Night found Sam and C.J. outside the Jackson house, in the back yard, looking for the best way to get in. Sam made his way to the back door as C.J. stood back and kept watch. She looked up and around.
"Sam!" She said low, but loud enough for him to hear.
He turned and looked at her. "What?"
"Window's open on the second floor," she announced, nodding her head up to the open window above the back porch. "Any good at climbing trees?" She wondered with a grin.
A couple minutes later, Sam was waiting up in the tree waiting for C.J. to take her turn. She carefully inspected the tree.
"You need a hand?" Sam asked, offering a hand.
"I got it," she answered.
Grabbing a thick branch that was a foot over her head, C.J. held tight and swung back a forth a couple of times. Keeping her legs straight, she flipped her body up and wrapped her waist around the branch. She maneuvered herself until she straddled the branch and then pulled herself upright, carefully edging her way to where Sam was, a bit befuddled. They made their way to the rooftop of the porch and to the open window.
Sam glanced from C.J. to the tree and back. "Uhm..."
"Varsity gymnast. Four years." C.J. said with a mischievous grin, dusting herself off. "I'm just full of surprises," she added before she climbed in through the open window. Sam let out a incredulous chuckle and the slightest hint of a smile crossed his lips as he followed C.J. in through the window.
They pulled out their flashlights and began looking around; checking bookshelves, in drawers, above, below and under, but nothing turned up. While they were checking out the second floor, a scuffle sounded from above.
They both turned their heads up towards the ceiling.
"Could be rats," C.J. exclaimed.
"Could be," Sam agreed. "But I don't think so."
Walking around, they checked for a stairway up to the attic, but found none. Shining a light up to the ceiling Sam saw the cord for a pull down ladder leading to the attic. Reaching up, he grabbed the cord and gave a tug. The door clanged open and the ladder slid to the ground with a thud. They both cringed upon the impact of the ladder to the floor.
"I hope Amanda and Dean get here soon," C.J. said as Sam ascended the ladder. She followed suit.
The stench nearly bowled them over before they were even fully in the attic. Both covered their noses with the hand that wasn't holding the flashlight. They looked around and saw that the area was illuminated by several candles of varying size and shape.
"God, what died in here?" C.J. wondered, hand still over her nose, shining the light back and forth as she noted the attic cluttered with trunks, boxes and the odd piece of furniture.
"Might be this guy," Sam answered, shining a light over to the corner where the long dead body of an older man lay. The body had already began to rot, the smell radiating from him.
"Uggh, sorry I asked," she replied. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Here," Sam said as hey approached a long table decorated with candles. It was only as they approached that they noticed there were dark markings, what looked like animal bones and several pictures of James Aders, which looked as if they had been taken without his knowledge. "Looks like someone is doing some dark magicks here."
"Bad stuff to be messing with," C.J. announced, making her way around the table, then tripping over something.
"You okay?" Sam asked in concern.
Shining her light down to see what she tripped over, C.J. saw the bloodied corpse of Carolyn Jackson laying on the floor beneath her. "I'm fine, but I can't say the same about her."
Sam made to walk around the table to see, but the doors on a nearby wardrobe doors flew open and a screaming Isabelle came bursting out. She knocked C.J. down to the floor, whose head connected with the edge of a shelf.
"C.J.!" He yelled, rushing towards her.
He heard Isabelle call out something in Latin and found himself flung across the room and pinned several feet up against the wall.
"Just had to stick your noses where they didn't belong," Isabelle hissed.
"What have you done?" Sam demanded.
"I've taken everything away from the one who denied me."
"James...your father," Sam added.
Isabelle cast a glare that could've cast daggers. "How did you know that?" She demanded.
Sam noticed C.J. stirring on the floor, as she pulled herself up slowly, careful not to be seen by Isabelle. He saw her reaching for a black handled athame that lay on the table. He did his best to not draw attention her way and to keep Isabelle distracted.
"It wasn't hard to figure out," Sam goaded. "Just put two and two together. Your mother gets fired for some bogus reason, leaves town and returns with a kid..."
"Shut up! That should've been mine, but he wasn't man enough to own up that he knocked up the babysitter," Isabelle hissed, still oblivious to the fact that C.J. was slowly creeping up on her from behind.
"So we were reduced to living like this," she said, waving her arm around to the room around. "The scum of the town."
Struggling to free himself with no luck, Sam continued, "When'd you find out?" He asked, his eyes quickly darting from C.J. back to Isabelle.
Isabelle let out a scoff. "My wonderful mother let it slip while on a bender a few weeks ago. I was furious, but I didn't let on. I went and talked to Aders myself - he dismissed me like I was yesterdays garbage, so I cooked up a wonderful little plan..."
"You gained this power in a few week? You must be a quick study," Sam stated.
Isabelle laughed. "Idiot! I've been a practicing witch for over three years and..." She whirled around and caught C.J., knife at the ready. "Demoror!" She commanded and C.J. was suddenly frozen on the spot as if held by an invisible embrace.
"You are quite the pair - you distract me, while she stabs me in the back." Isabelle clicked her tongue in disappointment. "You poor foolish girl," she scolded, turning glare at C.J.
"Oh officer, she came into my house to cut her throat and blame it on poor innocent me," she said, mockingly sweet and innocent, uttered something in Latin and flicked her hand.
C.J. was helpless as she watched the arm that held the athame, raise seemingly of its own volition towards her throat; the blade coming to rest upon the delicate flesh of her neck. She could only stand immobile, feeling the coolness of the sharp edge upon her. Sam fought to free himself as he watched C.J. slowly draw the blade across her throat, a trickle of blood running down her throat.
"C.J.! NO!" Sam screamed. C.J. turned her eyes his way, tears streaming down her face as the knife slowly cut the soft flesh.
There was a loud splintering of wood and Isabelle fell to the floor in a heap, knocked unconscious by a nearby chair. At the same moment, Sam hit the floor with a thud and the knife that C.J. held clattered to the floor.
Amanda towered over the downed girl, looking down at her in disdain. "Crazy bitch! I'm the only one allowed to torment my sister."
C.J. fell to her knees and began sobbing. Sam immediately rushed to her side, kneeling down next to her, holding her tight and assuring her it was all going be okay.
"You guys are late," Sam scolded, casting a glance up at Dean.
Amanda shook her head. "Deany boy here got us lost," Amanda announced.
Dean gave Amanda a dirty look. "I did not. Hey, we're here and in time. So...shut up," he managed to utter, stumbling over his words. Amanda shook her head again and rolled her eyes.
A few hours later police were swarming around the house. The bodies from the attic were being wheeled out in body bags and placed into the back of the coroners van. C.J. sat in the back of a nearby ambulance having the wounds on her head and neck tended to as Sam, Dean and Amanda give their statements to the police. As soon as he was done, Sam joined C.J. at the ambulance.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Hey, you," she returned, her mood a bit brighter at his arrival.
"How you doing?" He wondered, his eyes wandering to the gash on her head that was bandaged with butterfly strips and to the wound on her neck covered in gauze.
She stood up as the EMT finished, thanked them and slowly walked off with Sam. "Not too bad - all considered. You took a pretty good slam to the wall yourself," she said in concern.
Sam shrugged modestly. "I was more worried about you," he confessed, taking her hand, holding it gently.
C.J. smiled, a hint of tears in her eyes. "Mister Winchester, I'm touched," she said, looking as if she were having a bit of a hard time keeping the tears from flowing. "You're the best thing that's happened in my life in a long time," she confessed.
"You read my mind," Sam agreed, then kissing her before pulling her close and held fast, not wanting to let her go.
"All right love birds, break it up," Dean's voice boomed from nearby. Sam and C.J. broke from their embrace to turn and see Amanda and Dean approached.
"I don't know about you guys, but I would really like to get the hell out of here," Dean announced.
C.J. rested her head against Sam's shoulder, his arm going protectively around her shoulder, holding her close.
"I could definitely use a beer," C.J. announced.
Sam nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"Then it's settled," Dean stated. "Let's get the hell out of here."
They had all met back up at the bar after heading to the motel to clean up and change clothes, where they drank a few rounds of beer and shot the bull. Amanda had shown Dean up at darts, humbling him ever so slightly. C.J. and Sam were off near the back playing some pool, trying to show the other one up at times. It was very obvious that the pair were quite smitten. Dean was glad to see his brother in such good spirits, but he knew what had to come.
"I haven't seen sis this happy, genuinely happy, since before mom and dad died. I don't know what your brother did to her, but it must've been something else. I haven't seen her this happy since she got her first car."
Dean raised an eyebrow in questioning.
"It was a Porsche," Amanda clarified.
Dean nodded as if to say 'Ahh.'
"Yeah, the other day she was singing some Britney Spears song and dancing all over the place. The girl can dance, I will give her that. Don't get me wrong here - I love the girl, but she has the vocal talents of screech owl." Amanda announced, glancing over to see Sam leaning over C.J., trying to teach her a trick shot, a small smile on her face as she turned back to the table.
Dean guffawed and glanced back to Amanda, as he fiddled with his beer bottle. "Yeah, same for Sam. Ever since he lost his girlfriend last year...Well, it took him a long time to get over that. Though every now and then..." He trailed off.
Nodding in silent acknowledgment, Amanda glanced at her sister then back, replying, "It's gonna be hard when this is over."
"Yeah," Dean nodded solemnly as C.J. approached the table.
"Mandy, can I have the keys for the truck? I'm ready to go," C.J. said, a twinkle in her eye as she cast a quick glance back.
Dean followed her gaze to the pool tables and saw the biggest and goofiest grin on Sam's face that he could recall seeing in a long time. It actually warmed his heart to see his brother so utterly and sugar shocking happy.
Before Amanda could answer, Dean spoke up, "Here, take the Impala," as he fished the keys out of the jacket that hung on the back of his chair. C.J. smiled and Dean came to realize what a lucky little bastard his brother was.
"Thanks, Dean," she said.
He nodded. "Anytime. Now you crazy kids get out of here," he ordered.
C.J. left and flashed the keys as she approached Sam. They grabbed their jackets and were almost out the door when Dean called out, "Hey!"
Sam, who was holding the door for C.J. stopped and turned to his brother. "Yeah?"
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Dean smirked, with a wink of his eye.
Sam rolled his eyes and C.J. grinned as she shook her head. Then they were gone with a roar of pure muscle.
'Enjoy it while you can, Sammy boy. Enjoy it while you can,' Dean thought with a sigh.
Just at that moment, a very busty, barely dressed brunette walked by their table. Both turned their heads to get a better look at the backside as the woman sauntered by.
"Damn!" They said in unison approval.
His eyes still on the brunette, Dean then realized he was without a ride. "Uhm, Amanda?"
Amanda, who was still entranced by the brunette who was now doing an impromptu dance near the bar, murmured, "Yeah?"
"I'm gonna, uhm, need a ride," he began, watching as the brunette hoisted herself onto the bar. Him and Amanda both craned their heads to side to try and get a peek of something more. "...and a...wow!...a place to sleep tonight. I think my room will be...in use for a while."
Amanda's eyes were glued to the woman on the bar who was now doing some acrobatics with a metal pole at the end of the bar. "Yeah...sure," she said, absent mindedly. "Damn! She's hot!"
"Oh, yeah. Hey, did you happen to bring any ones along?" He wondered as the show continued.
"Nope, just some fives and tens," she stated. "Though I do have a proposition for you, Deany boy."
Dean actually tore his glance away from the undulating brunette to look at Amanda, his eyebrow raised in intrigued. "Oh yeah?"
"Not that kind of proposition," Amanda sighed and rolled her eyes, then smacked Dean soundly on the back of the head. "It does involve that saucy little number there on the bar."
"Do tell."
"The one who can take that little honey back to the room wins. Loser sleeps in my truck," she layed out.
Dean scoffed, as if insulted. "Please. Sweetheart, that'd be like taking candy from a baby. Just don't let it hurt your feelings when you're waking up in the truck in the morning."
Dean woke with a crick in his neck from sleeping in the backseat of Amanda's truck all night while she got to enjoy the spoils of victory. He climbed out just in time to see Amanda's room door opening and the busty brunette emerging and then turning to canoodle with Amanda a bit.
"This sucks. I'm the only one not getting any," he grumbled.
He was interrupted by the approach of the rather giddy couple of Sam and C.J., who both gave him curious glances.
Sam arched an eyebrow. "Dean...?"
Dean held up a hand to halt Sam from asking anything further. "Don't. Just don't."
C.J. glanced over and saw the brunette leaving her sister's embrace. She nudged Sam and motioned to the room with her head. Sam smirked and glanced back to Dean. Dean cast a look that could've tossed daggers, then casting it at Amanda as well. Amanda smiled, looking rather smug with herself as she headed back into the room, shutting the door behind her.
"Screw this," Dean spat. "I'm going back to the room and get a shower." He stalked off as Sam and C.J. looked after him, not being able to help chuckling at Dean's 'misfortune'.
They spent the next several days, 'lazing' around until the next job. Hanging out, enjoying the rarity of downtime. Everyone knew what was coming, but they tried not to mention the inevitable...Saying goodbye. Dean and Amanda had become friends in the time they had worked the job, but they were more concerned about the difficult parting of Sam and C.J., who had grown very close in that short span of time.
It was mid-afternoon when Dean had found the job and announced they would be heading out that evening. After packing up their belongings, everyone was in the parking lot saying their goodbyes.
"So, uh, we'll give you a call if we hear anything that sounds up your alley," Amanda announced as they leaned up against the Impala.
"Likewise," Dean added. "I hope you guys find the thing, person, that killed your parents."
"Yeah, thanks," she nodded. "So you guys don't be too much of strangers, all right? We're just a phone call or e-mail away." Nudging against him with her shoulder, grinning. Dean couldn't help but smile. Though they had gotten off to a rough start, they had come to be kindred spirits of a sort, and good friends.
"Your brother's a good guy - he made my sister happy. Happiest I've ever seen her, actually," she added, watching the pair as they stood near the sister's truck, saying their good-byes. There were lingering kisses here, a touch there and a several long embraces. She could feel her sister's heart breaking.
Dean nodded. "Yeah, he's a good kid. A bit of a geek, mind you," he joked. "I think C.J.'s been good for him too. It's good to see him without that stick up his butt."
Amanda laughed. "He's lucky to have you," she told him.
Dean felt his chest swell with pride at Amanda's words. "Thanks. Same goes for you too," he returned. Amanda smiled.
The approach of Sam ended their conversation. Amanda gave Dean a pat on the arm and made her way to her sister, who was now leaning against the truck, sobbing. She gave Sam a pat on the shoulder as he passed, looking past her, not really looking at much of anything. His expression was blank, his gaze distant. Dean watched as Amanda reached her sister, holding her tight against her for a couple minutes before helping her into the passenger side seat. Sam stared blankly past Dean as he silently let himself into the Impala, shutting the door with the creak that no amount of oil could quell.
Dean nodded to Amanda, who gave a nod in return as she climbed into the truck and shut the door. The truck roared to life and was soon pulled away from the lot, heading for the main road. He climbed into the driver's seat and glanced at Sam, whose jaw was clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.
'If I could take away the pain your feeling, I would, Sammy,' he thought, knowing his brother was doing his best to keep it together and be strong. 'I know how much you care for her. Someday, maybe...'
"Sam, you gonna be all right?" Dean asked, following Sam's gaze to the Avalanche as it headed down the highway. He saw Sam's jaw tighten and slightly quiver at the question, so he didn't push the issue.He started up the Impala, pulling out to the main highway - heading the opposite direction of the girl's truck.
"You'll see her again," Dean promised, vowing to himself to do everything in his power to make that promise hold like cement. 'I'll do my damnest to make sure you do, Sammy.'
"Yeah," Sam muttered, as he turned and stared out at the scenery that passed by as they headed for destinations unknown onto a new battle to fight.
-End-