Disclaimer: Alright, don't own anything that you recognize….but I'm asking Santa for Jensen for Christmas ;) By the way, I got the idea for the house from the genius Stephen King, for anyone who's seen "Rose Red".
Author's Note: Thanks for the great reviews, I really appreciate it. Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up, but I've been busy with school work and such…college certainly is no picnic…
Chapter Four: In your dreams…
"So, what's your plan? You know, where are you going to stay or anything?" Micah asks from the middle of the backseat of Dean's car.
"Well, would you mind housing two, uh, supernatural hunters, for a couple of nights?" Sam asks carefully. He crosses his fingers, hoping Dean will keep his mouth shut for a few minutes.
Unexpectedly, Micah lets out a huge laugh. "Is that what you call yourselves? Don't tell anyone else around here about that. They'll think you're crazier than I am!"
"Well, it's the only way I could think to explain it," Sam chuckles. "But could we? Stay with you, that is."
"I suppose," she replies. "As long as he doesn't come anywhere near me." She gestures toward Dean.
"I think I can corral him," Sam guarantees.
"I'm sitting right here, you know!" Dean says through clenched teeth, pulling into a parking space in front of the diner.
"Sadly, I'm very aware of that," Micah sighs, as she crawls out of the backseat with Sam's help. "Okay, you can just follow me to my place," she calls over her shoulder as she walks to her own car.
"What did I say about being nicer?" Sam asks, looking at his brother.
"Well, Sammy, it's just so difficult when she's so-rude."
"She's only responding to you. Besides, she's the only person in this entire town who can do anything for us. The last thing we need is her calling the cops."
The two brothers watch as Micah pulls out in her car and Dean allows her to pass to be in front of them.
"Check that out!" Dean exclaims, leaning forward on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on Micah's fire-engine red vehicle. "Sammy, that's a 1967 Charger-in great condition. You know, I might be able to get along with her."
"Well, it's a start," Sam sighs.
Minutes later, they pull up in front of a small, one story house with a porch and large wooden front door.
"Hopefully she'll have room for us," Dean says sarcastically to his brother, turning off the car.
Sam doesn't respond, only gets out to meet Micah on the porch.
"Well, it's not much, but it's home. Besides, it's better than living in the house the family left me," she smiles, as they wait for Dean to come up the steps.
"They left you a possessed house?" Sam asks unbelievably.
"Well, it's been in the family for years. Selling it would be going against my father's wishes, and his father's and his father's."
"So you keep it and it just sits there?" Dean inquires indifferently. "Eating people?"
"I've always been too afraid of the consequences to tear it down," she answers, opening the door and leading the way into the house.
The rooms look lived in, but at the same time vacant. There is furniture, photographs, and candles, but yet they have the feel and air of a house not lived in and abandoned.
"Make yourselves at home." Micah gestures toward the living room, where sit a couch, loveseat, and armchair-all of a dark, wine red suede. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"You got a beer?" Dean asks, plopping himself on the couch and stretching out.
"Yes," Micah sighs. "Sam?"
"I'm alright." He watches her walk toward the back of the house into the kitchen. Sighing heavily, he sits down in the armchair next to the couch his brother lounges on. "Dean, come on, be civil," he says, leaning toward the elder.
"Tell her to, then! She's just being a bitch," Dean huffs. As never before, he strikes his younger brother as a child.
Sam unpredictably lets out a laugh. "I know what this is about: you think she's hot and want to get with her, and she can see you coming from a mile away," Sam laughs quietly.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about. She'd be lucky to get with this," he boasts, gesturing to himself.
Sam says nothing, sitting back and chuckling to himself as he can hear Micah coming their way. Dean glares at him out of the corner of his eye as Micah enters, and only barely looks up at her when she hands him the beer. Watching carefully, Sam notices how meticulously she moves her hand before Dean's fingers can brush against hers.
"So, where do you want to start with research?" Micah asks, sitting on the loveseat, a glass of water-or something-cradled carefully in her hands.
"Usually we start with looking through newspapers and town archives. Has anyone spoken with the families of the most recent victims?" Sam asks.
"The FBI did, and so have the local police. They won't let me anywhere near the case. Half the town thinks our family is cursed, and won't come within 500 feet of me, and the other half thinks I'm crazy," Micah sighs.
"Maybe if you were a bit more…social," Dean muses viciously.
"You know what? I've had about enough of your mouth and your fucking ego!" Micah cries. "Look, if you don't want my help, I'll turn you loose with the rest of the town. Then we'll see just how far you get then!" Riled up, she stands, nearly ready to kick the shit out of this guy who thinks he knows it all.
"I'm sorry, just thought I'd inform you that being a bitch doesn't really get you too far with people," Dean shouts back, rising to mirror her.
"Hey, hey!" Sam yells, standing up between them. "Look, Dean, why don't you stay here. Micah, you and I can go on a walk. Calm you two down."
For a few moments, Dean and Micah continue to stare each other down, Sam looking desperately at the two of them. "Come on, Micah," he begs.
"Fine," she huffs, heading for the door. On her way out, she grabs a dark brown leather jacket and throws it on over her sweater.
"Look, behave yourself," Sam warns, turning away from his brother and following the dark beauty out the front door. She's already halfway down the block. "Hey, wait up!" Jogging, he catches up to her with ease.
The air is chilled, and he can see her breath coming out in huffs and they continue to walk together. "Such an asshole! How can you stand to be near him?" she breathes unbelievably.
"We're brothers," Sam chuckles softly, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"You're kidding! How did you turn out so much different from him-so much better?"
"Dean's got a good heart. You just have to get past his tough guy exterior. He's just…he tries to be the one who doesn't care, but in reality he does. He cares so much. But all he knows is to push people who he doesn't think can protect themselves away. He really does care about you," Sam explains, smiling down on her. Her dark hair glows in the moonlight, giving her an ethereal appearance.
"Yeah, he cares about getting in my pants," she grumbles.
Sam lets out an open, loud laugh. "No, it goes beyond that. He's always been the better looking, studlier on. He believes he's God's gift to women. You have to forgive him. He's just a big softie. All you have to do is give him a chance." Before she can move away, Sam reaches over, putting a hand on her shoulder. Immediately, she stops walking, her eyes closing tightly. "Micah? Micah, are you okay?" She doesn't answer, just stands there next to him.
Behind her eyelids, images flash before her as words pass through her ears. A girl brutally pinned to a ceiling, blood across her stomach, then bursting into flames.
After a few moments of this strange unresponsiveness, Sam lets go of the small girl, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "Micah, answer me!" he cries.
Finally, her eyes slowly open, and she looks up at him. "I'm okay, Sam. Don't worry," she reassures, rubbing her temples with her fingertips.
"What-what was that about?" He leans down to look into her half closed eyes.
"Nothing," she covers, her lie obvious. He gives her a knowing look. "Who's Jessica?" Her question is met with a look of shock and confusion.
"Where did you-how did you-" Sam can't finish due to his absolute surprise.
Author's Note: I wrote this long before "The Journey Home" aired, so kind of keep that in mind when reading future chapters…I think the first eight were written before that episode. Just a quick note. Hope you enjoyed this, and I'll try to have the next chapter up soon!