AN: Spoilers for Hook Man here. You may recognize some of the dialogue. I'm just borrowing it. Please R&R. AT
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Aberdeen, South Dakota
"Wasn't that the funnest?" Isabel was beaming as they drove back from the Story book village. Needless to say, Sam and Dean had been less than impressed with the whole excursion.
"Yeah, haven't had that much fun since my last root canal" Dean said dryly.
"Ha, ha" Isabel said not to be left behind when it came to sarcasm "Well, I had a great time and at the end of the day, that's really all that matters, isn't it?"
"Of course" Sam said mocking.
"Well, we've been to Mt Rushmore and the fairy park. Where do you want to go next?" Dean asked watching her through the rear view mirror.
"Well, I picked the last two things to do, so it's your turn" She said looking through her bag of souvenirs "Whatever you want to do"
"Alright!" Dean said triumphantly as he tapped his hand emphatically on the steering wheel "Payback time"
"Hey, I picked those places because I wanted to go, not to spite you!" Isabel said defensively.
Dean had cursed to high heaven the entire day at the Storybook village. He wished that they could go out hunting tonight, just so that he could kill something. It was all made that much worse by the fact that Isabel seemed to be having the time of her life, meaning that he had to at least pretend that he wouldn't rather be ripping his fingernails out.
Mt Rushmore was different though. He hated to admit it but he'd actually enjoyed the day at the Black Hills National Park. Being out in the quiet woods was more to his style. What actually surprised Dean the most about the whole trip so far, was the fun he was having with his brother and cousin on the road. He had missed just sitting back and enjoying life.
"Dean, did you hear me?" Sam's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought" Dean said turning to Sam.
"Unfamiliar territory?" Isabel said asked in mock sympathy.
"I wouldn't push my luck today if I were you Bel" Dean warned her, smiling when she responded by sticking her tongue out at him "Oh, that's very mature"
"I was saying we should turn in for the night, leave again first thing tomorrow" Sam suggested.
They all agreed, heading back to the motel and calling it a night before getting up early the next day and hitting the road once more.
They had just gone over the South Dakota border, when Dean said he had to stretch his legs and they took the opportunity to get some proper coffee. They sat on a couple of chairs outside a coffee shop in the small town of Sheldon, Iowa. Dean went to the counter to get their drinks as Sam went to the payphone. Dean set the coffees and Isabel's tea on the table, looking through the laptop while he waited for Isabel to come back from the restroom and Sam to finish with the phone call.
"Your, uh, half-caff, double vanilla latte is getting cold over here, Francis" Dean said as Sam made his way back.
"Bite me" Sam said, taking a seat next to Dean.
"So, anything?" Dean asked.
He knew that Sam had tried their contact at the FBI to see if they had anything on their father. He wasn't surprised that there was no information and he was now starting to think that wherever their father was, he didn't want to be found. Sam was apparently not too happy with that theory. He turned the laptop towards Sam
"Check this out"
Dean had found an article about a mysterious death in Ankeny, Iowa, which wasn't far from where they were. A mutilated body had been found on a remote road, and the only witness was quoted as saying the attacker was invisible. Although Sam was not fully convinced, Dean sensed there could be something interesting in that story.
"Or it could be nothing at all" Sam said skeptically "one freaked out witness who didn't see anything? Doesn't mean it's the invisible man"
"But what if it is?" Dean shot back, now playing his trump card "Dad would check it out"
Sam agreed, somewhat. There was still the issue of Isabel. He didn't think it was a good idea to take her on a potential hunt with them, without even counting her likely reluctance at getting involved in yet another potentially life-threatening supernatural situation.
Isabel had made it abundantly clear, from the start, just what she thought of her cousins' business and was not afraid to be vocal about it. Sam remembered that the last time it had been brought up in the midst of a not-so-friendly discussion a couple of weeks back, it had quickly escalated and resulted in one of the most violent and heated fights he'd ever witnessed between Isabel and Dean and he was not looking forward to an encore of that. Sam shuddered to think of what could have happened, had he not been there to diffuse the situation.
"Finally a proper restroom" Isabel said as she joined them at the table "What is it with gas stations locking their bathrooms? Seriously, are they afraid someone might break in and clean them?"
"Here's your tea" Dean said, sliding the hot mug to her.
"What you looking at?" She asked, tilting her head towards the computer.
"Strange death here in Iowa" Dean said quickly, ignoring his brother's warning glare "Thought we might go check it out"
"Oh" She said quietly as she held her mug of tea between her hands "What about me?"
"You're coming with us" Dean said enthusiastically as if he'd just suggested a leisurely trip to Disneyland.
"Dean, I don't think that's a good idea" Sam said.
"Well, we can't leave her alone" Dean said "And we have to go check it out. See if it turns out to be anything"
"But this is supposed to be a holiday" Isabel pouted.
"Evil doesn't take holidays Bel" Dean said "Besides, you said it was my turn to pick the next destination. I choose Ankeny, Iowa" Isabel looked at him dubiously "It might involve the invisible man"
"Ooh, let me turn on the part of my brain that gives a crap" She said wryly letting him know the prospect held no attraction to her whatsoever and looked at Sam.
"It's most likely nothing" Sam assured her.
"Alright, I'm in" She said, sipping on her tea "But we're going to Graceland after that"
They arrived at the small college town of Ankeny later that morning and Sam parked the Impala outside the frat house where Rich, the victim, lived.
"OK, Bel, you stay in the car" Dean said as he stepped out of the car "And you take my lead" He said to Sam.
Dean and Sam walked up to a couple of the guys who were out in the front yard and Dean sold them a bogus story about being frat brothers from Ohio, looking for a place to stay. They were shown in and Dean wasted no time in starting a conversation with one of the guys, while Sam finished painting his back for a football game. His name was Murph, and he didn't hesitate to answer questions regarding Rich's death. Once Sam had finished painting his back they walked out with him as they got the information they needed. Murph told them Rich had been on a date, the witness was Lori Sorensen, the reverend's daughter.
"You both crashing here?" Murph asked as they walked outside.
"Actually there are three of us" Sam said. Murph looked around, not finding the third person "She's in the car" Sam explained.
"She?" Murph asked, grimacing "Uh, actually, you know, chicks aren't allowed to stay in the house, it's sort of a rule set by the university. You'd have to talk to…" His voice drifted as his eyes wondered off and Murph appeared to have been rendered speechless "That her?"
"What?" Sam asked confused as he and Dean followed his gaze. Realization set in and Dean and Sam looked at each other.
Isabel had stepped out of the car and was leaning against the bonnet. One of the guys that had been hanging around the yard when they'd arrived had walked over to her and was now blatantly trying to chat her up. From where they were standing they couldn't hear what they were talking about, but it was obvious that Isabel was not distressed by this bold display of male attention. If anything, they noted with a mixture of wariness and irritation, she seemed to be kind of enjoying it.
"Yeah" Dean said slowly.
"She's hot" Murph said, still staring blatantly at her.
"What?" Dean asked edgily.
"I mean" Murph said back-peddling as he turned to the boys again, smiling "I'm sure we can make an exception. I mean, no one has to know your girlfriend's crashing, right?"
Dean clenched his jaw and took a deep breath "She's our cousin" he explained calmly.
"Right" Murph said winking at them, letting them know he clearly didn't believe Dean "Cousin, I get ya"
"You know what?" Sam interrupted, fearing Dean's reaction to Murph's insinuation "We might just find a motel nearby. We don't want you to get into trouble" He took Dean's arm and pulled him away, heading back to their car.
"I thought I told you to stay in the car" Dean said sharply once he reached his cousin and her new companion.
"Am I a hostage now?" Isabel challenged.
"Let's go Bel" Sam said as they reached their car.
Isabel turned to Sam "But I thought…"
"In the car, now" Dean said firmly.
She turned to the guy and gave him a small apologetic wave before jumping back into the car.
"We're not staying there?" She asked once they were driving off.
"No" Dean replied tersely.
They drove for about ten minutes before Dean parked the car in front of a small brick church. Isabel looked at the building in dismay, before turning to her cousins with a horrified look.
"We can't just go in there" She said as Dean and Sam stepped out of the car.
"It's a church. Why not?" Dean asked opening the door for her.
"Well for one, you might burst into flames as soon as you step in" She said dryly "And second…OK, I don't actually have a good argument, but it just doesn't seem right. None of us are religious"
"You are welcome to stay in the car" Dean said walking off "Unless of course, you're afraid you might burst into flames"
She looked at him offended, and then turned to Sam. He was watching her patiently and she rolled her eyes, following Dean
"Fine" She huffed "I just want you both to know that I'm not happy about this"
"Duly noted" Dean said nonchalantly, continuing to walk ahead.
The three of them sat towards the back, listening to the reverend as he spoke about Rich's death and his daughter's involvement with him. It was easy enough to spot Lori in the congregation and Sam smiled slightly at her when she turned and spotted the unfamiliar faces.
After the service the three of them hung around, subtly following Lori as she spoke quietly to another girl. Once the girl left, the three of them walked to Lori, and Sam struck up a conversation. Dean and Isabel remained quiet as Sam laid the groundwork, until the girl's father appeared. Dean shot Isabel a meaningful look and the two of them led the reverend away, under the pretence of looking for a church group.