Author's note: Sorry it took so long to get this to yall! Its been hectic lately, my work schedule has changed a few times. I'm thinking of bringing someone back into the story… tell me what you think! Love you guys! Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Emily.
I dreamt about him again.
Don't worry its only the 4th night in a row. Doesn't mean anything right? I think its all this drama… all this change… all the bullshit. Its made me miss how normal I felt for those few days. Even though I know I'll never be able to fit in there… it doesn't mean I didn't wish I could have. Especially now.
"Find anything?" Sam asked as he walked back in with coffee and water.
"No man, I got nothing." Dean answered looking over all our stuff again. We had flyers plastered over the walls, files upon files to dig through, trails that have all gone cold. We just can't find her.
Ava was the girl in Sam's motel room… the one he was with when he ran off and ditched us. I wasn't mad at him for leaving- until I found out he was working a case with some random girl and didn't bother to include us. Didn't bother to include me… even though its all tied back to the yellow eyed Demon and what's going on with us.
So now I'm pissed and Ava's missing, oh and don't forget to include her dead fiancé. Sam's having a great week.
I wonder how his week is going… I wonder if he still has to sits next to an empty seat, or if someone else has wondered in and taken it.
"Ellen did have one thing." Sam said bringing me out of my thoughts again.
"Hmm?" I asked looking up to him.
"A hotel in Cornwall, Connecticut. Two freak accidents in the past three weeks." A case?
"Yeah? What's that have to do with Ava?" Dean asked.
"It's a job. I mean, a lady drowned in the bathtub; then a few days ago a guy falls down the stairs, head turns a complete one-eighty. Which isn't exactly normal, you know? Look, I don't know, Dean, it might be nothing, but I told Ellen we'd think about checking it out."
"You did?" He asked surprised. Sam has been nothing less than adamant that we find Ava.
"Yeah. You seem surprised." Sam said.
"Well yeah, it's just, you know. not the, uh, patented Sam Winchester way, is it?" Dean asked. I chuckled. Sam seemed offended.
"What way is that?" Sam asked challengingly.
"I just figured after Ava there'd be, uh, you know, more angst and droopy music and staring out the rainy windows, and…. Yeah I'll shut up now." Dean quickly stopped himself before he dug the hole any deeper. I sat back amused. Dean wasn't lying. That is surely the Sam Winchester Way.
"Look. I'm the one who told her to go back home. Now her fiancé's dead and some demon has taken her off to God knows where. You know? But we've been looking for a month now, and we've got nothing. So I'm not giving up on her, but I'm not going to let other people die either. We've got to save as many people as we can." Sam said determined.
"Wow. That attitude is just way too healthy for me, and I'm officially uncomfortable now. Thank you." Dean added walking away, Sam and I both laughed.
"What about you Em? You in?" Sam asked turning to me. He's been kissing ass for a few weeks now.
"Yeah. I'm down." I said not looking back up at him.
"All right, call Ellen. Tell her we'll take it." Dean said beginning to pack our things.
Sam walked out to call Ellen.
"Hey Em… cut the kid a break. You've been cold shouldering him since this whole Ava thing started." Dean said quietly.
"Dean… he took off again. And this time it was to work a case? With some random bitch? I mean seriously… Why are you not more pissed off about this?"
"Because he needed to process this in his own way. Incase you forgot you got a little irate too. You couldn't stand to share a room with me."
"Whatever… just leave it alone Dean."
"No. What is up with you… you've been off all week."
"I don't know… Just got shit on my mind."
"… You mean Luke?" Dean asked so low it was almost a whisper.
I froze. How does he know that? I haven't said a word to him or Sam about the dreams.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I said annoyed.
"Don't you think trying to lie to me is a little pointless? I mean. Honestly… you think you fool me anymore?" Dean asked sarcastically.
"Dean." I sighed.
"I heard you… last night. You mumbled his name. I don't think Sam heard it… he was too invested in what he was reading. You really shouldn't fall asleep at the table." I sat down on the bed and sighed, fiddling with the shirt in my hands. Dean sat down across from me.
"I don't get it De… that's the 4th night in a row."
"I don't either Em… that was months ago. You still miss him kiddo?"
"I guess. I mean. I thought I was past this… I haven't even thought about him in weeks, then all of a sudden I start dreaming of him?"
"Well. I guess its better than the alternative… at least its not nightmares, right?" Dean asked. I just looked at him, letting me eyes talk instead. Dean sadly smiled at me.
The truth is they are nightmares. Well, sorta. They start off amazing… me and him. Kissing. Dancing. Laying together in a field, riding around in his truck. Then… a moster. A spirit… a demon. Something always comes in and reminds me why I can't have him. He can't be in this life with me.
"Well kiddo… they'll stop. They always do. Lets get packed up and hit the road. Get a change of scenery. Maybe itll help."
"Yeah. Maybe so." I nodded.
"Em… seriously though. Give Sammy a break."
I sighed annoyed before throwing myself backwards on the bed.
"That's my girl." Dean mumbled, causing me to grin like a little kid.
As we packed up the car, I thought about what Dean said. I've been avoiding Sam mostly. Only talking when I need to. Only sharing a bed with him when I HAD to.
"Hey Sasquatch." I said as Sam packed the trunk. He looked up at me.
"Don't squish my bag." I said with a grin. He grinned back.
I climbed up front, sitting in the middle once the boys finished and got in on either side of me.
We drove for a few hours before Sam began to doze off, I could feel myself getting sleepy. I leaned against Sam, he subconsciously wrapped an arm around me. When he did I looked up at Dean who was grinning at us like an idiot.
"Shut up." I muttered before comfortably falling asleep against my giant brother.
"Dude, this is sweet. I never get to work jobs like this." Dean said excitedly as we all climbed out of the car and took in the sight of the large old inn in front of us.
"Like what?" Sam asked.
"Old school haunted houses, you know? Fog, and secret passageways ... sissy British accents. Might even run into Fred and Daphne while we're inside. Mmm, Daphne. Love her."
"Ew Dean… come on." I gagged slightly. Causing Sam to chuckle behind me. We began walking towards the front door, but I felt a giant arm slip off my shoulder and stopped.
"Hey, wait a sec." Sam said, observing the large urn at the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm not so sure haunted's the problem." Sam said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You see this pattern here? That's a quincunx, that's a five-spot."
"Five-spot." Dean muttered to himself, trying to remember what it means. "That's used for hoodoo spellwork, isn't it?"
"Right, yeah. You fill this thing with bloodweed and you've got a powerful charm to ward off enemies." I added.
"Yeah, except I don't see any bloodweed. Don't you think this place is a little too, uh, white meat for hoodoo?" Dean asked.
"Maybe." Sam shrugged.
"Well lets go in and find out." I offered leading the boys in.
"May I help you?" A woman asked as she nearly ran right into us.
"Hi, yeah, I'd like a room for a couple of nights." Dean asked as two little girls ran through the room and almost smacked into us.
"Hey!" The lady yelled. "Sorry about that." She said smiling at Sam and I.
"Its no problem." Sam said politely.
"Yeah we're used to little girls running a muck." Dean said as he ruffled my hair. Every bit of me wanted to punch him, but I held back. The lady smiled.
"Well, um, congratulations, you could be some of our final guests." Susan said as she went behind the desk holding all the keys.
"Well. Sounds vaguely ominous." Dean said cautiously.
"No, I'm sorry, I mean we're closing at the end of the month." She explained, then she looked up and I could tell she was assessing us. "Well, let me guess. You three are here antiquing?" I had to stifle a laugh. I knew what she was implying… Dean did not as he shrugged nonchalantly at Sam and I before answering her.
"How'd you know?"
"Oh, you just look the type." She smiled.
Dean looked mildly uncomfortable with her reply. Sam looked to me in confusion. I had to bite my tongue not to laugh.
"So, uh, king-sized bed? And a conjoining room for your daughter?" She asked. Suddenly it clicked with both of my brothers, and I couldn't hold back any longer. I had to turn away from the woman while I laughed silently to myself.
"What? No, uh, no, we're, we're…two singles. We're just brothers. And this is our little sister." Sam quickly jumped in explaining.
"Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry."
"What'd you mean that we look the type?" Dean asked. The poor woman didn't know what to say, so I quickly jumped in to rescue her.
"You know, speaking of antiques, you have a really, really interesting urn on the front porch. Where did you get that?" I asked her.
"Oh, I have no idea, it's been there forever. Here you go, Mr. Mahagov." She answered handing Dean the keys.
"Thanks." Dean smiled.
"You'll be staying in room 237. Sherwin, could you show these gentlemen to their rooms?" She called over to the elderly man coming around the corner.
"Let me guess. Antiquers?" He asked grinning. I couldn't help myself and busted out laughing this time. Dean and Sam both glared at me before following the man up the stairs.
The poor old man drug our bags up the stairs, It was painful to hear all of our weapons hit against stair after stair. It was killing Dean.
"I could give you a hand with that bag." Dean offered.
"I got it." The man assured him.
"Okay." Dean said through clenched teeth.
"So the hotel's closing up, huh?" I asked him.
"Yep. Miss Susan tried to make a go of it, but the guests just don't come like they used to. Still, it's a damn shame."
"Oh yeah?" Sam asked.
"It may not look it anymore, but this place was a palace. Two different vice-presidents laid their heads on our pillows. My parents worked here, I practically grew up here. Gonna miss it. Here's your room." He slipped the key in the lock and then handed them to us as we walked in, Dean turned to close the door to find Sherwin with his hand outstretched.
"You're not gonna ... cheap out on me, are you, boy?" He asked. Dean looked shocked, I reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Handing the old man 20 bucks… he may come in handy later, and I want to be on his good side. He smiled and I winked at him as he walked away. I shut the door and turned to face a very annoyed Dean.
"I'll take that." He said snatching his wallet out of my hands.
"Geez don't have a cow." I said rolling my eyes. Dean walked further into the room but then stopped.
"What the fuck?" He said.
"What?" Sam and I asked walking over to him. There was a very large, very ugly, very creepy antique wedding dress decorating the wall.
"That's normal." I muttered thoroughly creeped out.
"Why the hell would anyone stay here? I'm amazed they kept in business this long." Dean asked.
"All right. Victim number one: Joan Edison, forty three years old, a realtor handling the sale of the hotel; and victim number two was Larry Williams, moving some stuff out to Goodwill." Sam said bringing us back on track. He's good at that. Honestly I don't know how Dean and I got anything done without him.
"Well, there's a connection: they're both tied up in shutting the place down." I suggested.
"Yeah. Maybe somebody here doesn't want to leave, and they're using hoodoo to fight back." Sam added.
"Who do you think our witch doctor is, that Susan lady? Dean asked.
"No, doesn't seem likely. I mean, she is the one selling." Sam said.
"So what then, Sherwin?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"Of course, the most troubling question is why do these people assume we're gay?" Dean then asks.
"Well, you are kinda butch. Probably think you're overcompensating." I offered.
"Ha, Right." Dean laughed mockingly.
"And Sammy over here is very in touch with his feelings." I suggested.
That was enough to earn the bitchface from both of them, they then looked to each other, and back at me with evil grins.
"No.. hey… wait. What are you doing…" I asked slowly preparing to run.
"Guys… stop. Just. Wai-" But Sam and Dean both lunged for me before I could finish. I squealed and took off at full speed jumping and running across the top of the bed, but it was useless effort. Sam's long arms reached up and grabbed my ankle, and Dean quickly darted in front of me assuring I wouldn't face plant, but instead end up being held down and tickled to death.
The next move was to take a look around, so we began wandering through the halls.
"Hey. Look at that. More hoodoo." I pointed out as we walked past an old vase. Next to it was a door marked "private" but Dean knocked anyways. Susan quickly opened it.
"Hi there." Dean smiled.
"Hi. Everything okay with your room?"
"Yeah. Yeah, yeah, everything's great. Yeah." Sam and Dean began talking over each other.
"Well, I was, I was just in the middle of packing." She said implying that she was busy.
"Hey! Are those antique dolls? Because this one…" Dean threw an arm around me. "This one here, she's got a major doll collection back home. Dontcha? Huh?" He asked, obviously getting me back the whole gay thing.
"Big time." I smiled at Susan after glaring at Dean with daggers behind my eyes. He knows I HATE dolls. They creep me out. I have always been scared of them… Sammy's thing is clowns, Dean's is planes… mine is dolls, and spiders, and… well. Okay. Maybe my list is a little more lengthy then the boys but Dolls and Spiders top it!
"Big time. You think she could come — or we could come in and take a look?" Dean asked.
"I don't know.." Susan was hesitant to invite strangers in, and I don't blame her.
"Please? I mean, she loves them. She's not gonna tell you this, but she's, she's always dressing 'em up in these little tiny outfits and, um, you'd make her day. You — she would, huh? Huh?" Dean asked turning to me again.
"It's true." I barely got the words out past the anger.
"Okay. Come on in." Shit.
"All right. All right!" Dean ushered me in and Sam followed behind us.
"Wow. This is a lot of dolls. I mean, they're nice, you know. Not super creepy at all." Dean said.
I felt his pain but only intensified by about a thousand. This room is a scene straight from a horror movie. There are at least a hundred of these dolls in here. Different sizes, some old, some new. I want to run. Screaming.
"Yeah, I suppose they are a little creepy. But they've been in the family forever. A lot of sentimental value." Susan explained.
"What is this? The hotel?" Sam asked as he approached a doll house.
"Yeah, that's right. Exact replica, custom built." I walked over and noticed a doll at the bottom of the stairs… his head turned sideways.
"His head got twisted around. What happened to it?" I asked.
"Tyler, probably." Susan answered just as one of the two little girls from earlier ran in the room.
"Mommy! Maggie's being mean." She whined.
"Tyler, tell her I said to be nice, okay?" Susan said exasperated.
"Hey Tyler. I see you broke your doll. You want me to fix it?" Sam asked.
"I didn't break it. I found it like that." She answered.
"Oh. Well, uh, maybe Maggie did it." I offered.
"No, neither of us did it. Grandma would get mad if we broke 'em." Tyler answered sullenly.
"Tyler, she wouldn't get mad." Susan quickly said.
"Grandma?" Dean asked.
"Grandma Rose. These were all her toys." Tyler answered him.
"Oh. Really. Where's Grandma Rose now?" I asked.
"Up in her room."
"You know, I'd, I'd uh, I'd really love to talk to Rose about her incredible doll-" I started but was quickly cut off.
"No. I mean, I'm afraid that's impossible. My mother's been very sick and she's not taking any visitors." Susan answered. I nodded politely.
We left soon after that and I was sure to corner Dean as soon as we were alone and in our room.
I reached up and flicked the top of his ear.
"Ow! What the hell Em?" He said turning to face me.
I quickly punched him in the gut.
"You're an ass! You know I HATE dolls!" I said quickly.
"Yeah well we needed in that room."
"Yeah well next time you can be the freak that loves dolls!"
"Sam, will you help me out here?" Dean asked gesturing to him.
"Sam you just got back on my good side and I suggest you stay out of this or you'll be where he is." I warned before he had the chance to answer. He slowly raised his hands as if he was surrendering.
"Wow. Thanks." Dean said rolling his eyes.
"Well, what do you think? Dolls, hoodoo, mysterious shut-in grandma?" Dean asked after I walked away from him.
"Well, dolls are used in all kinds of voodoo and hoodoo, like curses, and binding spells, and ... " Sam started.
"And you two wonder why they terrify me." I added sourly.
"Yeah, maybe we've found our witch doctor. All right, I'll see what I can go dig up on boomin' Granny. You go get online, check old obits, freak accidents, that sort of thing, see if she's whacked anybody before."
"Right." Sam agreed pulling out his laptop.
"Don't go surfing porn - that's not the kind of whacking I mean." Dean added.
"Okay! You are disgusting!" I quickly snapped at him as Sam rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna go dig around, see what else I can find out about the place." I said pushing past Dean.
I descended the stairs as Dean watched. I could feel his eyes on me the whole way down. I was thankful to be out the front door and away for a moment.
I dreamt of him again last night. Even the comfort of being on the road couldn't keep the dreams away.
I went to the impala parked around back, in the quiet parking lot beside the playground. I knew exactly what I was looking for, but I didn't want Dean to see.
I went to the trunk and began to dig through one of my bags. The one I hid it in. In the hideaway pocket in the side I pulled out a small piece of paper, and a wallet sized picture.
I don't know why. I went to throw away his number a dozen times… the photo two dozen times. I never could let go of them.
When Dean took away my phone I was furious, even though I know he did it to help me. I thought that was my last chance. Until I found these again. I knew if he found them he'd burn them. Make sure that they were gone. So instead I hid them.
I put back the photo and put the number in my new phone before replacing it as well. Then I went to sit in the swings, it was quiet out here. Peaceful. The last couple of months have been so hectic. It was nice to sit down and take a deep breath. I opened my phone and stared at the blank text message.
Wondering what to say. Should I say anything at all? Has he forgotten about me? Would he even care… after what I did would he even want to hear from me again? The familiar feeling of guilt rolled in my stomach and I closed the phone.
Its not safe for him. I'm not safe for him.
It was getting dark outside when I heard the sirens. I watched as an ambulance quickly pulled in, then a police car… and another.
Somethings wrong, I quickly ran in to search for my brothers. To be sure they were safe.
I was running in towards the stairs when I smacked right into Dean.
"Oh thank god! You're okay!" he said quickly assessing me like I did him.
"De where's Sam?" I asked still frantic.
"Upstairs come on, Susan said some guy hung himself." Dean said as he grabbed my hand and dragged me back up to our room.
We burst through the door and relief flooded me as I saw Sam sitting by the window. I watched as Dean sighed in relief as well.
"There's been another one. Some guy just hung himself in his room." Dean announced as I closed the door behind us.
"Yeah. I saw." Sam said darkly.
"We've gotta figure this out, and fast. What'd you find out about Granny?" Dean asked him.
"You're the boss." Sam mused aloud.
"What?" Dean asked confused.
"You're bossy. And short." Sam said before laughing a little.
"Are you drunk?" I asked approaching him.
"Yeah." He laughed. "So? Stupid."
It was then I looked around and found all the empty liquor bottles from the mini bar… all of them. I then looked up to Dean, who shared a worried glance with me.
"Dude, what are you thinking? We're working a case." Dean said.
"That guy who hung himself. I couldn't save him." Sam said staring off, I could vaguely see his eyes beginning to water.
"What are you talking about? You didn't know, you couldn't have done anything." I said reaching for him, he yanked his arm away from my reach. Then he shifted his gaze to me.
"That's an excuse, Emily. I should have found a way to save him. I should have saved Ava too." He said bitterly.
"Yeah, well, you can't save everyone. Even you said that." Dean said walking up to him. Sam slammed his hand down on the table, causing me to jump back slightly. I've never seen him like this.
"No, Dean, you don't understand, all right? The more people I save, the more I can change!"
"Change what?" Dean asked.
"My destiny, Dean!" He yelled leaning forward and gesturing to himself with his hands on his chest.
"All right. Time for bed. Come on, Sasquatch." Dean said rolling his eyes. He leaned over and pulled up Sammy by the shoulders. "Come on." He said ushering him over to a bed.
"I need you to watch out for me." Sam said quietly, more to Dean then me.
"Yeah. I always do." Dean answered.
"No! No, no, no. You have to watch out for me, all right? And if I ever ... turn into something that I'm not ... you have to kill me." Sam said sadly. Every bit of watching this broke my heart. To see Sam, the levelheaded calm one, fall apart.
"Sam." Dean said dismissing his words.
"Dean! Dad told you to do it, you have to." Sam yelled forcing Dean to face him.
"Yeah, well, Dad's an ass. He never should have said anything. I mean, you don't do that, you don't, you don't lay that kind of shit on your kids." Dean said quickly. Breaking my heart again.
"No. He was right to say it! Who knows what I might become? Even now, everyone around me dies!" Sam yelled.
"Yeah, well, I'm not dying, okay? And neither are you. Come on. Sam." Dean said pushing him onto the bed. Sam quickly sat back up and clutched on to Dean's jacket. Dean reached out and grabbed his shoulder.
"No, please! Dean, you're the only one who can do it. Promise." Sam asked.
"Don't ask that of me." Dean said flatly.
"Dean, please. You have to promise me." Sam pleaded… Dean looked up to me, I could see it was killing him to watch this too.
"I promise." Dean said looking back at Sam.
"Thanks." Sam reached up to grab Dean's face. "Thank you. You are…"
"All right. Come on." Dean batted away Sam's hands and shoved him back down on the bed, he turned over onto his stomach and clung to a pillow as his eyes began to close. Dean stood and rub his hand down his face.
"De." I said softly getting his attention, he turned to look at me.
"Go ahead… I got him." I offered, knowing he needed a drink, and we were obviously out.
Dean nodded slowly and walked over, kissing me on the top of my head before he left.
I sighed and looked down at Sam. He looked asleep… maybe. I grabbed the trash and began to pick up all the empty bottles before setting it next to the bedside incase he didn't make it to the bathroom when all this catches up to him. I turned to walk away when someone grabbed my hand.
"Emily…" Sam slurred as he clutched onto my hand.
"Yeah Sammy I'm here." I said sitting down next to him.
"I'm sorry I'm a bad brother." He said with tears filling his eyes.
"Sammy don't say that."
"No.. I am. I left you… I left you for so long. Something happened… something hurt you and I wasn't there."
"Sammy stop." I whispered looking down.
"I'm so sorry I didn't keep you safe… I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"Sammy. Its okay. I'm okay…" I tried to assure him.
"No… you're not. You're broken. And I wanna fix it." He said reaching up and stroking my cheek.
"Shhh… you do. Everyday." I said pulling his hands back down.
"Emily. You have to make him do it… you have to make him or I could hurt you."
"No Sammy… you wouldn't. You could never do that." I said faking a smile.
"What if I'm a monster." He asked quietly.
"You're not… because if you are, then I am too." I whispered back sadly.
"I'm gonna save you. No matter what." He said to me determined, yet sloppy.
"I know. I'm gonna save you too… I promise."
I laid down next to him, despite the smell, and let him wrap his arms around me. He quickly drifted off to sleep, and I wasn't far behind him.
I woke up to an empty bed and the sound of someone throwing up their guts in the bathroom. I slowly sat up and found Dean standing at the bathroom door… which would make Sam the one tossing his cookies. I got up and walked over to the table, holding a warm cup of coffee between my hands. I hadn't forgotten about last night's conversation with Sam, but even that wasn't enough to keep me from dreaming of Luke.
"How you feeling, Sammy?" Dean asked loudly through the door. Sam groaned in response.
"I guess mixing whisky and Jäger wasn't such a gangbuster idea, was it? I'll bet you don't remember a thing from last night, do you?" Dean sounded hopeful, I looked at him sadly… I hope he had too.
"Ohh, I can still taste the tequila." Sam groaned back… Dean smiled, but I'm not taking that as a yes or a no.
"You know, there's a really good hangover remedy - it's a, it's a greasy pork sandwich served up in a dirty ashtray." Dean said smiling.
I laughed and slapped him playfully.
Sam began heaving again.
"Oh, I hate you." He said through the door.
"I know you do. Hey, turns out when Grandma Rose was a tyke, she had a Creole nanny who wore a hoodoo necklace."
Sam opened the door and the smell of tequila and vomit came with him… yikes. Reminds me of my last tequila binge. Mine ended even worse than Sam's.
"So you think she taught Rose hoodoo?" Sam asked.
"Yes I do." Dean said discreetly covering his nose as he stood right in front of Sam.
"All right. I think it's time we talked to Rose, then." Sam said.
"Oh. You can brush your teeth first." Dean said walking away. I smirked at him and smelt the warm cup of coffee in front of me.
Soon after that we were picking the lock to find this mysterious granny.
"All right… we're clear. Dean said as he opened the door to Susan's room and led us in past the room of dolls, next we went upstairs, and found yet another closed door, this one was thankfully unlocked. I reached back and placed a hand on my gun as Dean slowly opened the door, revealing a woman in a rocking chair facing away from us.
"Mrs. Thompson? Mrs. Thompson?" Sam asked. No reply.
"Rose? Hi, Mrs. Thompson, we're not here to hurt you, it's okay —" I said walking around in front of her.
"Rose?" I asked quietly. She stared at me with eyes full of fear, but didn't respond.
"Dean. This woman's had a stroke." I said quietly, realizing why she couldn't reply.
"Yeah, but hoodoo's hands-on, I mean, you've got to mix herbs, and chant, and build an altar." Sam said.
"Yeah. So it can't be Rose. Hey, maybe it's not even hoodoo." Dean offered. "Or she could be faking."
"Yeah, what are you gonna do, poke her with a stick?" I asked. Dean seemed to contemplate the idea.
"Dude! You're not gonna poke her with a stick!" Sam quickly said.
"What the hell?! What are you doing in here?" Susan asked as she entered the room.
"Oh, we just wanted to talk to Rose…" Sam quickly tried.
"Well, the door was open…" Dean overlapped.
"Look at her, she is scared out of her wits. I want you out of my hotel in two minutes or I'm calling the cops." Susan warned. We all left immediately.
"Great. So what do we do now?" I asked as we quickly packed our bags.
"Well… we're just gonna have to hang around. Stay low."
"Dean we don't even know what we're looking for, how are we gonna find it if we can't even get in here."
"Dammit Em, I don't know… but we don't have another option. If we stay we're gonna get arrested." Dean said flatly.
We packed up and quickly loaded into the impala, we pulled to the edge of the parking lot and sat quietly as we watched movers come and go. Then we watched as Susan came outside and sat in the same swing I sat in just yesterday… apparently I'm not the only one who thought it was a good place to stop and think.
"Poor woman." I mumbled.
"Yeah." Sam agreed.
"So Em… any more dreams?" Dean asked.
"Seriously?" I asked gesturing to Sam.
"Em I heard you the other night too… I know already." Sam confessed.
"Yeah…" I sighed. "Every night like clock work."
"What's got your mind fixated back on Luke?" Sam asked me.
"I don't know… I hadn't thought about him in weeks. It just started out of nowhere."
"Well Em, something triggered it."
"Well Sammy do you know what it was? Cause I sure as hell don't, and I wish they would go away." I said frustrated.
We watched for a few more minutes before we noticed other things on the playground began to move on their own… Susan noticed it as well, she stood as the wind picked up and things around her all began to move… she slowly backed away from the playground with her back to the parking lot. She didn't see the car turn on and start to move towards her, but Sam and Dean did. They were out of the car in a second and Sam was able to shove her out of the way moments before she would have died… I think it was safe to say she wasn't going to call the cops.
She led us back inside… to sit at the bar.
"Whiskey." She said to Sam pointing to the bottle behind him.
"Sure. I know the feeling." He said as he began to make her a glass.
"What the hell happened out there?" She asked.
"You want the truth?" I asked her.
"Of course."
"Well, at first we thought it was some sort of hoodoo curse, but that out there? That was definitely a spirit." Dean explained.
"Here." Sam said handing her the whiskey.
"You're insane." She said flatly.
"Yeah, it's been said." I mused.
"Look, I'm sorry, Susan. We don't exactly have time to ease you into this, but we need to know when your mother had the stroke." Sam asked.
"What does that have to do with any—"
"Just answer the question." Dean said.
"About a month ago."
"Right before the killings began." I said.
"See? So what if Rose was working hoodoo, but not to hurt anyone. To protect them." Sam said turning to Dean and I.
"She was using the five spot urns to ward off the spirit." Dean said putting it together.
"Right, until she had a stroke and she couldn't anymore." I said.
"I don't believe this." Susan said drinking the whiskey again.
"Listen, sister, that car didn't try to run you down by itself, okay? I mean, I guess it did, technically, but, but the spirit can — forget it." Dean tried but stopped.
"Look, believe what you want. But the fact is you and your family are in danger, all right? So you need to clear everybody out of here: your employees, your mother, your daughters, everyone." I said to her.
"Um, I only have one daughter." She said confused.
"One?" Sam asked just as confused.
"I thought Tyler had a sister named Maggie." I said.
"Maggie's imaginary."
"What… but. I saw her?" I said even more confused as I looked up to Dean and Sam. "Oh… oh no." I said slowly realizing that Maggie is the spirit… and for some reason. I could see her. This can't be good.
"Where's Tyler?" Sam asked frantically.
Susan took off and we all followed as she ran to her room, screaming for Tyler.
"Tyler!" She yelled as we all entered the room, then the play room.
"Oh my god. Tyler." Susan whispered as we all looked around to the broken and tattered dolls. Every single one of them has been destroyed. Susan began searching the other rooms as we all stood there taking in the scene.
"She's not here!" Susan said panicked.
"Susan. Tell us what you know about Maggie." Sam asked her calmly, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Uh, not much. Um, Tyler's been talking about her since Mom got sick."
"Okay, did you ever know anyone by that name?" Dean asked her. Susan shook her head no.
"Think, think, I mean, somebody that could have lived here, might have passed away?" Dean asked.
"Oh my god. My mom. My mom had a sister named Margaret. She barely spoke about her."
"Did Margaret happen to die here when she was a kid?" I asked.
"She drowned in the pool."
"Come on." Dean said as he took off towards the pool. I prayed we would make it in time.
As we finally made it to the glass enclosed pool house Susan began to scream for Tyler again, I could vaguely see two small girls standing on the balcony.
"Tyler!" Susan screamed banging on the door, Tyler turned around to face us, she was terrified.
"Mommy!" She cried.
"Dean, Maggie is next to her, she's gonna push her." I said frantically. But the doors wouldn't budge, suddenly Tyler screamed and her and Maggie both fell.
"Is there another entrance?" Dean quickly asked.
"Around back." He and Susan took off and Me and Sam stayed trying to bust through the glass on the door.
Sam reached over and picked up one of the large urns and launched in through the glass, he couldn't fit through but I could, I climbed in, successfully cutting my arms, and was able to get to the lock, I unlocked it in time for Sam to burst through and throw himself over the balcony into the pool. I looked down to see Tyler struggling to come up, Maggie was pushing her back down.
"Leave her alone!" I yelled. Then Maggie turned to face me.
Before I knew what was happening Maggie was behind me, I turned to face her.
"Why can I see you?" I whispered… not sure what else to say.
"Because He's close to you… He's going to find you."
"Who?! Maggie… tell me who." I demanded.
"The man with the yellow eyes." She said before she disappeared. I looked back over the railing in time to see Sam come up with Tyler in his arms.
Dean and Susan quickly bust through the door in the back and run to meet Sam at the edge of the pool. Tyler begins to cough up the water out of her lungs, I'm relieved. But terrified. He's here… But where? Has he been watching us? Following us? How close is close.
"Thank god! Thank god, thank god." I can hear Susan's cries as she hugs Tyler to her.
"Mommy!" Tyler cried in return.
"Tyler, do you see Maggie anywhere?" Sam asked her.
"No, she's gone."
"Em.. what about you?" Dean called to me.
"No." I answered shakily. "She's gone."
I stayed where I was until Dean made his way back up to me.
"How bad is it?" He asked gesturing to my bloody arm.
"Not bad, I cut it on the glass trying to get in. Just needs a few stitches." I said carefully looking around us. Watching for any sign that he might be here.
"Okay come on kiddo, lets get it over with." He said reaching down and helping me stand.
"Em your shaking… are you seriously that cold?" He asked.
"Yeah.. uh I guess." I said, Dean shrugged off his jacket and laid it over my shoulders. I continued to scan the area around us.
We walked back in and met Sam by the door, we were stitching up my arm when we heard the scream.
"Go! I'll stay with Em!" Sam yelled to Dean, he took off up the stairs.
Rose is dead. Surely at Maggie's hand… but at least Susan and Tyler are safe.
I'm sitting in the impala watching the boys say goodbye to Susan and Tyler… Its not that I don't want to, but I don't feel safe in the open, I want to be behind locked doors, in my home, the only home I've ever really had.
Dean is harassing Sam as they walk back to the impala.
"Think you could have hooked up some MILF action there, bud. I'm serious, I think she liked you." Dean told Sam.
"Yeah, that's all she needs."
"Well, you saved the mom, you saved the girl. Not a bad day. 'Course you know, I could have saved 'em myself, but I didn't want you to feel useless."
"All right, I appreciate it." Sam laughed.
"Feels good getting back in the saddle, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does. But it doesn't change what we talked about last night, Dean."
"We talked about a lot of things last night."
"You know what I mean." Damn… I knew he didn't forget. But I had hope.
"You were wasted."
"But you weren't. And you promised." Sam said as they opened the doors and got in.
I quickly scooted close to Dean and wrapped my arms around one of his. We drove for a few hours before Dean asked… I figured it was coming.
"Em whats up with you kiddo? You've been quiet since we saved Tyler." Dean asked.
"De… he's watching us." I whispered.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"Yellow eyes."
"What? How do you know?" Dean asked shocked, looking around us.
"Maggie… I asked her why I could see her… she said it was because he was close. And that he was going to find me." I whispered again.
"Emily he's not gonna find you… we're gonna find him. We're gonna kill him." Dean said harshly as he tightly wrapped his arm around me.
When I looked up to Sam I could see that it scared him too… he wanted to find the demon too, but I know that like me he's afraid of finding out what's really going on with us.
Finding the demon means getting those answers, whether we're ready to know or not.