Authors' Note: Chapter two is here and it brings plot. Ooooh- plot. Gotta loves me the plot. A Mary Sue with plot- now that's scary.

---Chapter 2---

After a few minutes and some good directions that broke the tense silence, the Impala turned into a dark parking lot and skidded to a stop near the blue lighted phone. Sam saw a huddled shaped on the benches just behind the emergency phone. The Corolla was already there and Bernice, Harry and Dwayne were running over to the benches. The car had barely stopped before the back doors were thrown open and the girls ran out to join their friends.

"So, what do you think?" Sam asked as he looked around. The parking lot was flanked by brick buildings on either side and a low stone wall ran along the back edge. Trees surrounded the area and created an odd aura that Sam associated with haunted houses. There was just something off about this campus. It was nothing like Sam's experience with college. Stamford had been filled with light, people and noise. This place was dark, silent and felt as though the life had been strangled out of it. Sam stuffed those thoughts to the back of his mind and forced his attention back to what his brother was saying.

Dean shrugged. "Could be anything. Could be a spirit, or a frat boy. Or this chick could have done something herself."

"So, what do we do?"

"The same thing we do every night, Sammy,"

"Trust you to make a 'Pinky and The Brain' reference when someone could be dead."

"References aside, we need to get moving. If we don't look like we belong then the cops will either kick us outta here or toss us in jail for being suspects. And I, for one, want to get a crack at the scene before the fuzz, for once," Dean said, grabbing a flashlight from under the seat. He also grabbed a shotgun, and Sam cuffed the side of his head. "Hey!"

"What do you think you're doing, man? If they see that, and we'll be suspects for sure," Sam rebuked harshly.

Dean grimaced and slid the shotgun back into place. "Fine. But you know we're going to need it eventually."

Armed with only their flashlight, Sam and Dean got out of the car and strode over the group. Iris and Morgan were sitting on either side of the shivering girl, presumably Danni, while the rest of them were arguing.

"Bethany, damnit- you can not go down there!"

"Fuck that. Someone should check on Adrianna."

"You can't disturb a crime scene though!"

"Thank you, Grissom. And, by the way, the crime scene is a stretch of dirt next to the fucking Mississippi where the campus pot heads go to toke up before class. I'm sure that sterile environment like that will just be screwed up to hell if I go check on her."

"Fuck you."

"Shove it up your ass, shitface."

As Dean and Sam reached them, Iris chimed in, "Damnit- calm down and shut up. Danni doesn't need you asshats fighting right now. Bethany- you are not going down there 'cause no one is willing to go with you right now, and you are not going alone.

Bethany opened her mouth to object, and Iris talked right over her.

"No, Betha. I don't care what you say, you're staying put until someone says they'll go with you. Everyone else- just chill. Bethany's right. Someone should go check on Adrianna but until someone goes with her- just leave her alone!"

The group grumbled a bit and Sam watched as Danni clutched desperately onto Iris, who murmured soothingly to her. He looked around at the parking lot empty but for the two cars. "Um," he hesitated, "Shouldn't the cops be here by now?"

Bethany looked blankly at him- seemingly surprised to see him, "This is St. Cloud, dude. There are only four cars on patrol right now while the rest of them are drinking coffee at McMillian's. We'll be lucky if they're here within the next two hours. And, as far as campus security goes, we won't see them until after the cops show."

Both Sam and Dean's jaws dropped. At least an hour, two at the max, to check out a scene before they had to deal with the police. They recovered from their shock quickly, though. There was work to be done.

"Well, if you really want to go down there," Dean said, "to check on your other friend... My brother and I could go with. Keep an eye out, you know."

"Sweet," Bethany walked hurriedly over to a break in the low stone wall at the back of the parking lot before anyone could object. Dean and Sam jogged to catch up with her and watched as she stepped over a low chain that held up a 'No Trespassing' sign without hesitation. There was a veritable forest that covered the steep hill from the edge of the parking lot down to the river. They couldn't even see the stairway until they jumped over the chain.

"My kind of girl," Dean muttered as they followed her down the crumbling steps. The darkness enveloped them as they cautiously picked their way down. Branches hung low and the stairwell was covered with leaves. Sam knew most people would avoid this place like the plague. It wasn't just the darkness or the decrepit steps. There was a weird feeling in the air that raised the hairs on the back of Sam's neck. Sam guessed that Dean was feeling the creepy vibes because he flicked on the flashlight.

"Turn that off!" a sharp voice demanded from below them. Sam saw Bethany's icy blue eyes glaring up at them before she stepped out of the shadows.

"It'll ruin your night vision and it's easier to see down at the bottom," she added in an apologetic tone. "Just hold onto the handrail and be careful of the second flight down. It's steeper than the other two."

The brothers exchanged another glance, this one saying "oookaayyy." Dean switched off the flashlight, and they crept forward. Safe in the dark, Sam grinned at the way this girl bossed his brother- the big bad hunter- around. Dean got that a lot and it was funny every time.

"Wipe that smirk off your face," Dean muttered irritably.

"What smirk?"

"I know you, Sam. Don't try to play innocent."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

A minute later, they reached the bottom of the stairs where Bethany waited for them. There was a smell like dead fish and rotting foliage, but underneath was the strong scent of blood and fear. Sam looked around. The cement stairs loomed to their right, and the orange-tinted mercury light from the parking lot filtered down through the trees. The Mississippi shushed along in its bed not five feet to the left of them. Bethany was right. The moonlight glinting off the river made it much easier to see. So easy, in fact, that Sam could clearly see the torn-up ground was cluttered with dragging footprints from the river to the area in front of them where Bethany stood staring at the ground.

Dean stepped up to stand next to her, and Sam followed. Between the dappled shadows from the trees and the uneven ground, it was hard to make out exactly what was part of the scenery and what had once been human. It wasn't the most gruesome sight he'd ever seen, but it was definitely in competition for the top ten. Bits of meat and slashes of blood painted the small clearing around a rather unimpressive circle of granite chunks. The way the girls had spoken of this place had made him picture a mid-western Stonehenge, but this was more like a hastily-made firepit. Underwhelming as that was, the gore more than made up for it.

Sam felt something thin and thread-like touch his face, and reached up to brush the cobweb from his face. Only it caught on his hand, and he looked. It was black. Not a spiderweb. Swallowing, he looked up into the branches above him and gave a startled cry, stepping backwards so quickly he almost tripped on a tree root.

"Sam!" Dean called, turning, which attracted Bethany's attention as well.

"Up there," Sam said shakily, pointing.

Suspended in the branches of the tree above the path, was a girl's head. Her tangled, matted hair knotted around the boughs, which dipped with the weight. She looked surprised. She wasn't the only one.

A rustling noise drew Sam's attention back to Bethany. She was rummaging through her backpack and pulled out a digital camera and a small, glass bottle.

"Cover your eyes, guys," she said quietly. They obeyed with little hesitation and heard a few clicks as she took some pictures. When she gave them the all clear, they opened their eyes and stared at her as she poured the contents of the bottle in a spiral onto the circle of stones. She was completely stone-faced and the blank expression on her face concerned Sam. He had seen people in shock before but this girl wasn't reacting normally. It wasn't until he looked past her lack of expression and saw how bad that her hands were shaking that he realized that she was desperately trying to keep in control.

"Dean," Sam got his brother's attention and whispered, "She's looking twitchy and we've seen everything we need to. Let's head back up."

Dean shook his head. He pulled the ghetto-rigged EMF detector out of his pocket and gestured for Sam to distract Bethany. Slowly, Sam walked over to her and reached over to touch her shoulder. She jumped at the initial contact and pulled away, but then she turned calmly towards him.

"Why don't we go sit down for a second," he suggested. Amazingly, she just shrugged and followed him over to the steps. They sat there in silence for an awkward moment.

He cleared his throat. "Um. So. How are you doing?"

"Well, considering my friend's head is in a tree and the rest of her is splattered every where else, I'm doing okay," she said, somewhat distantly. "I'll probably puke when we get near a garbage can, but it can wait until then." She paused for a second before muttering under her breath, "I'd be better with an EMF detector or a thermal cam."

Sam's head whipped around, "What?"

Bethany glanced at him sideways and said in an all-too-innocent voice, "Nothing. So, what's your brother doing?"

"Umm," Sam hesitated, "Nothing."

"Really?"

"Yup."

Before the situation could get anymore suspicious, Dean strutted towards them. Sam noted the introspective look on Dean's face and wondered at what, if anything, Dean had found.

"So, what do you think," Bethany inquired, "Was it scuba ninjas?"

The brothers stared blankly at her and asked in unison, "Scuba what?"

"Nevermind." Bethany said flatly. She sighed and stood up, "It was a joke. And a bad one at that. I'm sorry. I make inappropriate comments at the worst times. Can we go back up so I can make it to a garbage can in time?"

- - -

"Damn, that second flight was a bitch," Dean muttered as he caught his breath, once they had ascended the stairs and made it into the parking lot.

Harry stormed over to Bethany yelling, "You stupid cunt! What the hell were you doing down there? We saw the flashes from your camera. What were you thinking? Did you take some pictures to post on your LJ?"

Dean and Sam both stared at the furry idiot, and Dean stepped forward as if to say something. Before his foot hit the ground, Bethany's fist slammed forward and nailed Harry square on the jaw. He staggered back and doubled over. He clutched at his face, emitting a piggish squeal.

"I took some pictures because something down there was off and I couldn't figure it out, you jackass. I can look at the pictures later when I've got a clear head, and if you think I'd ever do that... " Bethany's voice drifted off. She recovered quickly. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

"Betha, where are you - " Iris trailed off, eyes wide as Harry stood straight and made to follow Bethany.

This time, Dean did step up. "Hey, pal, why don't you just back the hell off and give the lady some breathing room."

Sam saw Bethany pass around a corner, and soon thereafter faint gut-wrenching sounds could be heard.

"Hey, man, you stay the fuck out of this. It's none of your business," Harry snarled in Dean's face. "Why are you even here?"

"We're just helping out, is all. Why don't you stop pickin' fights and go talk to your girlfriend?" Dean replied levelly, not even flinching.

Iris stood and detached herself from Danielle's clinging hands. Her footfalls echoed in the silence as she approached.

"Harry, please. Danni needs you now," she said quietly but firmly. She tugged on the sleeve of his coat. "Come on. They're nice guys, they're just trying to help."

Harry sneered, but turned away. He gave Dean one last glare before he headed back toward the rest of the tearful group huddled nervously around Danielle. Iris watched him go with an unhappy frown on her tense face. She turned back to Dean and Sam and forced a smile.

"I just want to thank you two. I know this situation is fucked up beyond belief. You didn't have to give us a ride, and you sure as hell didn't have to go with Betha down there," she said, and let her face fall. She swallowed and pinned them with an earnest, worried gaze. "Is she... Is Adrianna really..."

"I'm sorry," Sam said, knowing it was horribly inadequate and knowing there was nothing else to be said.

Iris's lips trembled and she dropped her eyes. Her voice was choked when she said, "I... see. How bad was it?"

"Pretty bad," Dean admitted reluctantly. "You don't wanna go down there."

Iris shook her head. "No. No, I don't. Christ. I've never had a friend die before. Fuck, it sounds weird to even say that. She's dead. Holy fuck."

She turned away jerkily. Her shoulders shook, and Sam felt like he should be doing something. He looked to Dean, who had a mildly panicked look on his face. They were used to situations where the bodies were dismembered or grotesque. What they weren't used to was trying to console those left intact.

They were saved from awkward, ineffectual attempts at comfort by Bethany's return. She came back around the corner and saw Iris standing with them. She pursed her lips and walked up to Iris, sweeping her into a tight hug. Iris finally started crying in earnest against the taller girl's shoulder. A few moments later, Iris stepped back. Wiping her tears away, she whispered a quick thanks and stared up at Bethany.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

Bethany sighed and closed her eyes for a second before answering. "We call the cops to remind them of our situation, and then we wait until they tell us to go home. After that, we'll get cleaned up, drink ourselves stupid and pass out. All other decisions can wait until tomorrow."

"That's good advice," Dean said kindly. "And I think Sam and I are going to call it a night, too. Right, Sam?"

Sam blinked, and then nodded. "Uh, yeah. We should find a hotel."

Dean took out a pen and a scrap of paper from his coat pocket. Scribbling quickly, he said, "If you girls need anything else, you know. Moral support or something. We'll be in town a while, so feel free to call my cell."

Bethany took the paper with an odd look on her face. "Er. Okay."

Iris gave them another watery smile. "Thanks. For everything. I'm sorry you had to see all this."

"Yeah, well. It's not the first time we've played good Samaritans," Sam told her consolingly. "Just take care of yourselves."

"And if you could not mention us to the cops..." Dean added suggestively.

The girls both looked surprised. Iris turned to look at Bethany.

"Umm. I guess. What would I tell them, anyway? 'Yeah, some guys I just met during bar rush at Ghetto Perkins and I went down and tampered with the evidence before you got here, hope you don't mind,'" Bethany said, though she was watching them closely now.

"'Preciate it," Dean replied, not answering any of the questions in her eyes.

Sam and Dean turned and headed back to the Impala. Once inside and driving, the silence dragged tensely for a moment.

"Whaddaya think?" Sam asked.

"I don't know what kind of frat boy dismembers and decapitates his potential date-rape victims, so I say we stick around," Dean said, clenching his jaw as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"My thoughts exactly. We should try to talk to that Danielle chick, too. Maybe she saw something," Sam added.

"You would think," he agreed, but shook his head. "I don't know. Something doesn't feel right about those kids. I mean, come on, they were being assholes to each other. What kind of friends act like that?"
"You're right, there," Sam said with a sarcastic smile. "Reminds me of the stuff in college I don't miss."