Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…just having fun!

Den of Thieves

Chapter 6 – Calling Dad

Dean ran his hand through his hair in agitation…how could I have left it there. He looked over at Sam who after reading the article, began to do a search for more information on the internet. Dean kept pacing the floor…he wanted to leave right now to retrieve the valuable book, but he also had noticed that Sam still looked tired. He would have to wait until morning and hope that the journal would be ok.

"Well, if you're done wearing a hole in the floor…how about getting me a cup of coffee" Sam yawned and winced as he stretched his tired body.

"No way, its already going on midnight…you need to get some rest geek boy"

"I'm not tired, besides we need to find out as much as we can about this spirit or whatever it is before we go back…it's weird, I can only find information on Thomas Gallagher up until about the early 1900's, then nothing…it seems that he and the town just kind of disappeared together."

Dean leaned over to look at the notes that Sam had been taking. Thomas Gallagher was the last of his family of Cornish immigrants. He had taken over running the copper mine when his father and mother died of cholera. The town of Margretsville, named after Thomas' mother was a flourishing town that had developed as the profits from the copper mine increased.

However, it looked like that by the time Thomas disappeared, the mine was no longer making any money. According to one source, the cause for the mine's demise, was in the mismanagement of it by the son. Apparently, Thomas spent a great deal of time using the money he inherited and was able to get from the mine to support his extensive collection of unique or rare items. Rather than reinvesting in the mine, Thomas invested in the latest trinket that caught his eye. The mine finally closed in 1898 and a few years later Thomas disappeared. No one ever knew what happed to Thomas and it looked like the Town just died out.

"So, we don't know if he left, or he could have died…which means, if he is a spirit, finding the bones could be real tricky" Dean sighed as he sat on the corner of the small table that Sam was using.

"Yeah…but look at this…since that time, there is mention of over 60 travelers who have gone missing in the same area...I wonder why whatever it is targets travelers?"

"Hmmm…I don't know…it's really weird…whatever this is, it's not following the usual rules of a spirit…I mean, assuming your vision was accurate, he should be tied to the house…not the woods. And the things disappearing make no sense…I mean, a fishing lure, M&M's…hell maybe even your socks and my car keys were taken…but for what?

"Dean, those things may not be connected…those items could have just as easily been taken by some of the local wild life…or been dropped or lost…I think we should concentrate on finding this house and seeing what is really going on...Look, so far we have some missing items, a few objects flying through the air and a little gold dust…none of which adds up to a haunting by a spirit…maybe…"

"Sam you look, how often are things in our life just coincidence?" Dean asked as he reached over to turn off Sam's computer.

"Are you trying to tell me that you buy our stuff being taken by some whacked out squirrel…really Sammy…in that case some where in the woods, we have a squirrel who is wearing your socks, sitting on a rock by the river trying to get a little fishing in while eating my M&M's…I say we go out there and smoke 'em"

Sam laughed as he stripped down to his T-Shirt and briefs. He sometimes wondered where his brother came up with this stuff. Sam tried to stifle another yawn, but Dean was too observant.

"I mean it Sam, you get some sleep…I think I'll see if I can get some help from a higher source on this one."

Sam's eyebrow raised, but he continued to get comfortable on the bed. Just before his eyes closed he murmured to Dean "Say hi to Dad for me."

ooooooooo

John Winchester had been on the move since he left his sons. He had been searching for any sign of the demon that had tried once again to kill his family. But as yet, he hadn't seen any signs. John figured that the demon was in hiding again…biding his time. But John Winchester knew the meaning of patience. After all, he had waited 22 years to get his first shot at the monster…if need be he would wait 22 more.

John jumped as his phone rang. In the past he would have ignored the phone, but seeing his son's name on the caller ID, he picked it up to answer.

"Hi Son…are you ok? How is Sammy?"

"We are both fine Dad, Sammy had a little accident falling into a river, but other than a few bumps and bruises he is fine. Look, we have kind of walked into something here and wondered if you had any idea as to what it might be."

John didn't like the idea that Sammy had been injured again…damn, trouble seemed to follow that boy.

"Dad…are you there?"

"Yeah, Dean, just thinking…what have you got?"

Dean spent a few moments filling his father in on what had happened so far, including what they had found out about the ghost town and Thomas Gallagher.

"It's really weird Dad, I mean, it could be a spirit or even a poltergeist…but yet it's not acting like our usual customers."

"And you say that it leaves behind a gold powder?" John asked as he wrote down what Dean had told him so far.

"I guess so, I can't think of anywhere else that it could have come from…so what do you think we are dealing with?"

"I'm not sure son, let me do some digging and get back to you…where will you be?"

"Well tomorrow we are going to head back to the camp site to get our stuff…then I'm thinking we will head over to the ghost town to have a look."

"Ok son, but be careful and…"

"I know, I know Dad…watch out for Sammy" Dean smiled as he closed the phone. His father had kept his promise, Dean had fully expected to get his Dad's voice mail as he had done in the past…even though his father wasn't there in person, Dean felt connected to him. More importantly, he knew that his father was safe…at least for the time being.

Dean headed back to the bedroom and after checking on Sam, got into his own bed and fell asleep.

ooooooooo

The next morning found Dean and Sam back on the road heading towards their camp site. They had both thanked the Doctor, who had politely refused the money that Dean offered him. Dean had filled Sam in on his conversation with his father the night before.

"So, he isn't sure what it is either?" Sam asked

"No, but knowing Dad, he'll come up with answer before too long…don't worry Sam…whatever it is, it's going to be toast before we leave here!"

Sam just shook his head and resumed looking out the window. When they reached the camp site, Sam went to gather their tents and sleeping bags, while Dean immediately went over to where he remembered seeing the journal.

"Shit…Sam, it's not here…I can't believe it…Dad is gonna kill me when he finds out!"

"Calm down Dean…we'll find it…as soon as we figure out what else is going on around here, I'm sure it will show up." Sam knew that the journal meant more to Dean than he let on…it was a piece of his father that he could keep with him always.

Suddenly, Dean's cell phone beeped. "Great…looks like Dad called back already…must have been in a dead zone when he called, but it looks like he left a message." Dean hit the message retrieve button and began to read the text message left by his father.

"Aw…come on…no way…this can't be what we are hunting!"

"What is it?" Sam asked as he hurried over to his brother, worried about the look of horror that appeared on his brother's face. Dean slowly turned the display towards Sam…

"Holy Crap!"

TBC

ooooooooo

Raven524: For those who have kept up to this point…the moment has arrived…well almost…final chance to guess what's behind door number 3 or if not… at least let me know what you think so far…too fast…too slow, just R&R!