"Yeah, I'm sure," she said with a bit more confidence this time. Sam and Dean both knew that she was holding back, but now wasn't the time to push it. She was just barely holding herself together.

"If you two will excuse me, I'll be right back." Dean stood up and headed towards the restroom.

"He's your brother, isn't he?" Sarah asked.

"How did you know?"

"That comment he made about big brothers. It was easy to tell he was talking about you."

"We didn't exactly have a normal childhood growing up. In a lot of ways Dean raised me like your brothers raised you, so believe me, I understand all about having someone constantly watching out for you."

"Do you ever get frustrated?"

"Sometimes I wish he'd back off just a little, but truthfully, most of the time I'm just really thankful he's there."

"Be glad you have him," Sarah said. "You never know how good you have it until something truly bad happens and takes it away from you."

The bell over the door chimed and both Sarah and Sam turned their heads. As soon as Sam saw who entered the café he knew they were in trouble. There was Sarah's brother Tom along with several of his drinking buddies. He was clearly drunk, but not so drunk that he couldn't recognize his sister. He immediately marched up to their table.

"Sarah, what are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I was just talking," she said sweetly.

Tom turned to Sam. Recognition came to him slowly, but when it did steam practically blew out of his ears.

"YOU! I told you to stay away from my sister!"

Sarah jumped up and placed herself in front of Sam. "Tom, wait. It's okay. He's just helping."

"I'll bet! Helping himself to his damn story. He's only here so he can print his lies, make you look like some crazy nut, or even worse, he's hoping to get in your pants!"

"Wait, it's not like that at all," Sam said.

"I'll bet!" Tom grabbed Sam by his shirt collar and yanked him out of the booth.

"Tom no!" Sarah cried. "Please Tom."

It was too late. Tom punched Sam in the nose and blood immediately began to pour. Sam fell to the floor and shook his head, trying to get his bearings.

"SAMMY!" Dean came out of the bathroom just in time to see Sam go down on all fours. He started running and hit Tom with a full tackle.

"NO!" Sarah cried. "Stop it, both of you!" Once again she placed herself between to two fighting men. Both Tom and Dean were chomping at the bit as those protective instincts coursed through their veins.

"Dean, don't," Sam said as he stood up. He looked at Sarah. "I'm sorry for your loss. It was nice meeting you. Good night."

Dean stood there dumbfounded. He was ready to wipe the floor with this son of a bitch and Sam was standing there exchanging pleasantries.

"Let's go," Sam said. He grabbed a wad of napkins from the table and used them to hold his nose and then walked out of the café.

Dean wasn't about to be swayed that easily. "Don't you ever touch my brother again." Then Dean turned to follow Sam outside. Sam was standing by the car when Dean came out.

"What the hell was that?" Dean demanded.

"That was me stopping a fight before it happened."

"I think the fight was already in the process of happening when you decided to walk away from it."

"Dean, he's just protecting his sister from two strangers. His brother and Sarah's fiancé were murdered and he wants to make sure the last member of his family is safe. Can you honestly say you would be acting any differently if you were in his shoes? Just now you were ready to kill him with your bare hands because he had the nerve to punch your brother. Am I right?""

Dean sighed. "I guess. Still, he didn't have to hit you. Are you okay?" Dean lifted Sam's hand away from his face and gently felt the bridge of Sam's nose. "I don't think it's broken, but we better find a place to stay and get some ice on it to keep the swelling down."

"What ever you say, mom," Sam teased. He always found it amusing when Dean would turn into a mother hen.

"Oh shut up," Dean protested and climbed into the car. "And don't bleed on my car or I'll give you a black eye to match your nose!"