Chapter Ten

"So, other kids saw it?" Sam asked. Dean and Autumn nodded together confirming this bit of information.

"What'd you two find?" Autumn asked countering the 'what else did you find hint, hint, nudge, nudge' look her sister was giving her.

"The kids still aren't talking, but Sammy did find this." Athena slid the drawing across the table to Dean and Autumn.

"Sam." Sam said firmly.

"Yea, whatever." Athena said rolling her eyes. Dean unfolded the drawing and Autumn leaned in next to him to look at it.

"Kid's no Da Vinci." Dean said. Autumn nudged him.

"It's not that bad. But this is definitely a help. Sam got your dad's journal on ya?" Autumn asked. Sam nodded and produced the journal. She popped it open and started flipping through it. She'd stop occasionally to look over a page that had a demon, ghost, or other super normal creature on it. "Athena, look at this." she turned the book to face her sister. "Told you the boogeyman was real." Athena gave a fake little laugh.

"Hardy har, I'm real impressed. Your biggest childhood fear was founded." Autumn grinned.

"At least I wasn't afraid that the deer would eat me when I went camping." Athena stuck her tongue out.

"Ladies." Dean started. With a sigh Autumn pulled the book back to herself and read over the page. After a few seconds she looked up.

"I can't believe this though." she said sucking her lip in and chewing at it.

"What's that?" Dean leaned over her this time to read over her shoulder.

" 'Be good, or the boogeyman will get you!' The warning familiar to us all. A boogeyman is a supernatural being who lurks under the bed, in closets, down unlit stairways, and in any other dark and scary place. The boogeyman has no particular appearance, he takes whatever shape will terrify you the most.

"The boogeyman is a descendant of two other malicious spirits, the Scottish bogle and the English bogie, both of which are closely related to the boggart. The bogle is a shape-shifter that can appear as anything from a dog to a cloud to a sack of corn. Bogles are known for playing tricks on travelers, but they cause serious harm only to villains who deserve a bad end. Bogies are described as small, black, and hairy mischief-making goblins. Like the boogeyman himself, bogies are often called upon to frighten children into good behavior'" Autumn said drawing out the areas that were directly related to their new friend.

"Under the bed, and scaring kids." Dean said clapping Autumn on the shoulder. "Sounds like our guy."

"Only one problem. It don't say how to kill him." she pointed out.

"Yes it does. Shape-shifters are all killed the same way," he smirked at her.

"silver bullet to the heart." they both said. Their younger counterparts looked at them like they'd lost their minds.

"It's not really possible though is it?" Athena asked. "I mean two kids, two different houses. Sounds a little far fetched." Dean and Autumn shot her the 'duh' look.

"This sounds far fetched? The werewolf didn't, how many dozens of ghosts, a poltergeist or two, none of these were far fetched. But the boogeyman who has two houses is far fetched?" Autumn asked.

"Well, yea when you say it like that, but…"

"No, she's right, Teenie. This isn't all the hard to believe." Sam said agreeing with Autumn.

"Okay, so what do we do?" Dean asked.

"Can we have our check, please?" Autumn asked the next time their waiter came around. When the check came she and Dean both went for it. "Let me pay this time. My money's real at least."

"All the more reason for me to pay." Dean argued.

"Dean, please." she said lowering her voice.

"Fine." Autumn pulled her billfold out of her purse and started counting out bills. "Where do you get your money anyway?" he asked.

"We write and illustrate children's books. A series really, 'bout these two little boys who fight creatures that hide in the dark. Sells pretty good, and we only have to talk to our agent on the phone and send the stuff to the editors through the US Postal. Plus, not like we run out of stories. Look at what we do." she said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Really?" Dean asked following her the younger pair right behind him sharing glances. Autumn had left the money with the bill and tip on the table before she stood up to leave.

"Really. They think what we do, traveling, is research. On occasion they even pay for the trip. It's awesome… and Deanie, sweetie, it's totally legal." she let the door slide out of her hand and smack into Dean.