Author's note: SO SORRY its taking so long to get updates to yall lately, we bought a house a few weeks ago and we've been getting it ready to move in on top of work. Okay guys, I'm gonna rearrange some chapters that we have left in this season, and probably skip one, maybe two, but there is a rhyme and reason and I'll do my best to replace everything. Just don't wanna do too much drama back to back on chapters, but anyways. I'm excited to fit Emily into this chapter for sure! It jumps around a lot but I tried to make it as easy to follow as I could. I hope you all like it, PLEASE read and review if you can, I miss hearing from everyone! And as always thank you to loyal followers/faves/reviewers! You guys mean the world to me! Thanks to all you new comers too! I'm thrilled and humbled that you take time out of your busy life to read about Emily!
I woke up wrapped in the same long warm arms I fell asleep in, its been years since we fell asleep on a couch like this. When we were little and dad was gone on a hunt Dean would sometimes go out late to "do his thing" and let Sammy and I have popcorn and movies, we'd stay up as late as we possibly could until we eventually passed out on the couch, undoubtedly I would always get cold and crawl into his arms. The same arms that hold me now, the same arms that I almost lost.
Soft snores filled the room, but soon there were also footsteps. I turned and looked up as Dean walked into the room and sat down across from us with coffee in hand. He took a sip and then grinned at me.
"What?" I asked softly so that I didn't wake up my personal mattress and comforter.
Dean shook his head back and forth looking down.
"De… what is it?"
He looked back up and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
"I'm just glad you two are okay. That's all… that and the fact that you look like a toddler again." He laughed. I rolled my eyes at him.
"I can't help it you two are giants. You two used up all the height genes before I was born, I just took what I was left with." I said matter of factly.
"Yeah well you know, when you were conceived dad tried to pull out and left the rest of your height on the sheets."
"DEAN!" I gasped in shock and disgust, reaching for something to throw at him. He laughed and all the commotion began to wake Sam.
The snores turned into mumbles.
"Morning sleeping beauty." Dean called to him.
Sam moved his arms from around me and stretched, I instantly felt the loss of warmth and nuzzled further between him and the couch.
"Morning, you sleep okay Em?" He asked me.
"Yeah. I did." I smiled and sat up next to him, burying my icy feet under him. I went to stretch but winced. Feeling the sharp pain in my side as the skin and muscles were pulled.
"Careful kiddo, don't want to rip my stitch work." Dean warned. I shot him a bitchface before slowly moving to sit up straight. I lifted the shirt up and Sam pulled back the bandage.
"See… stitches intact." I smiled. Dean winked.
"You want a pain pill Em?" Sam asked.
"No. Its fine… I just can't do too much stretching apparently."
When I turned to look at him again, his face had fallen, his hazel eyes fixed on the cuts on my face instead on my own brown eyes.
"Sam." I sighed.
"I know Em, but it doesn't make it any easier to look at."
"Well then I guess you'll just have to make it up to me." I grinned.
"Oh you're in trouble now." Dean chuckled to Sam.
"What exactly does that entail?" Sam asked cautiously.
"Hmm. Cheesecake, I get to pick the movies for a month, annnnnd. You can't leave me."
Sam chuckled and then pulled me to lean against him. "I already told you I'm not going anywhere kiddo. You're stuck with me."
"You're stuck with the both of us… hell you'll probably be begging to get rid of us by the end of the day. THAT'S how stuck with us you are." Dean said smiling.
"Nahhh. I don't think I want either of you out of my sight ever again."
*4 days later*
"Get your smelly ass feet away from me Dean!" I growled as I slapped and pushed them away from me. He stopped chewing for a moment to shove them back in my face.
"Ughh! I can't stand you! You're lucky I haven't kicked your ass yet for your little stunt last night! " I growled getting up and moving to the other bed.
"What stunt?! I told you. I DIDN'T DO IT!"
"Oh sure! Yeah. Cause my phone got up, took a picture of me sleeping with my mouth wide open, and sent it to Luke all on its own!" I snapped.
"Hey! I told you it wasn't me! Why don't you ask bigfoot! You think I was the only one in this room last night?"
"No. I don't, but Sam was asleep before I was! You were the only one still awake Dean! I'm not stupid."
"Well that's debatable…" he mumbled under his breath. If looks could kill, Dean would have just died a very painful death.
He kicked back and continued eating his bag of chips. Sam came around the corner and rolled his eyes.
"Dude. You mind not eating those on MY bed?" Sam asked.
"No, I don't mind." He said eating another. "How's research going?"
"You know how it's going? Slow. You know how it would go a heck of a lot faster? If I had my computer." Sam said flatly.
I got tired of listening to their bitching days ago. I put my headphones in and cranked them. Of course, I can only hear out of one side since someone broke them, assholes.
"Can you turn that down please?" Sam asked sitting at the table. I ignored him. I'm pretty sure it was his big ass foot that stepped on my headphones in the first place.
"Emily! Turn it down!" He yelled after another minute. I ignored him again and he huffed before walking over to the bed and yanking them out of my ears.
"Dude what the fuck!" I yelled standing up and taking them back.
"I said to turn it down." He said before stalking off.
I huffed and sat back down, turning off the ipod. I looked over to see Dean watching the TV, some bullshit reality show with skanky girls wearing bikinis. Unfortunately Sam continued to walk in front of it to carry his books to the table.
"Hey. I'm watching this, you mind?" Dean asked not bothering to look at him.
"You know what… maybe you two should just go somewhere while I try and actually get some research done."
Dean's face was frozen in irritability. Then suddenly he looks up to Sam.
"Hey, I'd love to. That's a great idea. Unfortunately, my car's all screwed to hell!" He yelled.
"Dean, I told you, I have nothing to do wi—" Sam started but a knock at the door stopped him.
We all stood staring at each other, but then Sam caved and walked over to the door.
"Hey, Bobby."
"Boys. Em" Bobby said walking in with his hands in his pockets.
"Hey Uncle Bobby." I said going over to hug him.
"Hey, Bobby." Dean said standing behind me.
"It's good to see you all again so soon."
"Yeah, uh, thanks for coming." Sam said.
"Thank god you're here." Dean mumbled.
"So um, what didn't you want to talk to me on the phone about?"
"It's this job we're working. We- We weren't sure you'd believe us." I admitted timidly.
"Well, I can believe a lot." He scoffed.
"Yeah, no, no, it's just, we've never seen anything like it –" Sam explained.
"Not even close." Dean added.
"And we thought we could use some fresh eyes."
"Well, why don't you begin at the beginning?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, um, all right. So, it all started when we caught wind of an obit. See, a professor took a nosedive from a fourth story window, only there's a campus legend that the building's haunted. So we pretexted as reporters from the local paper."
(Sam's POV Flashback to the bar)
"Yeah, we both had the professor for Ethics and Morality." Said Curtis and Jen, two local students.
"Yeah? So why do you think he did it?" I asked them.
"Who knows? I mean, he was tenured, wife and kids. His book is like a really big deal. Then again... Who's to say it was suicide?" Jen whispered quietly. Curtis scoffed at her.
"Jen, get real."
"Well, what else could it be?" I said cleverly feigning confusing.
"Well, you know about Crawford Hall right?" Jen asked leaning forward.
"No, I don't, actually."
"It's a bunch of crap, it's a total urban legend." Curtis cut in.
"Yeah well, Heather's mom went to school here, and she knew the girl!" Jen smarted back.
"Wait, what girl?" I asked getting their attention back.
"Thirty years ago, this girl was having an affair with some professor. He broke it off, she jumped out the window and killed herself."
"You know her name?"
"No. But they say she jumped from room six-six-nine. Get it? You turn the nine upside down?"
I nodded and Curtis laughed at Jen's theory.
"So now she haunts the building. And anyone who sees her? They don't live to tell the tale."
"Well if no one lives to tell the tale, then how does the tale get told?" Curtis asked her sarcastically.
"Curtis! Shut up!" She yelled smacking him in the shoulder.
"You know what, uh - Thanks a lot guys. Excuse me." I smiled before walking back to find Dean and Emily, who are no doubt flirting with some drunk college students. I spot Dean first and lean in as he begins taking a series of 3 brightly colored shots to impress the woman across the bar from him.
"Dean. Dean, what are you drinking?"
"I don't know, man, I think they're called purple nurples?" He said as he burped.
"Okay, well listen. I think maybe we should go check out the professor's office. Lets get Emily and go."
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no I can't right now, I've got some feisty little wildcat on the hook, I'm about to - zzzzp - reel her in. I'll introduce you." He said winking at the same girl across the bar. She was wearing fishnet stockings and a tight miniskirt, heaviy intoxicated, and wearing about 10lbs of make up.
"Dean –" I shighed as he waved her over.
"Starla! Starla, hey. This is my shuttle co-pilot Major Tom. Major Tom, Starla." He smiled drunk and introduced us. The even drunker girl leaned forward and put her arm around Dean.
"Enchanté." She chanted.
"Hi." I said shortly watching her gag slightly and then look up grinning. "Sorry, just trying to keep down the liquor she giggled.
"Okay… I'm gonna go find Emily." I said with an eye roll walking away.
"Hey! Wait… she's got a sister." Dean said with a wink. I continued to walk off and try to spot Emily. Unsurprisingly she's hanging over a pool table surrounded by guys, shirt unbuttoned halfway. God. My siblings have no class. How did I end up stuck with these two?!
"Emily. What the hell are you doing?" I asked when I grabbed her by the shoulder and swung her around to face me.
"I'm hustling these fine gentlemen, and I'm winning. So if you don't mind…." She said hinting that I was standing between her and the pool table.
"Could you at least put those things away, I'm sure every guy here would stick around if you snapped just a button or two. Its not like they need air to breathe."
She rolled her eyes and leaned over the table as she made another shot, pretending to sink the wrong ball. A guy comes around and drapes an arm around her, leaning on her and a pool stick for support, reeking of whiskey.
"Dude. Do you mind?" I said pulling her back towards me.
"Sammy chill! This guy is totally hot!" She scolded me.
(Present Day. Emily's POV)
"Whoa whoa whoa. I don't think so Sam! I shoved that guy off myself! I never said he was hot!" I yelled, interrupting Sam's story and preparing to lunge at him.
"Yes you did! I was probably the only sober one that night don't you think I'd remember?" Sam yelled back.
"No! You weren't! I had one beer the whole night. I'm pretty sure that means I was sober as well, and I would DAMN sure remember if it was a hot guy oogling my tits and not some drunk asshole."
"Okay. Can we just leave the words oogling and tits out of the same sentence when you're in my presence?" Bobby asked cringing.
"Sorry Bobby…" I mumbled.
"Yeah. That's not how any of that happened." Dean jumped in.
"No? So you never drank a purple nurple?" Sam asked with eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, maybe that, but I don't say things like "feisty little wildcat". And her name wasn't Starla."
"Then what was it?" Sam asked knowing he couldn't answer it. Dean never remembers the girl's names.
"I don't know. But she was a classy chick. She was a grad student, anthropology and folklore. We were talking about local ghost stories." Dean said matter of factly and turning to Bobby instead of Sam.
(Dean's POV, Flashback to the same bar.)
"Here's to..." The hot blonde started to say as she raised a glass.
"Here's to us." I finished for her. Knowing that I've got this one in the bag.
"My god, you are attractive." She said as we both threw back the shot. I humbly smiled.
"Thanks. But no time for that now. You need to tell me about this urban legend. Please. Lives are at stake." I told her in all seriousness.
"Sorry, I just… can't even concentrate. It's like staring... into the sun." She said her eyes gazing into mine. She reached up and pulled in for a kiss but suddenly we were interrupted.
"Dean! What do you think you're doing?" Sam asked prissily as he crossed his arms and scolded us.
"Sam, please. If you wouldn't mind, give me five minutes here." I asked smoothly.
I leaned back in but was interrupted again.
"Dean. I need some money." Emily said patting me on the shoulder.
"What?" I asked her confused.
"Come on. Spot me fifty bucks… I got these guys waiting on a game. I know I can take em, I just need the cash."
"Emily. Can't you see I'm a little busy here." I said motioning the woman in front of me. Emily huffed and rolled her eyes before walking away empty handed. I went to lean in once more for the kiss but Sam wasn't gonna let me seal the deal on this one.
"Dean, this is a very serious investigation. We don't have any time for any of your blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah Blah!"
I leaned in and kissed her anyways.
(Present Day. Emily's POV)
"Right! And that's how it really happened. I don't sound like that, Dean!" Sam interrupted sarcastically.
"That's what you sound like to me." Dean mumbled.
"…and me sometimes." I added. Sam glared at me.
"Okay. What's going on with you three?" Bobby asked.
"Nothing. No- it's nothing." Sam answered frustrated.
"No, come on. You're all bickering like an old married couple."
"No, see married couples can get divorced. I'm stuck with these two.. like.. like. Siamese triplets!" I said exasperated.
"It's conjoined triplets!" Sam quickly and rudely corrected me.
"See what I mean?" Dean said motioning over to us.
"Look, it." Sam sighed. "We've just been on the road for too long. Tight quarters, all that. Don't worry about it."
"Okay." Bobby said hesitantly.
"So anyway. We figured it might be a haunting, so we went to check out the scene of the crime." I began.
(Flash back to the office, Emily's POV)
"So, how long've you been working here?" Sam asked the janitor politely.
"I've been mopping this floor for six years. There you go, guys." He said as he opened the door and held it for us, winking at me as I entered. He's not hard to look at if I'm being honest. Way too old for me… but whatever.
"What the heck's that for?" He asked when Dean pulled out an EMF reader.
"Just find a wire in the walls." He explained.
"Huh. Wow. Not sure why you're wiring up this office. Not gonna do the professor much good." "
"Why's that?"
"He's dead."
"Oh. What happened?" I asked faking my surprised reaction.
"He went out that window. Right there."
"Yeah? Were you working that night?" Sam asked.
"I'm the one who found him."
"That must have been hard… You see it happen?" I asked reaching out and putting a hand on his arm to show sympathy. He smiled at me kindly and placed his hand over mine.
Sam coughed and glared at me to let go, Dean was distracted stuffing his face full of nuts off of the table.
"Nope. I just saw him come up here, and uh ... well."
"What?" Dean asked noticing his hesitance.
"He wasn't alone."
Dean walked over stuffing his face and carrying around the bowl of nuts.
"Who was he with?" he asked with his mouthful. I swear. He's like a giant toddler. No manners what so ever.
(Present day, Emily's POV)
"Come on! I ate one, maybe two!" Dean argued cutting me off.
"Just let me tell it, okay?" I snapped.
"No! You're making shit up. And you were all kinds of handsy on the janitor. You were acting like some kind of gold digger!"
"Oh! Right! Yeah cause the college janitor must be ROLLING in money every night. You're such a dumbass Dean!"
"Alright now that's enough. Someone finish this damn story before we all die of old age." Bobby said ending our argument.
"I think I can take it from here." Sam said stepping up to Bobby in front of Dean and I.
(Flashback to office, Sam's POV)
"He was with a young lady. I told the cops about her, but uh, I guess they never found her."
"You saw this girl go in, huh? But did you ever see her come out?" I asked him.
"Now that you mention it, no." He said looking over to Emily. Surely he realizes he's like twice her age… or more. I coughed to get his attention again.
"You ever see her before, around?"
"Well, not her."
"What do you mean?" Dean asked, still stuffing his face.
"I don't mean to cast aspersions on a dead guy, but uh… Mister Morality here? He brought a lot of girls up here. Got more ass than a toilet seat." The janitor explained bluntly. Dean and Emily laughed at his analogy and he winked again at Em. I expected her to be grossed out, but instead she blushed. What the hell? This dudes like 40?!
"One more thing. This building, it only has four stories, right?" I asked bringing us back to the case since I seem to be the only one trying to solve it.
"Yeah."
"So there wouldn't be a room six-six-nine?"
"'Course not. Why do you ask?"
"Uh, just curious. Thanks."
"You know… six and nine happen to be two of my favorite numbers." Dean said with a grin as he tossed in more nuts.
"Ew. Dean… upstairs brain." Emily said smacking him in the back of the head, causing him to spit nuts out onto the floor.
We headed back to the motel room from there before my siblings could manage to embarrass me any further then they already have.
"Well, no traces of EMF, that's for sure." Emily said as I got us all a beer- or root beer, out of the fridge.
"And the room six-six-nine's a load of crap." Dean said sounding disappointed.
"So what do you think? The professor's just a jumper? A legend's just a legend?" I asked sitting down at the table.
"I don't know. I mean, the uh, girl the janitor described, that's pretty weird." Emily said.
"Yeah." I agreed.
"We oughta check out the history of the building. See if any co-ed ganked herself there." Dean suggested.
"Yeah, you're right." I reached down and pulled out my laptop, Dean left for the bathroom and Emily went to lay on the bed and text who I assume to be Luke. She always smiles when she talks to him.
"Dude. Were you on my computer Dean?" I yelled, he stepped out of the bathroom confused.
"No." He answered slowly.
"Oh really? 'Cause it's frozen now. On uh, ." I said turning it towards them.
"Oh ewww.. Come on Sam I don't want to know what kind of porn my brothers watch!" Emily yelled burying herself under a blanket.
Dean appeared to think on it for a minute before smiling… then wincing, then frowning and turning back into the bathroom. Well I guess that's a yes.
"Dean! Would you - just - don't touch my stuff anymore, okay?"
"Why don't you control your O.C.D.?" He shot back.
"Why don't you both shut up!" Emily called form under the blankets.
(Present Day Emily's POV)
"But did you dig up anything about the building? Or on the suicidal co-ed?" Bobby asked.
"No. History's clean." I said.
"Then it's not a haunting. "
"Maybe not. Tell you the truth, we're not really sure." Dean admitted.
"What do you mean, you're not sure?"
"Well ... it's weird." Sam added.
"What's weird?"
"This next part, we uh, we didn't see it happen ourselves exactly, but it's pretty friggin weird. Even for us. That kid Curtis… from the bar. He was um. Uh. Abducted?... By. Aliens. According to him anyways. I mean… I don't know. But he sounded legit." Dean explained awkwardly knowing how ridiculous this all sounded.
"Aliens?" Bobby asked suspiciously.
"Yeah."
"Aliens?"
"Yeah."
"Look, even if they are real, they're sure as hell not coming to earth and swiping people." Bobby said confidently looking at us like we're a bunch of idiots.
"Hey, believe me. We know." Sam said.
"My whole life i've never found evidence of an honest-to-God abduction. It's all just cranks and pranks."
"Yeah, that's what we thought. But...we figured we'd at least talk to the guy."
(Flashback to the bar Emily's POV)
"Hey, you ought to give those purple nurples a shot." Dean suggested as the bartender laid out a row of colorful shots in front of us.
"So, what happened, Curtis?" Sam asked him. I sat quietly behind him, listening.
"You won't believe me. Nobody does."
"Give us a chance." I suggested.
"I do not want this in the papers." He said firmly.
"Off the record, then." Dean said hands up as if he were surrendering.
"I, uh... I blacked out, and...I lost time, and when I woke up, I don't know where I was."
"Then what?" Sam said urging him to continue.
"They did tests on me. And, uh..." He paused taking a shot.
"They, uh... They probed me."
Sam turned, struggling not to laugh out loud. His face caused me to have to turn away and stifle a laugh myself.
"They probed you?" Dean asked, also struggling to keep a straight face.
"Yeah, they probed me. Again and a- Again and - And again." He took another shot. "And again and again and again... And then one more time."
"Yikes." Dean said with a mix of disgust and humor on his face.
"And that's not even the worst of it." Curtis said taking another shot.
"How could it get any worse? Some alien made you his bitch." Dean said with a smirk. At that I couldn't hold it together and a small snort made its way out of my mouth. I quickly covered it with my hand. Earning a glare from Curtis. Dean's smirk quickly fell aswell.
"They... They made me... Slow dance!" He said as he downed another shot.
(Present Day Emily's POV)
"You guys are exaggerating again, huh?" Bobby asked with eyebrows raised.
"No no." We all said honestly.
"Then this frat boy's just nuts."
"We're not so sure Uncle Bobby." I said slowly.
"See we uh… we found. Um… not really a crop circle. But. Some kind of marking made by some sort of jet engine, in the form of a set of perfect circles. Exactly where the kid said he was abducted from. It was weird. So we kept digging." Dean said.
(Flashback to interviewing a student, Dean's POV)
"So, you and this guy, Curtis - You were in the same house?" I asked the kid.
"Yeah."
"You heard what happened to him, right?"
"Yeah, he says it was aliens, but, you know, whatever."
"Look, man, I - I know this all has to be so hard." Sam said to him full of deep concern.
"Um, not so much." The guy said nonchalantly.
"But I want you to know... I'm here for you. You brave little soldier. I acknowledge your pain. Come here." Sam said reaching out and pulling him into a hug.
"You're too precious for this world." Sam whispered as he rocked them back and forth. Emily standing behind them staring in disgust, as was I.
(Present Day, Emily's POV)
"I never said that!" Sam stood up and yelled.
"You're always saying pansy stuff like that." Dean retorted.
"Em. A little help here?" Sam said turning to me.
"Well… you didn't say or do that… but you are a little on the soft side. But. I mean. I like you that way Sammy." I said with a shrug. He shook his head back and forth and rolled his eyes mumbling something incoherently, pretty sure it wasn't friendly though.
(Flashback to the interview, Dean's POV)
"Well, um... Yeah, uh, thanks." The guy said as Sam released him from the hug. "Thanks for the hug, but, uh, I'm okay. Really. To tell you the truth, whatever happened to Curtis, he had it coming."
"Why is that?" Emily asked him.
"He's our pledge master. Put us through hell this semester, and got off on it. So now he knows how we feel."
"Ah. I see." Emily said nodding.
"Hey um, I know this is kinda weird, but um. Can I have your number?" He asked looking Emily up and down.
"Dude! She's 16!" I said quickly shutting him down, he walked away swiftly. Emily just rolled her eyes at me.
"Oh come on, he wasn't even good looking! You weren't gonna give him your number anyways. I did your ass a favor. And next time we come to a college campus you're wearing a hoodie the whole time!" I said as she walked ahead of me.
"Dean shut up." She mumbled.
We made it back to the hotel room to regroup and figure out our next move from there.
"Still doesn't make a lick of sense. But, hey, at least there's one connection." I said.
"Between what?" Sam asked confused.
"The victims. The professor and the frat guy - They're both dicks."
"So are you… that's not really a connection." Emily said snarkily.
"You got anything better to go on, i'd love to hear it." I said with eyebrows raised.
"Where's my laptop?" Sam asked interrupting us.
"I don't know." Emily and I both said, he continued to search.
"Think about it Em. A philandering professor gets a dead girl. A pledge master gets hazed."
"I left it in here." Sam said frustrated.
"You obviously didn't." Emily told him before turning back to me.
"I mean, these punishments—they're almost poetic. Actually, it'd be more like a limerick, but still –" I tried but was cut off.
"Dean. Stop trying to sound like Sam." She said with a sigh.
"Okay, hilarious. Ha ha. Where'd yall hide it?" Sam asked stepping between us.
"What, your computer?" I asked him.
"Yeah, where'd you hide it?"
"Why would i take your computer?"
"Fine. Emily. Where is it."
"Sam. IF I was going to fuck with something of yours to be mean. It wouldn't be as obvious as your computer." Geez. She's acting like a real bitch today.
"Well it had to have been one of you!"
"Why's it gotta be us?!" I asked him.
"Because no one else could have, Dean! We keep the door locked. We never let any maids in".
"Looks like you lost it, Poindexter." I said sitting down with my beer.
"Dude, you know something? I put up with a lot from you. From both of you."
"What are you talking about? I'm a joy to be around." I stated. Emily scoffed and rolled her eyes at us before looking back down at her phone.
"Yeah? Your dirty socks in the sink, your food in the fridge. Emily's music, that damn phone going off all the time. I mean seriously. How long does one conversation between you and Luke last?!"
"Fine! I'll just take my conversation outside." Emily snapped before getting up and walking out. Slamming the door behind her.
"What's wrong with my food?" I asked.
"It's not food anymore, Dean! It's Darwinism. All I ask from you, the one thing, is that you don't mess with my stuff!"
"You done?" I asked flatly.
"You know, how would you feel if I screwed with the Impala?" He asked me crossing his arms. Oh. Oh he wouldn't dare….. would he?
"It'd be the last thing you ever did." I warned.
(Present Day, Emily's POV)
"Did either of you take his computer?" Bobby asked rolling his eyes.
"Serves him right, but, no." Dean answered, then they all looked to me.
"Again. If I was going to sabotage you, it wouldn't be as simple as losing your computer. I've got a little more up my sleeve." I said with an evil grin. Sam glared at me.
"Well, I didn't lose it. 'Cause i don't lose things."
"Oh, that's right, yeah, 'cause he's Mr. Perfect." Dean said.
"Okay, okay. Why don't you just tell me what happened next?" Bobby said finishing this before it got any further.
"There was one more victim." I said. "The cops wouldn't release cause of death cause… well. They had no clue what it was. So we snuck in to check out the body for ourselves."
(Flashback to morgue, Emily's POV)
Dean tossed down his flashlight to us as he carefully opened and snuck in the window, we passed him back the light and followed quickly behind him. When we were all in, we found the drawer with the vic's tag. Dean pulled it open and grimaced.
"Well, this oughta be quick." He said. I had to turn away as they carefully peeled off the bloody sheets. What lied underneath them wasn't even recognizable as a body. I clutched onto Dean's arm and held my breath. Squeezing my eyes shut.
"OK, that is just nasty." Dean said.
"Uh, yeah." Sam agreed holding his hand over his nose.
"Mutilated?" I asked unable to look still, trying to bury myself in the back of Dean's jacket.
"Looks to me like something was hungry." Sam answered.
"They identify him yet?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, uh, a research scientist at the college. Guess where his office was, by the way. Crawford Hall, same as the professor."
"That's right where the frat boy had his close encounter." I added trying to hold down puke.
"Yeah. Hey, grab me that thing, would you?" Sam said. I looked up to see him pointing at the magnigying light, I handed it to him and caught a glimpse of what was left of the body.
"Oh.. god.. I just. I can't." I said and buried myself into Dean's jacket again. I could feel my breathing pick up some. Please no... Not here. Not now.
"Thanks." Sam said.
"What is it?" Dean asked after a minute. Unaware that I was trying not to hyperventilate into his jacket.
"What's what?" I asked since my eyes were still closed.
"Looks like a... A belly scale?"
"A belly scale? From what?" I asked nervously.
"Uh... An alligator?" Sam answered.
"An alligator in the sewer. Come on." Dean said unconvinced.
"What? Well, Dean, it's a classic urban legend. A kid flushes a baby gator down the toilet, and it grows huge in the tunnels."
"But no one's ever really found one. I mean, th - they're not real."
"Well, neither's alien abduction, but something chomped on this guy."
"This couldn't get any weirder." I huffed.
"Maybe we should get some help. I'll call Bobby. Maybe he's run into something like this before." Sam suggested.
"Oh, I'm sure he has. Just your typical haunted campus, alien abduction, alligator-in-the-sewer gig. Yeah, it's simple." Dean said sarcastically.
I could feel it building. I could feel my chest getting tighter. I could feel everything in me go on overdrive, all senses heightened. Feeling like I was preparing to fight or flight.
"Okay. Can we please leave now." I begged slightly out of breath. The boys finally caught on to what I was trying to hold back. Dean turned and wrapped an arm over me. He led me out to the window while Sam put the body back. He climbed out first and I followed after, jumping to him so that he could steady me.
"You good kiddo?" He asked me.
"Yeah. I think so. I just… I don't know. I couldn't handle it."
"Well it was pretty brutal. I think that would send most people into a fit." He said pushing the hair out of my face. Sam was out the window and next to us moment's later.
"Em you okay?"
"Yeah. It stopped."
"Okay, lets get you out of here." He said leading us away from he morgue, an arm wrapped around me. For the first time since he was back I didn't feel the need to leave him and go to Dean. I felt like Sam could keep me safe too. I really need to tell him…
We decided to search the sewer anyway, so we split up, each taking one end of campus. I went with Dean and Sam went alone. When Dean and I emerged from the sewer's empty handed we walked over to the impala. It wasn't until Dean froze in his spot I noticed them.
"Son of a bitch!" He yelled circling the car and seeing all 4 tires flat. I walked over to where he finally stopped and found something laying on the ground. I picked it up and found it was a money clip, with the letters S.W. engraved on it.
"Um… De." I said handing it to him. He looked at it and went red in the face with anger.
"SAM!" He yelled.
When we got back to the hotel room Sam was already there and was reading. Dean barged in the door, me following behind him.
"You think this is funny?"
"It depends. What?"
"Th-th-th-the car!" Dean yelled frustrated.
"What about the car?" Sam asked confused. I sat back to watch the firework show.
"You can't let the air out of the tires, you idiot. You're gonna bend the rims!"
"Whoa, wait a minute. I didn't go near your car."
"Oh, yeah? Huh. Then how'd I find this?" Dean said holding up Sam's money clip, with at least 200 bucks cash in it.
"Hey. Give me back my money!"
"Oh, no, no. Consider it reparations. For, uh, emotional trauma."
"Yeah, very funny. Now, give it back." Sam said reaching for it, Dean pulled back away from him.
"No." He said flatly.
"Dean, I have had it up to here with you."
"Yeah? Right back at you!" Sam reached again for the money and it led to a scuffle that landed both boys tackling each other onto the bed, then onto the floor like children. I laughed in amusement watching them. Then a buzz in my pocket distracted me. I was hoping it was Luke, I hadn't hear from him all day.
I looked down and smiled when I saw his name, I opened his message.
Luke: Hahahaha!
Me: I don't get… what's so funny?
Luke: Your picture! You're so cute! Lol!
Me:… what picture?
Luke: The one you sent me last night.
Um. I didn't send him anything. I quickly scrolled back in our messages until I found it. I gasped and my jaw fell damn near to the floor. It was a picture of me asleep with my mouth wide open, I'M GONNA KILL THEM!
"Hey!" I yelled ending their scuffle and grabbing both their attention.
"Which one of you assholes did this!" I demanded showing them the phone. They both laughed and separated.
"Nice selfie kiddo." Dean joked.
"Which one of you did it!" I yelled again.
"Did what Emily?" Sam asked with his arms out.
"Which one of you fucktards sent this to Luke last night?!" I asked fuming.
"Hey. Don't look at us. We didn't touch your phone." Dean said crossing his arms defensively.
"Well it didn't do it by itself!" I yelled.
"Maybe you did it without realizing. You have to be smarter than the equipment you're working with." Sam said snidely.
I quickly stood up and began throwing things at them, anything I could reach, bottles, trash, shoes. I could have killed them both I was so angry!
(Present day Emily's POV)
"You showed up about an hour afterwards…" I said to Bobby feeling irritated all over again at the situation.
"I'm surprised at you three. I really am. Sam, first off, Dean and Emily did not steal your computer."
"But I-" He started.
"Shh, shh, shh, shh! And, Dean, Sam did not touch your car." Bobby said standing up and holding out his hand to shush Sam.
"Yeah!" Sam yelled to Dean.
"And Emily for goodness sakes neither of these boys touched your phone."
"Well then who did!" I said exasperated.
"if you three bothered to pull your heads outta your asses, it all would have been pretty clear." Bobby said crossing his arms and giving us all scolding looks.
"What?" Dean asked?
"What you're dealing with."
"Uh..." Sam said trying to come up with something. I shrugged looking between the three men in the room.
"I got nothing." Dean admitted.
"Me neither." Sam added, I just shook my head. I'm stumped.
"You got a trickster on your hands." Bobby finally said.
"That's what I thought." Dean said snapping his fingers.
"Oh shut up. You did not." I said.
"I got to tell you... you guys were the biggest clue." Bobby explained.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked.
"These things create chaos and mischief as easy as breathing, and it's got you so turned around and at each other's throats, you can't even think straight."
"The laptop." Sam sighed.
"The tires." Dean mumbled.
"…and lastly the phone." I added.
"It knows you're onto him, and it's been playing you like fiddles."
"So, what is it, what, a spirit, demon, what?" Dean asked.
"Well, more like demigods, really. There's Loki in Scandinavia. There's Anansi in West Africa. Dozens of them. They're immortal, and they can create things out of thin air. Things as real as you and me. Make them vanish just as quick."
"You mean like an angry spirit or an alien or an alligator?" I asked.
"The victims fit the M.O., too. Tricksters target the high and the mighty, knock them down a peg, usually with a sense of humor - deadly pranks, things like that."
"Bobby, what do these things look like?" Sam asked.
"Lots of things, but human, mostly."
"And what human do we know who's been at ground zero this whole time?" Dean said finally putting this together. It took me a minute, but I finally caught onto to what he was hinting at.
"Sorry I'm dragging a little ass today. Had quite the night last night. Lots of sex, if you catch my drift." The "janitor" said winking at me. I felt much more uncomfortable this time then the last. This guy is no longer double my age, he's probably hundreds of years old. I clung to Sam and tried to hide my disgust.
"Yeah, hard not to. Listen, we won't be long." Dean said trying to bite back his tongue, not wanting to blow our story. "We just need to check a couple offices up on three."
"No problem."
"I, uh, forgot something in the truck. You know what? I'll catch up with you guys." Sam said, I followed behind Dean and the "janitor".
"Okay. There ya go. All offices open." He said to Dean and I as he began to leave us, I know Sam needs more time to rummage through his stuff so I had to think of something to distract him.
"Um. Wait!" I said. Then I instantly regretted it.
"Uh, I would. Just.. love it. If you could give me a hand, you know, don't wanna break a nail digging around in here." I said awkwardly trying to put on a seductive grin. I reached out and ran my fingers along his arm. The man smiled at me.
"Lead the way maam."
We pretended to check behind bookcases in two of the offices, and I figured that was enough time. We quickly made our way back down the stairs.
"Ugh. I've got the heebie jeebies." I said shuddering at the thought of the man.
"Yeah. I hate when you do that. A little warning next time." Dean said.
"Sorry. I panicked, and it just… I don't know. Trust me. I didn't want to. It was just the only thing I could think of to keep his attention."
"You know. You are only 16 Em… you shouldn't be doing things like that. I get that you're trying to help the case, but you're my little sister. So please stop flirting on the job. Even if it is just to buy us some time." Dean said seriously. I was a little surprised, I guess I shouldn't be since this is Dean we're talking about. But usually he lets me do the job and doesn't interfere until someone gets handsy.
"Dean. Come on. If I was anyone else then you would be fine with it. You would encourage it because you know it works. You've got your skill set and I've got mine." I said crossing my arms.
"Yeah but mine doesn't have the letters "DD" on it. And you're not anyone else. You're my sister. I mean it. Cut that shit out." He said cutting me off at the bottom of the stairs and giving me the "dad" look.
"Fine." I sighed. He led us back out to meet Sam. He reached out and handed us one of those crazy newspapers you see at gas stations full of photo shopped pics and bullshit stories.
"Just 'cause he reads the Weekly World News doesn't mean he's our guy. I mean, you read it, too." Sam said to Dean.
"I'm telling you, it's him." Dean replied sure of his conclusion.
"Look, I just think we need some hard proof. That's all."
"Okay, another thing Bobby mentioned was that these suckers have a metabolism like an insect, a real sweet tooth."
"Well, I didn't find any candy bars or sugar. Not even Equal."
"Eh, that's probably 'cause you missed something."
"I don't miss things."
"Oh, right, 'cause you're Mr. Perfect."
I sighed… great. Here we go again.
"What? Are you really still pissed at me 'cause of what the trickster did?"
"You've been a tight ass long before that trickster showed up."
"Dean… drop it. Please." I said ending the fight before it got any more annoying.
"Look, just...stay here, keep an eye on the janitor. I'll go to his place to see if I can find any actual evidence before you go barging in and staking the man! Just wait till I get back, okay?" Sam said frustrated.
"Okay!" Dean yelled back.
"Emily stay with him and make sure he doesn't go off and kill an innocent man." Sam said before walking off. I rolled my eyes. These two are never gonna stop.
Dean and I had been sitting outside the building for over an hour now. Its dark outside and I can tell his patience is wearing thin.
"Ah, screw this." He said getting out of the car.
"Dean! Sam said to wait for him."
"Oh. I'm sorry. You're letting Sam boss you around now?"
"No. I'm not. I'm just trying to be smart about this! We need to be sure."
"I am sure. You coming or what?" He said getting a flashlight out of the trunk.
"Ugh! You are unbelievable." I mumbled following him into the building.
I stayed close behind him, he handed me a wooden stake and kept one for himself, we ascended the last of the staircase and stopped at the top. Music… there was music playing in the theatre. Dean tucks the stake away and I slide mine behind my back, he slowly opens the door.
When he does, the sight is unbelievable. On the stage is a large round bed with two beautiful women on it. Music in the background and a disco ball throwing colorful lights all around the room. Dean began to walk towards the stage.
"Dean! Dean come back!" I whisper yelled but he was too absorbed in the sight in front of him to notice me.
"We've been waiting for you, Dean." One of the women said as they crawled towards him when he reached the stage. Oh god… I can't be here for this.
"Dean!" I yelled again trying to get his attention.
"Y-Y-You guys aren't real." Dean mumbled.
"Trust me, sugar, it's gonna feel real." The other girl says. Dean laughed.
"Come on. Let us give you a massage." One girl said reaching for his shoulders. He stood there for a second before slowly pulling away.
"Wha... You know, I'm a - I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Really, I am, but... I-I'm gonna have to pass." He said slowly.
"They're a peace offering." A voice from the other side of the theatre calls. I quickly duck behind a chair. Hoping he hasn't seen me yet. "I know what you and your family do. I've been around a while. Run into your kind before."
"Well, then you know that I... can't let you just keep hurting people." Dean said turning to face the trickster.
"Come on! Those people got what was coming to them. Hoisted on their own petards. But you and Sam and Emily - I like you. I do. So treat yourself... Long as you want. Just long enough for me to move on to the next town."
"Yeah, i don't think I can let you do that."
"I don't wanna hurt you. And you know that I can."
"Look, man, I - I got to tell you, I dig your style, all right? I mean. I do. I mean." Dean whistled. " ... and the slow-dancing alien." Dean said chuckling.
"One of my personal favorites. Yeah."
"But, uh, I can't let you go."
"Too bad. Like I said, I like you. Sam was right. You two shouldn't have come alone." The trickster said as he turned and looked towards me. Knowing I've been made I stood up and descended the stairs making my way towards him and Dean.
"Well, I'll agree with you there." Dean grinned. Suddenly the doors to the theatre slam shut and Bobby and Sam enter with stakes of their own.
"That fight you guys had outside - that was a trick?" The trickster asked us. I smiled and winked at him. "Hm. Not bad. But you want to see a real trick?" He asked.
A loud noise sounded form behind us and I looked over to see a masked man with a chainsaw attack Sam, then Dean was attacked by the same two women that were seducing him only moments ago. I look back up and Bobby and Sam are grapple with the chainsaw man. Looked back down to the trickster.
He was laughing and eating a sandwich.
"Hey. Smartass." I yelled. Getting his attention.
"What about me huh? You think I'm not good enough for a fight?"
"Oh no. You. I know you can fight. Besides… I wouldn't wanna harm a hair on that pretty little head." He said with another wink.
I charged at him and we wrestled for a few minutes, he managed to pin me into a chair and my grip on the stake loosened as it fell to the ground.
"Oh Emily… I didn't want to have to do this." He said sadly as he straightened up. I sat quietly, keeping his gaze on me as Dean got into position.
"Me neither." I said as Dean rammed the stake through his body. The man with the chainsaw and both of the women disappear. The trickster falls to the floor dead.
"You guys okay?" I asked as Sam and Bobby made their way down to us.
"Yeah. I guess." Sam answered.
"Well, I gotta say... he had style." Dean admitted.
"Yeah. And a thing for Emily." Sam added.
"Ew." I mumbled.
"Bobby, thanks a lot. We really couldn't've-"
"Hey, save it! Let's just get the hell out of dodge before somebody finds that body."
"Yeah." We all agreed going back out to the cars. Sam stopped before getting in.
"Look, Dean, Emily, um... I just want to say that I'm, uh... Um..."
"Hey. Me too." Dean said.
"Well since neither of you are gonna actually say the word I will. I'm sorry." I said.
"You guys are breaking my heart. Could we please just leave?" Bobby said killing the moment. We all laughed and drove back to the motel.
Bobby left from there and we were packing up our things in the room.
"Hey what do you say we stick around one more night." Sam suggested.
"Fine by me. Its Friday night and the bar's gonna be full of coeds." Dean said with bright eyes.
"De. Upstairs brain… just for one day." I sighed. The boys both laughed at me.
"If we're going out I need to get changed." I said pulling back out the clothes I had just packed away.
"Alright, we'll leave when you're ready." Dean said.
I took my clothes and walked into the bathroom. I was about to walk out when the phone on the counter buzzed. I picked it up. Luke.
When I opened it I found a picture of him making the most horrid face I'd ever seen. I laughed out loud. It buzzed again immediately.
Luke: There. Now you won't feel so bad. You can laugh at me all you want.
Me: You're kinda perfect.
Luke: You're kinda cute when you sleep.
Me: Yeah. Delete that. Now.
Luke: Lol. Yes maam.
Me: How do I know you deleted it?
Luke: Guess you'll just have to trust me… do you?
Me: Of course I do.
Luke: Then why do you keep everything a mystery.
Me: Because I have to.
Luke: Ok
Me: Luke.. come on. Its not like that. I trust you. I do. I just… can't tell you some things.
Luke: Yeah. I'm going to bed, goodnight babe.
Me: Night. Sweet dreams.
I sighed and placed the phone in my back pocket. I mean honestly how long can I keep this up? How long is he going to be okay with being kept in the dark? He's getting more and more impatient about it lately. I'm running out of excuses.
I shake my head and try to clear my mind of it, not wanting to let it ruin my night. I walk out and give a half smile to the boys.
"Ready." I said.
Dean nodded but narrowed his eyes at me slightly. I looked away from him and walked out to the impala. When we pulled up to the bar it was like Dean predicted, packed with college students. Which I guess I couldn't expect it not to be when its only 10 minutes off campus.
We grabbed a table and ordered drinks. Dean began to scope out his next victim and Sam tapped my arm.
"Hm?" I asked turning to him.
"Bartender says its karaoke night. No cash winnings or anything. But you know… if you wanted to."
"Sam.. come on. We talked about this."
"Talked about what?" Dean asked butting in.
"Its karaoke night, and I signed Emily up." Sam said nonchalantly taking a drink of his beer.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" I asked shocked.
"I signed you up. Em. Come on… its been months. You used to love this. I know you still do. I don't get why you're avoiding it."
"Because I fucking can Sam! Its none of your damn business what I do or don't want to deal with. It's not hurting anyone so why don't you just leave it be!"
"Em. Chill out. He's doing you a favor. If you're not pushed, you won't do it again." Dean said matter of factly.
"I can't believe you're backing him on this. You two are unbelievable. I'm not getting on that stage."
"Em what is the big deal! Are you afraid?" Sam asked.
"No! I'm not afraid Sam!"
"Well then what? I mean come on kiddo. Give me something to work with here. You don't just give up on things… You said you stopped cause we were busy. Well tonight we're not busy."
I stared at him. He was so determined. I don't get it. Why does this even matter? How is it of any importance when we've got bigger issues on our hands.
"Sam. Please. Don't make me do this…" I said quietly. All trace of anger left my voice.
"Emily you gotta talk to me. Let me help you." He said squeezing my hand. Dean must have selected his winner for the night because he stood up and walked over to a group of 3 women at the bar. I sighed and looked back to Sam.
"He's not gonna show up." I whispered.
"What?" He asked confused.
"He's not gonna show up… He's not gonna come through the door and surprise me. He's not gonna hug me and tell me he's proud."
"…Dad." Sam said finally realizing who I was talking about.
"You know. When I started doing this. That's what I always pictured. That's what I always wanted. At the end of every single one. I wanted him to magically appear. To see me. Now… now that can't happen."
"Emily Dad was so proud of you. Kiddo you should have seen him that night. His eyes were glued to you, nothing could tear them away." Sam said with a smile.
I felt that empty ache in my heart, the one that reminded me he was gone all the time. The one I always tried to shove back down. I miss my daddy so much.
"Sammy… I would give anything to see him one more time." I said feeling the stinging sensation build, I swallowed and looked up, stopping anything from falling.
"I know Em. I would too." He said. I scooted my chair closer and leaned against him. His arm fell over me and we sat in silence as we watched the first round of drunks take the stage. The first few were awful, the last one not so bad.
"Next up we have Dana Smith, then on deck we have Emily Winchester." The DJ called over the bar.
I sat up and sighed. Burying my face in my hands.
"What do you say Em?" Sam asked me.
"I don't know if I can do it Sammy." I whispered.
"That's okay. Because I do. And I know you'll kick ass at it like you do everything else."
I looked up to him and half smiled.
"I don't even know what to sing? I didn't have anything picked out."
"I don't think that's a problem Em… I think its just a matter of getting up and doing it."
"…Okay." I whispered. I stood up and walked toward the back of the stage, there was a list of songs to choose from. I scanned and scanned. Then one stuck out. Stevie Nicks- Landslide. One of my favorites.
I stood there, waiting for the song to finish, my eyes closed. Focusing on just the silence in my head. His face. It kept flashing through my mind… His smile, his eyes, the look on his face when I my eyes met his from the stage that night. I wanted nothing more then to walk out on that stage tonight and see him there.
The sound of applause and the DJ brought me out of my thoughts. I took a deep breath and waited till the blonde girl descended the stairs to make my way up them. I met the DJ halfway on the stage and took the mic from him, walking over and placing it on the stand, pulling up the stool to sit on.
I took another deep breath and tried to scan the room for my brothers.
The music started and I counted myself in, in my head.
"I took my love and I took it down."
"Climbed a mountain and I… turned around."
"And then I saw my reflection in the. Snow. Covered hills… till the landslide brought me down."
"Oh mirror in the sky, what is love?"
"Can the child within my heart rise above?"
"Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life..."
I looked up and finally locked with familiar green eyes. He was surrounded by the same 3 girls he was with before I got on the stage, but he paid them no attention. Instead he held my gaze and smiled. The same way daddy did. I felt my heart ache, and looked down.
"Well I've been afraid of changing, cause I. Built my life… around you."
"Time gets bolder, even, children get older… I'm getting older too."
This time when I looked up the eyes I met were hazel and not green. He was watching even more intently then Dean was. I half smiled at him, silently thanking him for making me get past this. For giving this back to me. Because as hard as this is… I missed it.
"I take my love, take it down. I climb a mountain and turn around.."
"And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills."
"Will the landslide bring you down."
"And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills."
"Will the landslide bring you down, oh, oh…"
"The landslide will bring you down."
The song finished out and I stood smiling at the applause of the audience, I went to walk off stage, but something told me to stop. As I did I looked up to the light that points at the stage. It was blindingly bright, but off to the side of it… I could almost swear I locked on big brown eyes. For that one split second, my heart felt full again. I walked off and closed my eyes. Savoring the feeling.
But when I opened them again I was back in a crowded bar… and he was still in hell.
That dull ache became almost crippling. I leaned my back against the wall away from anyone's line of sight and sat there. Waiting for the pain to dull again.