Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun filling in the time until September!

Ghost Hollow

Chapter 4 – The Bridge

Dean looked over at the silent profile of his younger brother as they drove back towards the bridge. They had decided to go back and check out the area more thoroughly for clues to what had happened to the unfortunate boy. "Earth to Sammy…hey bro' why the long face?"

Sam shook his head and looked at his brother, confusion evident in the depths of his eyes. "Sorry Dean, I was just trying to figure something out."

"Well, why don't you tell me about it…maybe I can help Sam" Dean watched closely, and sure enough he saw his brother begin to wince in pain. Dean reached over and patted Sam on the shoulder. "That's ok Sam, just forget about it for now…we should be at the bridge in a few minutes are you up to a little moonlight stroll?"

Sam's breathing began to even out and the pain eased from his features as he looked at his brother. "Dude, I hate to break it to you, but I'm definitely not your type!"

"True, true, I tend to like a few more curves…but I guess you'll just have to do!" Dean smirked as he got the famous Sammy eye roll in response.

As they pulled up to the bridge, Sam paused he remembered being here earlier. Turning to Dean he started to tell his brother, when the pain hit him again driving the thought from his mind as soon as it had entered it. Sam had already figured out that whenever he tried to tell Dean about what was happening or tried to remember anything to do with his experiences in Ghost Hollow, the pain in his head increased. He knew that there were things he needed to remember…but once again, he decided to let it go.

Dean watched as Sam swayed slightly as he got out of the car, placing a hand on his head as if his headache was getting worse. "You know Sammy, I can do this on my own. Why don't you just relax in the car for a few moments…"

Sam shook his head. "NO…I mean no, I'm fine Dean. Let's just get this over with ok?"

Dean went into the trunk of the Impala and grabbed a shot gun loaded with rock salt. He placed a hand gun in the waist of his jeans loaded with silver bullets and grabbed a flashlight. Sam looked at his brother, the question clear in his eyes. "We don't know what's going on yet Sammy…I just want to make sure that we aren't caught with our pants down."

"Good, I don't need another traumatizing event to enter my nightmares!" Sammy said with a grin as he ducked Dean's blow.

Dean took the lead like he had done the night before, only this time he was looking more closely at the surrounding area. "Huh…looks like this path gets a lot of foot traffic." Dean said, looking consideringly at his younger brother. When Sam started looking in a different direction, Dean dropped down to take a closer look at the footprints in the dirt. He'd know those footprints anywhere…his brother had been here.

Sam looked around, he knew that he had been here, he could feel it. As he continued to follow his brother, he sensed that something was watching them. Looking around, he felt the coldness of the damp evening air penetrating his bones. "Ah Dean?"

"Yeah Sam, what is it?" Dean had been watching his brother closely as they continued on the path into the woods. He had noticed the shivers that were running through his brother's body. It was cool, but not cold enough to cause Sam's current reaction.

"There's something here…I think we should probably go." Sam couldn't figure out why he was acting this way. He could almost taste his fear, but of what he couldn't remember. There was something just out of his reach, something he had to tell Dean. Sam felt the pain building again as he fell to his knees. He felt his brother place an arm around him and help him to his feet.

"Come on Sam, I've got you" Dean knew that he shouldn't have allowed Sam to come here. Obviously whatever happened was affecting his brother badly. He gently lowered Sam into the passenger seat and reached back for a bottle of water. "Here Sammy, drink this."

Sam's hands were shaking so badly that Dean had to help him hold the bottle to his lips. After a few moments, the pain decreased and Sam's breathing began to return to normal. "I'm sorry Dean…I don't know what's wrong with me!" Dean could see the tears of frustration in Sam's eyes.

"Hey, don't worry…I told you we would figure this out and we will. Look I want to finish taking a quick look around. Will you be ok here for a few minutes?" Dean didn't like the glassy look in Sam's eyes. "You know what, I'll just come back tomorrow…"

Sam shook his head, he already was upset that his brother had to interrupt the hunt to take care of him. He wasn't going to let Dean come back here alone. "I'll be fine Dean…go take your look and come back…no need to waste the trip."

"You sure Sam?" Dean was torn. He had to figure out what was going on and soon because it was affecting his baby brother. But he also knew that being here was making Sam uncomfortable.

"Just go…the sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back and Dean?"

"Yeah Sammy?"

"Be careful ok?" Sam hated the needy sound that had worked its way into his voice, but he still had a bad feeling about this place.

"You know me…I'm always careful!" Dean said as he turned to go.

"Yeah, that's why I'm reminding you to be careful you jerk!" Sam grinned as his brother made a rude gesture before disappearing into the woods. Sam sat in the car trying to figure out why he was acting this way. It had all started last night when the boy had died. As Sam looked out into the darkness that surrounded the car, he let his mind wander.

Sam remembered the week that he and Jess had spent camping in a wooded area similar to this one. It was one of Sam's favorite memories, just the two of them walking, talking and making love under the stars. In fact, it was that trip that had convinced Sam that Jess was the one…she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Sam sighed as reality came back. But it wasn't meant to be, Jess had paid the price of loving him by dying on the ceiling of their apartment. There were many times that Sam actually wished Dean hadn't arrived in time to save him…then he would have been able to follow Jess. Every once and a while, he swore he would catch a glimpse of her…but when he looked close, she would disappear leaving him feeling more alone than before. He would never feel the same way that he had felt with Jess, she would always have a place in his heart. He knew that Dean felt he should move on and he knew deep down that Jess would also want him to find someone else. But there would never be anyone that would complete him the same way that Jess had.

Suddenly, Sam heard the sound of a woman crying. His head jerked up as he tried to find the source of the sound. Getting out of the car, Sam walked towards the bridge shivering as he went. In the back of his mind, a voice was screaming at him to call for Dean. But Sam ignored it as he continued to move towards the center of the bridge. The sobbing was getting louder as he moved across the bridge. "Who's there? Don't be afraid, I can help you if you let me."

"No, no one can help me. My fate has been set and so has yours…I'm so sorry!"

"What do you mean…show yourself!" Sam watched as a black horse appeared on the bridge in front of him. The young woman sitting on the horses back looked sad and lost. "What is your name?"

"Marie….Marie Gonzales…please, make it stop…I'm so tired!"

Sam walked towards the horse, reaching out a calming hand to the animal as he tried to see the woman closer. As he touched the horses face, he jerked his hand back at the clammy coldness of the horse's skin. Sam heard the horse whinny and he saw the horse's muscles beginning to bunch up, preparing to rear. "Tell me what to do Marie…I will help you!"

"Ah…but who will help you?"

The horse screamed as he reared, knocking Sam against the railing on the bridge with enough force that he thought he felt one of his ribs crack. Sam pushed himself up, turning to run but once again he felt the horses hoof hit him in the middle of the back, propelling him towards the railing once more. Sam felt himself falling over the edge and cried out as he tried to grab something to keep him from falling. But his hands grasped at nothing but air. Sam yelled as his body plummeted to the river below. "DEAN!" Just before Sam disappeared beneath the water he heard a frantic cry from the river bank. "SAMMY!"

But Sam couldn't answer, he was too busy trying not to drown.

TBC

Raven524: Ok, I held off as long as I could, but I just had to have a cliff hanger. Hope you all are still enjoying our little romp in the woods of southern Indiana. Let me know what you think by sending me a review!