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 16 – Final Clue

Dean had spent most of the night reading through his brother's journal, his father's journal and had gone through the internet, but still he wasn't sure exactly what they were dealing with. He had listened to his brother through the night and was glad that the nightmares and pain seemed to have stopped for now. Rising from the table, Dean decided that he would get a little shut eye before his brother woke. His last thoughts before sleep claimed him were that if they didn't find something soon, he was going to load Sam up into the car and get as far as he could from this town.

Sam woke as the sun streamed through the motel curtains. Stretching, he winced as his body reminded him that he was not injury free. But at least his head was clear and there was no lingering headache. Sitting up quietly, Sam smiled as he saw his brother sleeping on the bed beside him. He was glad that Dean had finally decided to rest. As he stood to head for the bathroom, he heard a groan from his brother.

"Sammy? You ok?" Dean opened his eyes and looked at his brother.

"I'm fine Dean, why don't you get some more sleep. I'm going to take a shower."

"Good, you're beginning to draw flies there Sammy…let me know when you're done." Dean closed his eyes and fell back asleep as Sam continued into the bathroom.

Sam looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. The truth was, physically he was fine. But he had the same empty feeling that he had after Jess's death. He had dreamt all night about their brief life together. He missed her now more than ever, but he also knew that there was nothing he could do to change what had happened. He stepped into the shower and allowed the grief to consume him, tears mixing with the warm water to spiral down the drain.

A short time later, Sam exited the bathroom with his game face back in place. He didn't want his brother to worry about him…if Dean suspected that Sam was upset, he'd go into mother hen mode and Sam just wasn't in the mood for that right now. "Ok sleepy head, time to get up!" Sam called as he continued to get dressed.

"Just 5 more minutes!" Dean mumbled into his pillow, but a knock at the door brought him immediately awake. Sam looked at Dean as he reached for the gun that he always kept in his back pack. Dean had his favorite knife in his hand as he motioned for Sam to stay back.

"It's ok Sammy…breakfast has arrived!" Dean felt foolish, he had totally forgotten that Cal was going to send breakfast over. Dean quickly opened the door and let Shirley into the room with a bag of food.

"Thanks Shirley, I really appreciate what you and your Dad have done for us." Dean said as he quickly hid the knife behind his back.

"It's no problem…how are you feeling Sam?"

"I'm much better today, I think I just picked up a cold the other night. How are you doing?" Sam asked, recognizing the signs of grief on the young girls face.

"I'm taking one day at a time…I still miss Brett, but I guess there isn't anything I can do to bring him back."

Sam placed a comforting hand on the young girls back as he pulled her into a quick hug. Shirley let the warmth of the young man comfort her for a moment before pulling away, wiping the tears that had formed from her eyes.

"I know it doesn't seem like it now Shirley, but I promise it will get better."

Shirley nodded her head in gratitude as she quickly turned to leave the room. "You and your brother make sure you continue to stop by the diner as long as you are here…the food will always be on the house!"

"Poor kid." Dean remarked as he headed for the bathroom and a much needed shower. "Help yourself Sam, I'll be out in a few moments."

Sam had to admit he was starving. He took one of the plates of food and began to eat as he mulled over what he knew so far in his mind. The answer was right in front of him, he knew it. Deciding to start at the beginning, he pulled out the map of the old homestead and was studying it when Dean came out of the shower.

"Did you find anything?" Dean asked as he saw his brother staring at an old map.

"I'm not sure…Dean, do you remember did all of the victims drown?" Sam chewed on his lip as he began going back over his notes in his journal.

"I think so, let me take a look!" Dean began reading through the profiles of all the victims once again as he ate his breakfast. "You're right Sam…every one of them drowned along that stretch of the river. Do you know what it is?"

Sam started to respond when he felt a pain in his head. He looked at Dean for a moment before he fell to his knees, grabbing his head.

He could see the river below him as he stood on the bridge not far from where Brett had been found. Sam saw movement on the bank of the river just below him. It took him a few moments before he recognized the lonely figure of Shirley.

He hurried down the bank, trying to get to the girl before she did something foolish. But before he could reach her, he saw the figure of Brett approaching the girl. "Hello Shirley" Brett said softly.

Shirley gasp and dropped the flowers she had been carrying into the water. "Brett is that really you?"

"Yes, I've come back to be with you."

"But you died, I mean how is this possible?"

"Do you still love me Shirley?"

"Yes, of course. I…well, I came here."

"You came here to join me and I can help you do that. Just hold onto me and I'll carry you!"

Shirley smiled as she reached up and allowed the young man to swing her onto his back, her arms looped around his neck and her legs gripping his waist. Sam tried to yell a warning, but the words froze in this throat as he saw the shape of Brett begin to dissolve and reform into the shape of the black stallion.

Shirley's eyes began to get large as she felt the body of the horse beneath her. She struggled, trying to get off the animal, but her arms and legs wouldn't obey her commands. "Help Me! Somebody help me!" Shirley yelled as the horse began to ride into the river, it wasn't long before it was heading towards the deepest part of the river.

Sam ran to the edge of the river, following the horse's path into the cold river. His eyes locked with the frantic eyes of the frightened young girl. Her eyes begging him to help her as they disappeared beneath the water. Sam swam with all his might, but he couldn't locate the young girl.

Realizing it was no use, Sam headed back towards the shore. As he sat exhausted on the banks of the river, he saw the black stallion emerge from the river a short distance away. There was no sign of the girl. Sam stumbled to his feet as the horse started towards him. "Come ride with me Sam, it's your turn!"

"NO! Oh God Shirley!" Sam stuttered as he gripped his head, feeling the familiar nausea as he tried to get to his feet. He felt the supporting hand of his brother as he staggered for the bathroom and promptly loss the breakfast he had just consumed.

"Easy Sammy…you know the routine, slow easy breaths, that's it…" Dean watched as Sam began to recover from his latest vision. He should have known that his brother would end up with another vision. Just once he wished that his freaky powers would leave his brother alone.

Sam sat back, rubbing his temples as the pain began to recede to the dull ache that normally followed his visions. He looked up at Dean for a moment before he stood on unsteady legs and headed back to the table. Without a word, he went to a website that he had bookmarked and stopped as soon as he found what he was looking for.

Dean was looking over his brother's shoulder, his eyes getting wider as he saw what his brother had found. "Well I'll be damned…you found it Sammy!"

"Yeah, and we have to figure out how to kill it before tonight or Shirley will die!" Sam said quietly as he let his head drop onto his forearm.

TBC

Raven524: So, next chapter the boys finally get to battle the big baddie in this piece. Of course, things never go as planned for our boys, so I'm betting it won't be easy! Thanks for all those who have sent reviews. This chapter is posting earlier than I planned, but I didn't think you would all mind. Remember to keep letting me know what you think!