PART 2

Sam and Dean followed the couple through the forest. Dean was legging a little behind, fighting with the EMF meter, trying to figure out why the hell it didn't warn him on time. He stopped dead at the sight of the campsite they were led into, the tent being something that didn't quite stick up among all the laptops, radio transmitters and other high-tech stuff. Sam seemed to think the same way, as he glanced back at his brother with the same look in his eyes. The guy, Nolan, told them to make themselves at home, and hurried over to one of the laptops. The woman, they still didn't know her name, reached for a cooler, taking out a bottle of water and hands it to Sam. She barely reached his shoulders, but it didn't seem to bother her at all. She said nothing all the way back, and just kept watching for anything that might suddenly appear. Dean doubted if she had any idea what it was she shot at. She had guts, he had to give her that, but it wouldn't really help her if she went and got herself killed. He would have to get these people out of there, quickly, and without the police knowing they were there.

"You two, stay here." The woman said, glaring at Sam and Dean, and then turned her attention to the other man. "Nolan, don't let them out of your sight!" she told him with an irritated tone of voice. Nolan gave her a slight nod, his eyes on the small computer screen. She was about to say something, but changed her mind, disappearing back in the woods before Dean had had the chance to stop her.

"She's a piece of work." Dean muttered under his breath, taking the bottle from Sam after he was finished with it. Unfortunately, Nolan heard him.

"Who, the ice queen?" Nolan peered back over his shoulder, smiling. "She's a real btch, but she knows her stuff." He said. Dean and Sam exchange glances. With a little luck and some charm, they might get some more information from him. Dean crouched next to Nolan.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're pretty handy yourself." He said, and then glanced at Sam when Nolan didn't seem to be taking the bait. Sam shrugged. "So, what are you doing?" Dean tried again.

"Well, I'm not sure I can tell you…" Nolan hesitated, "That… bear? From before?" Dean nodded slightly. "I'm trying to track it. Been tracking it for three days now." Nolan said. Dean glanced at Sam again.

"Really? Three days? Sounds like quite a bear." He said. "You know, we've hunted quite a few bears ourselves."

"Not like that, You haven't." Nolan cut him off.

"Why do you say that?" Sam asked. Nolan hesitated again.

"Well, I'm new, see. I'm just starting out." he said, "I came out here with my boss, you know, you pick up the trade…" he started to explain.

"That chick's your boss?" Dean let out a low whistle. "My sympathy, man."

"Actually, my boss, he's in one of those coolers. What's left of him, at least." Nolan noted. "Miss Mitchell only got here this morning. I tell you, she sure knows her stuff. Contacted the authorities, got their full cooperation, made traps, secured the area…"

"Really? Because of a bear?" Dean asked. It was obvious there was more to it than that.

"Well, it's… it's a very dangerous bear." Nolan stuttered. Dean got to his feet, turning to Sam.

"You know, we have to get to this thing and kill it before anyone gets hurt." He said. Sam nodded.

"Yeah. I'll keep the guy busy, buy you some time." He took a couple of steps forward and was suddenly pulled back. Turning, he saw the woman was back, shouldering her shotgun.

"Sit down, relax, you're not going anywhere." She told Sam authoritatively, and then turned to Nolan. "The trap's busted. It's not coming back there. And now it's pissed." She said irritably, eying the brothers angrily.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Nolan asked. She glanced at him, and then sat down next to a large duffle bag, pulling out her MP3 player and putting the headset on.

"Miss Mitchell, aren't we supposed to, like, chase it or something?" Nolan asked.

"Be my guest." Claudia said, resting her head against a tree.

"So, you're just gonna sit here?" Dean asked, astounded, "This thing could be feasting on cops right now!" he snapped. The woman ignored him, nodding her head at the music.

"Charming woman." Dean muttered.

"Dean, we should do something." Sam said urgently. "I mean, this thing, whatever it is, it's out there, and the Travishu could be out there too." That seemed to have caught the woman's attention.

"Why would you think that?" she asked, making Sam jump since he was sure no one but Dean was listening.

"Oh, I was just…" Sam glanced at Dean, "Look, we know that thing back there wasn't a bear."

"Good for you." the woman said dryly. "Why would you think there's a Travishu out here?"

"What's a Travishu?" Nolan asked, looking from the woman to the brothers. Sam glanced at Dean. He hesitated for a moment, trying to decide what, if at all, he should say.

"It's a spirit." Dean said eventually. "A demonic spirit. It takes over small animals, makes them blood-thirsty." Nolan gave a slight nod. And now Dean was sure something more was going on.

"Why would you think there's a Travishu out here?" the woman asked again, taking the headphones off and looking intently at Sam.

"Look, this is what we do. We know there've been a few attacks in the town; pets killing their owners, stuff like that. It's been happening more and more lately, so…" Sam trailed of. The woman seemed a lot less shocked then she should have been. Dean didn't like that. She glanced at Nolan, and then looked back at Sam.

"Well, that thing isn't a spirit." She said, giving Nolan a meaningful look. "And there're no spirits here." She added, getting to her feet and going over to Nolan. "Why didn't someone tell me about the attacks?" she asked. Nolan flushed, looking more then a little uncomfortable.

"I don't know. I didn't know there were any." He stuttered. "We were following up on increased paranormal activity in the area. We came across this thing, I guess we just didn't think…"

"You should report it." She said. Nolan nodded quickly.

"Now what?" he asked. Claudia glanced at the brothers.

"Now we have dinner." She said. Walking over to one of the coolers, she took out a couple of sandwiches and handed them to Sam and Dean. They seemed to have missed the questioning look Nolan give her, or the warning look she gave him back. Sitting back down next to the duffle bag and leaning back against the tree, she took a bag of chips from her duffle bag and started eating.

Dean groaned, wincing. His head was pounding. He tried to get his eyes to focus. It took him a while to realize he had been tied to a tree. That little btch, no doubt, he thought. When I gets my hands on her… Wait, Sam! He called out for Sam, but Sam didn't answer. Dean took a better look around. There were strange symbols on the ground all around him, as well as on the tree he had been tied to, and there was a strange medallion around his neck. Where did that come from, he wondered. It glittered in the light coming from…

"What the…?" a flashlight lay on the ground, not far from him, pointing its light at Dean. Brilliant, Dean thought, a large, flashing, 'come and get it' sign for whatever it was that was out there. He tried to get to his knife, but couldn't. Whoever tied him up knew what they were doing. He cursed. Man, that chick had better be long gone, or I'm going to teach her some manners.

Dean sat there, trying to free himself from the rope. She'd better not hurt Sammy, that's all I have to say, Dean thought angrily. And then the flashlight flashed, and died out. Dean stiffened, cursing under his breath. He did his best to look around, but couldn't see much. And then, out of nowhere it seems, that thing reappeared. Dean's heart leaped. He fought his restraints.

"Oh, now that's just great!" he cried. The thing neared him, snarling. "Dude!" Dean made a face, "You know, I've got a tic-tac in my pocket, if you want." the creature snarled again and Dean made another face. "Better make it the whole pack then." He said. The thing roared, closing in. And then the strange symbols on the ground burst in flame. Dean flinched at the heat, his heart hammering. The thing shrieked in anger, and Dean winced at the shrill sound. Dean braced himself. He was tied to a tree, with a… whatever it was, about to rip him apart. But the thing didn't attack. It tried, but it seemed like it couldn't cross over the flaming symbols. It screeches in anger. Something hits it, and it roars, turning back. Dean strained his eyes. He raised a brow as he saw the woman step through the symbols, holding a wide, carved knife with mysterious etches on it.

"Whoa, what the hell are you doing?" he cried out to her, but she ignored him. The thing lunged at her, but she quickly moved out of the way, slashing its arm. It screeched and she grimaces in pain, but didn't shrink back. She jumped straight at it instead, slashing its throat before it had the time to react. It fell to the ground. She stood over it, making sure it was dead.

"Now, that was disappointing." She said, "Aren't you supposed to be a scary demon?" she added, picking up a burning twig, burning the body. She turned her eyes to Dean.

"You okay? You need a minute?" she asked. Dean raised a brow again. What the hell was going on? She just killed that thing, but who's side was she on. And where is Sam?

"Just get me out of these cuffs!" Dean demanded. The woman raised a brow at the tone of his voice. She walked over, crouching next to Dean. She took his necklace for a close look.

"Where did you get that?" she asked in a surprisingly soft voice.

"None of your business." Dean snapped. She half-shrugged.

"Fair enough." She said, taking the medallion from him and slipping it in her pocket, and then took her knife out again, cutting Dean's restraints. He glowered at her.

"Where's Sam?" Dean demanded.

"Camp's that way." The woman said, and headed off in that direction.

The sun started climbing lazily across the skies. Most of the police cars have already disappeared in distance. Sam and Dean were helping Nolan load his stuff onto his truck. The woman was talking to someone on her cell phone. It didn't sound like a nice conversation. She hung up the phone, slipping it in her pocket, and turned to Nolan.

"Well, they want you back at the office." She said. "They're gonna find someone else to train you." She added, picking her duffle bag up and shouldering it.

"What about you?" Nolan asked. She may not be the nicest person he ever met, but he didn't remember hearing about any of her partners ending up in a cooler. In fact, everyone wanted to work with her. She had quite a reputation among his people. And he could see why.

"Sorry," she said, "I don't do amateurs. Besides, I already have a partner, we caught that thing together, remember?" she added, giving him a meaningful look.

"But it's office policy to have a partner…" Nolan started.

"Good luck, Nolan." She said, "Take care." She reached her hand to shake his, and then looked at Sam and Dean. "Try to stay away from trouble, would you? Next time I see you two getting in my business I'll have you arrested." She said. Turning around, she left.

Sam called Dean's attention to the side of the road. They were in the Impala now, heading to town. The woman was still there, trying to hitch a ride. Dean glanced in the rear view mirror. There was no other car in sight. He slowed down as he neared her, popping his head out the window.

"Need a ride?" he asked.

"Actually, yes." The woman said, a little surprised from the offer.

"Well, good luck with that." Dean said, flashing her a smile, and drove away.

TBC

Hi, I'm just getting started, two more chapters to go! Please R&R!