I don't own Supernatural, characters, or plot lines – only my own additions and OCs
CHAPTER 2 – I Hate Clowns Pt 1
CHARLOTTE'S POV
"Let's take the van," I said, rubbing a spot off the hood of my beloved car as I tossed my overnight bag to Sam. I had changed into yoga pants and a v-neck t-shirt after taking an hour long nap, and was thankful since we had a few hour card ride and I could feel the chill in the evening air as the storm clouds rolled in. I shivered, pulling my hooded jacket on and zipping it up.
"Why?" Dean asked, his hands on his hips like a 2 year old as he looked longingly at my car.
"Because, Thor needs a break," I replied, winking at him.
"Thor? Really?" Dean asked, looking at me. "You named this beauty Thor?"
"Yeah. Thor. He's hot and so is my car," I replied. Dean looked at me incredulously. "He's my car, deal with it. Plus, it's way easier to be inconspicuous pulling up to a carnival in your mommy van…" I grinned at Dean, knowing it would get under his skin, and heard Sam snicker behind us.
"Anyone ever tell you you're evil?" Dean asked me, his face serious, but his green eyes twinkling., and I felt as my stomach clenched delightfully at his expression.
"Not in the past 24 hours," I snarked, pulling open the passenger door. Sam gave me a look and I grinned back at him. "Shotgun, sugar lips. Gotta call it fast 'round these parts…" I climbed in and shut the door.
I heard Sam laugh as Dean mumbled something to him, and I reached back to buckle up as Sam loaded my bag into the back of the van, and then climbed in through the sliding door to sit in the back seat. Dean sat in the driver's seat and started it up; it sputtered to life and gave a loud whine.
"Nice, Dean," I replied, nodding at him. "Never would have pictured a guy like you driving a minivan." I turned in the seat to face him, folding my right leg underneath me, settling in for the ride.
He grunted and shot me a look as he backed up. "It's not mine. I drive a 1967 Chevy Impala," he replied haughtily, "and she's in the shop. I'm working on her right now." He put the van in drive and pulled out of the parking lot. "And her name is Baby, and she's the only woman in my life that loves me unconditionally." He smiled at me, my stomach clenching again as I stared at his perfect face. Nice car, I thought.
"Sounds like a great, healthy relationship, Dean-O," I replied, putting my hair up in a ponytail. I noticed Dean staring at me, starting at my neck and eyes sweeping down from my breasts to my legs. "Something I can help you with?" I asked, mustering up a glare.
His eyes met mine again. "Not right now," he replied, winking at me. "Later?"
"In your dreams, Winchester." My stomach fluttered again. Man, I thought, he is too beautiful for words…
"Yeah, maybe," he replied under his breath, but I heard him anyway as I turned to look out the window, smiling.
"So," Sam started, "I've been looking over this file and the articles, and it's strange…"
I rotated in my seat to talk to Sam as we heard lightning crack outside and the sky darkened more, rain starting to pelt the windshield. "Yeah…the kids reported seeing an entity kill their parents. The kids were left unharmed, but the parents were found in pieces. When dad and I worked the previous case in 2004, the carnival was named Carmichael Carnivals, and they mostly made stops in the south, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, etc. There was also a similar case in 1981, but that was before my time…"
Dean looked over at me and then back at the road. "What's the name now?"
"Cooper Carnivals and they're traveling in the Midwest. But," I replied, "from what Ash pulled up online, the name was changed right after dad and I took care of what we thought was the cursed object – a clown doll they used to hang in one of the main prize tents. We smoked out a ghost when we destroyed it. Now I'm thinking there was more to the story…"
"And, of course, the cops have no leads and are saying that the kids are traumatized… just like before," Sam continued. I nodded as Dean looked over his shoulder at his brother.
"I know what you're thinking, Sammy," he said, smiling. I was totally puzzled as Sam let out a sigh. "Why'd it have to be clowns?" Dean laughed. "You didn't think I'd remember your fear?"
"Clowns?" I asked him incredulously. "Really?" I looked back at Dean.
"Right? All the things we deal with on a daily basis – " Dean started.
"Give me a break! At least I'm not afraid of flying!" Sam said indignantly.
Dean sputtered. "Yeah - well, planes crash!"
"And apparently clowns kill!" Sam replied frankly. I was getting a headache from listening to them argue like school girls, raising my hand to pinch the bridge of my nose, my head starting to pound.
"You're still scared of Ronald McDonald! You get all – " Dean replied, Sam starting to talk over him.
"Really?! Are y'all like this all the time?" I asked over top of them.
"Sorry," Sam said from the backseat. Dean's jaw was clenched shut, his cheek muscles tight.
"I should have left y'all at the Roadhouse…" I muttered under my breath. "Now, can we get back to the case?" Dean didn't reply, just kept his eyes on the road as Sam and I continued with the facts of the case.
DEAN'S POV
After about an hour, we pulled up to a motel for the night. I looked over to see Charlotte's eyes closed, her head resting back against the headrest. I took notice of how pretty her features were, flawless skin (besides the black eye), cute slender nose, full lips…
"Dude, creepy…" she whispered as she opened her eyes, the pretty blue color taking my breath away briefly.
I rolled my eyes, trying to cover my attraction – and the fact that I had been staring at her while she slept. "Whatever, princess, it's time to wake up." She rolled her eyes and sat up, putting her feet on the floor and rolling her neck. My eyes cut to the backseat. "Sammy – wake up!" Sam sat up quickly, rubbing his tired eyes. I sighed. "I'll go in and get us two rooms."
Charlotte handed me cash. "Here. It's on me."
I blinked in surprise. "Okay, Miss Moneybags…"
She smiled. "I wait tables and bartend for Aunt Ellen. People tip pretty well at the roadhouse. Plus, I figure y'all are here to help me out. Might as well pay for the hotel."
"I take payments in pie, too, ya know." I smirked as I noticed her squirm under my gaze.
She rolled her eyes and laughed, the sound going straight down my spine and to my groin. "I'll remember that," she replied. I was starting to enjoy the sound of her soothing southern voice and fluttery laughter. "We'll get ya some pie at some point, stud. For now, let's get this done."
I laughed as I got out of the van, enjoying the nickname she'd dropped. I walked into the lobby and paid for two rooms, ignoring the young kid's attitude as he got the rooms straight. I came back out to the van and pulled it around back and into the space between the two rooms, sneaking glances at Charlotte as I did so, unable to stop checking her out.
"I got adjoining rooms. That way we can be together but still have our own spaces." Sam grunted and climbed out of the back seat to stretch his legs out. Charlotte nodded at me, looking appreciative and I smiled again as I handed her the key to her room. "You know, we can always work out special sleeping arrangements if needed…" I said quietly to her, holding onto the key as she tried to take it from me.
She smiled and suddenly leaned toward me, our lips inches from each other. I inhaled sharply as she breathily replied, "Sure stud….I would love to sleep with Sam, so long as he likes to cuddle…" she smiled brightly and pulled the key from my fingers. I barked a laugh, huffing out a breath as I regained my senses. She leaned back and got out of the car, and I followed suit, shaking my head. This girl was trouble with a capital T.
"I'm gonna take a shower and then we can reconvene," she announced to us as we got to our respective doors. My imagination started to run wild with thoughts of her in the shower…
"Dude, get a grip," Sam said from behind me. I looked up to see Charlotte was already in her room with the door shut. "You're totally obvious."
"Shut up, Sam," I growled, opening the door to our room.
CHARLOTTE'S POV
Thirty minutes later, showered and dressed in clean black yoga pants and a soft pink tank top, I knocked on the connecting door between the rooms. Sam opened the door and smiled. "Dean went to grab some pizza. Hope that's okay." I was starving. I nodded my agreement as my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast. "I asked him to grab a salad just in case."
So thoughtful. "Thanks – both are great! I'm actually starving." He made his way back to the table and his laptop. "Find anything?"
"Yeah, actually." He motioned to the chair next to his. I sat down and he turned his computer toward me. "Ash sent me a few articles he pulled from a newspaper in 1981, where the original case started. Seems like we definitely have a repeat offender of some sort."
Dean walked in at that moment, closing the door behind him with his foot. He sat the pizza down and turned to lock the door. "So, we have the same thing going on?" he asked Sam, pulling the chair across the table from us out to sit down. I noticed his biceps as he pulled off his leather jacket and long sleeve shirt. He had an amazing body.
"That's what it looks like," Sam replied. Dean nodded, giving me a quick once over and smirking. I shook my head, my mind shifting back to the case and trying to ignore his amazing green eyes.
"So Dad and I didn't really help last time?" I asked, resting my elbow on the table next to Sam, as I leaned in to read the article. My stomach clenched thinking about the case Dad and I worked before. Dean and Sam were speaking as I focused on the article. Three deaths in Arkansas, four deaths in Indiana, three deaths in Illinois. My stomach hurt. "So many people died since then…I can't believe we didn't really solve the case…" I whispered. "We didn't do any good."
"Well, I'm sure you got something." Sam reached over and touched my forearm, squeezing it. "But it doesn't look like you got…it?" I smiled at him, thankful for his kind words, even if I still had doubts. Sam was such an old soul.
Dean snickered. "IT," he said. "Pennywise. Get it?" Sam sat back, looking annoyed. I tried to keep a straight face, but laughed in spite of myself, as I realized his sense of humor was a lot like mine – smartass and inappropriate. Sam glared at his brother, clearly not appreciating it and I couldn't help but laugh harder. Dean watched me appreciatively, his green eyes flashing as he sat back in his seat, hands behind his head. My stomach clenched in a good way, appreciating his physique. He really was hot…
I shook my head free of those thoughts and glanced at Sam, who looked at me and smirked. "It's not funny."
"It's kinda funny," I replied, putting my hand on his shoulder. He grinned at me, his adorable dimples showing. I smiled at him and stood up. "Okay boys, let's eat and then research…we need a plan for tomorrow and I need some sleep."
Sam stood up and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Dean raised his eyebrows as I turned toward him, his hands still behind his head, propping his feet on the chair I'd vacated. "Sleep is overrated…" he said quietly. "I could think of a better way to spend time."
My stomach clenched again deliciously, his words cutting straight to my center. "Oh yeah?" I asked, leaning down and putting my hands on the arms of his chair. I watched as his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his legs falling off the chair as he sat up straighter. I smiled internally as I leaned in closer to him, feeling the heat radiating off him. His green eyes shone brightly with lust as I put my lips right in front of his, close enough to see the light dusting of freckles on his nose, and suddenly completely turned on by his masculine scent. I tried to stamp down a sigh as I felt myself getting more and more turned on. "I'm sure we could make some time for fun…" I gently brushed my nose against his, his breath coming in short pants as my lips angled over his, "lots of fun...over and over…all night long." I could sense his erection without even looking and almost groaned, surprised by how turned on I was just being this close to him. "But," I said, coming to my senses before we really crossed the line, "we just met, and I'm not that kind of girl. So, let's just eat, sleep and get the job done." I turned away from him and closed my eyes, trying to regain my train of thoughts. I opened my eyes in time to see Sam step back into the room, confusion on his handsome face as he saw me facing away from Dean and Dean adjusting himself. I huffed a laugh under my breath.
"Let's eat!" I announced.
The next morning, we pulled up to the carnival to start our investigation. Dean wandered off to the police officers that were speaking to some employees while Sam and I lingered by one of the rides to observe the surroundings.
I watched Sam, who had his hands in his pockets, looking uncomfortable as a three-foot-tall woman in a clown outfit passed him. He looked nervous and swallowed hard as she glared at him as she walked by.
I almost laughed out loud. "Really, Sam?" I whispered, completely amused at his level of discomfort as Dean walked up.
"Sammy. It looked like a match made in Heaven. Wanna go get her number?"
Sam scowled. "Whatever Dean." Sam shuddered and I laughed, shaking my head.
"More murders?" I asked Dean, looking around at the employees, who looked uncomfortable by the police presence.
"Two more last night. Apparently, the adults were ripped to shreds, and the little boy - "
"Fingered a clown…" Sam said. I whipped around, trying unsuccessfully to contain my laughter as Dean gave Sam a weird look. "What?" Sam asked, looking at both of us, clearly confused by our reactions. I laughed in Dean's direction as he grinned at me and shook his head. "What?"
"Nope. Too easy." I giggled again, loving Dean's sense of humor. "Yeah, Sam, a clown, who apparently vanished into thin air according to the boy."
"You know, it could be anything…we thought it was a cursed object before, because it makes sense that something has attached to an object here" I said, frustrated as I kicked the ground. I hated that one of the big hunts I'd done with Dad ended up unsolved.
"Well, if it is a cursed object, it's bound to give off EMF. So I say we just scan everything," Dean said.
"Oh, good, that's nice and... inconspicuous," I argued, moving toward the closest tent, annoyed at the juvenile suggestion, really regretting inviting them along. "Look y'all," I pointed the sign that read "S. Cooper – Help Wanted" and gestured to the opening.
Dean smiled at me and walked over, putting his arm around my shoulders. My breath caught in my throat as his scent invaded my nostrils. "I guess we'll just have to blend in." He smiled at Sam.
And so the brothers and I met with Mr. Cooper, the head of the carnival. I really got an overwhelming weird feeling from him and his wily crew of the blind knife thrower and the little magician. But I knew they had to get an "in," so we took the jobs he gave us. I hoped it was worth it.
DEAN'S POV
I pulled at the scratchy red shirt as I used the grabbers to pick up trash, angrily throwing it into the trash can. I hated manual labor…and carnivals. I caught sight of Charlotte, chatting with the carnie manning the water shooting game and admired the way her ass looked in her jeans, the red top making her tan skin look even darker. She really was hot. My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts as I glanced down to see Sam's name on the screen.
"Sam?"
"Hey, man," his voice came through, sounding a little shook up.
I smirked. "What's the matter? You sound like you just saw a clown!"
"Yeah…clowns everywhere. But I found a random skeleton."
"A human skeleton?" I asked, wondering what was going on around here.
"I don't think so. It was in the funhouse. But it got me thinking. What if the spirit isn't attached to an object - what if it's attached to its own remains?"
"Hm, you might be on to something, Sammy. Did they EMF?"
"No, but – "
"I'll grab Charlotte and we'll come find you. It could be a lead." I walked toward Charlotte when someone grabbed my arm. I jerked away and spun around, seeing the blind man we'd met earlier in the tent where we got hired.
"What are you doing here, kid?" he asked gruffly. I sensed Charlotte walking up and glanced over at her as she reached my side, giving her a look.
I turned back to the blind man. "Picking up trash."
"Bullshit. You just said something about skeletons and EMF. What's that?"
"Nothing," I replied. He appeared to look right through me. "Look...do you believe in ghosts? My brother, girlfriend and I are writing a book on them, and I'd love to know your opinion..."
"Ghosts?" the blind man asked as Charlotte shifted beside me.
"Do we have a problem here?" Charlotte asked. She glared at me, probably for the girlfriend comment and I shrugged as I grinned at her.
"Look here girlie. We don't like strangers, and we don't want people in our business. We handle our own things around here and don't need any snot nose kids poking around, causing issues."
"We're not here to cause issues," Charlotte replied, moving to stand closer to the blind man, putting her hand on my arm. "We're here to do a job. Is that clear?" I smirked at her.
"Crystal, sweet cheeks. Moving on," the blind man said, appearing to stare right at her as he moved away.
"Well…he's creepy," she whispered to me, as I slid my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side. My groin twitched at her close proximity and I noticed she didn't make to move away from me.
I chuckled. "Yeah, let's go find Sam." I turned her around and we saw Sam making his way toward us, his face showing his discomfort.
"Mommy, Mommy! Look at the clown!" we heard a little girl say loudly. Charlotte and I both looked to our left to see a little girl pointing by a tent as Sam reached our side.
Her mom glanced over. "What clown?" Charlotte looked around, seeing nothing where the girl was pointing, noticing that the girls mom didn't appear to see anything either.
"Come on, sweetie, let's go get some cotton candy…" she said as she pulled her daughter away.
Sam and I shared a look and I glanced down at Charlotte, still at my side.
"Stakeout?" I asked. Charlotte looked up at me and grinned, nodding.
