Chapter 2

Matter Of Trust

(Season 1, episode 5 - Bloody Mary)

Dean pulled up to the house slowly and lowered his music. There was no parking in sight. "I'll pull around to the next street and park there."

After parking, the three of them quickly made their way to Shoemaker's home. It was packed with people dressed in black attire. Flowers were scattered on the front porch and inside of the house. Photos of the victim rested on tables near the entrance.

Sarah grabbed Dean's arm before he went any further into the home. "Oh my, God. We just walked into the guy's memorial service."

"So?" Dean shot her a look of confusion.

"Look at yourselves." Sam and Dean were not dressed for the occasion. Sarah was lucky to have come straight over wearing her nice clothing. This outfit doubled as good funeral attire.

"We're a bit under dressed," Sam confessed.

"A bit? You two look like hobos compared to everyone else. You stand out."

"Don't worry, Sweetheart. We'll go in, talk to the daughter, and get out before anyone starts asking questions." Dean brushed her hand away from his arm and started to walk to the back to find the daughter.

Sarah sped up her pace to walk next to Dean. "Don't call me 'Sweetheart.' It's degrading."

"Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

After only a minute or two of searching, they found the teenage looking girl sitting on the outdoor furniture with a few of her friends. They were comforting her while she mourned the loss of her father.

"You must be Donna, right?" Dean asked the girl softly.

"Hi, uh, we're really sorry," Sam awkwardly told her. She thanked him for his kind attempt. He then introduced the trio. "I'm Sam. This is Dean and, uh, Sarah." Sam felt slightly terrible for momentarily forgetting the new girl's name. He hoped that she didn't notice. "We worked with your dad."

Sarah inhaled deeply. First he forgot my name and now he's saying we worked with her dad when we don't even know what her dad does. This kid is not cut out for hunting. Her inner monologue made her miss a few seconds of the conversation, but she caught up quickly.

One of Donna's blonde friends spoke up for her. "I don't think she really wants to talk right now."

She shook her friend off. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"Where there ever any symptoms?" Dean asked the distraught young woman. "Dizziness, migraines?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Are you sure? Because stuff like this doesn't happen out of nowhere." Sarah shoved her hands in her pockets, trying to look like a friend to her. Donna would be willing to share more if she felt if she had a friend.

The shorter, younger girl next to Donna quickly faced her. "That's because it wasn't a stroke."

Donna was surprised at the girl's comment. "Lily, don't say that."

"What?" Sam looked down at the girl, hoping she would share more.

Donna apologized for Lily's behavior. "She's just upset."

"No, it happened because of me."

"Sweetie, it didn't."

Sarah moved swiftly to the girl's side, upset at her words, knowing what it felt like to believe the blame was on her. "Lily, why would you say something like that?"

Lily was on the verge of tears. "Right before he died, I said it."

"Said what?"

Lily paused for a second and swallowed hard. "Bloody Mary, three times in the bathroom mirror."

Sarah looked up at Sam and Dean only to see that they were as shocked as she. Lily continued. "She took his eyes, that's what she does."

Donna stopped Lily from going on. "That's not why dad died. This isn't your fault."

"I think your sister's right, Lily. There's no way it could have been Bloody Mary," Dean told her. "Your dad didn't say it, did he?"

"No, I don't think so," she admitted.

"Then there you go." Sarah brought herself up from her knees and once again stood next to the boys.

"We'll see you later, then. Again, we're really sorry about your loss." Sam nudged his head toward the house and began to head back inside.

Sam, Dean, and Sarah, quietly managed to get upstairs, undetected. They wanted to search the original crime scene to see if they could find anything supernatural relating to the father's sudden and tragic death.

"You went to that girl awfully quick." Dean rested his arm on Sarah's shoulder and tried to look into her dark chocolate eyes for truth.

"So?"

"Why the speed, Flash?"

"We needed to find out what she knew."

"No, I'm sure there's more than that."

"Oh, you're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Sarah shoved his arm off of her and walked ahead, having trouble even glancing at Dean. "Well, you're wrong."

Again, they were silent. Sam and Dean both knew this girl was protective of a secret, but what could be so bad? Her silence made the brothers trust her less and less. If she wasn't talking, what was she hiding? If she wanted to continue to work with them, she would need to say something of value.

They came across a closed door on the top floor. Sam opened it slowly and cautiously. The door revealed a deep blue and white bathroom where the police reported the death occurred. The granite floor tiling was still stained with blood near the entrance.

"The Bloody Mary legend." Sam stared at the bloody floor.

"That's all it is, a legend." Sarah was convinced that this had to be something else. Her sister forced her to do Bloody Mary when she was a kid. It was a right of passage for her and nothing happened. There would be no reason for it to start up now.

"Legends originate from some truth." Dean took a small step into the room and examined the mirror. Maybe there were clues that told them otherwise.

"Dad ever find any evidence that it was a real thing?"

"Not that I know of." Dean flicked on the light and stepped in further.

Sarah slid past Sam as he crouched on the ground to touch the dry blood and met Dean in front of the shower. "I mean, everywhere else, all over the country, kids have played Bloody Mary and as far as we know, nobody dies from it."

"Yeah, even I've done it," Sarah admitted.

Dean, shocked Sarah had revealed anything at all about her past, couldn't help but ask, "You have?"

"Yeah. What? You guys never played?"

Dean shook his head. "Apparently, playing Bloody Mary kills people."

Sarah shrugged. "Maybe it was just a story everywhere else. I guess here, it could be real."

"The place where the legend began?" Sam stood back up on his feet and walked to Sarah and Dean. "But according to the legend, the person who says-" Sam stopped when Dean opened the medicine cabinet, putting Sam in front of the mirror. Not wanting to bring the curse down on himself, he slammed it shut. "The person who says 'You Know What' gets it, but here..."

Dean jumped in and finished Sam's sentence. "Shoemaker gets it instead. Never heard anything like that before."

"If we did, then our job would be too easy." Sarah pushed between the brothers and looked at the pearly white sink, trying to find anything.

"Very true." Dean nudged Sarah in the back, agreeing with her. "Still, the guy did die right in front of the mirror. And the daughter's right. The way the legend goes, 'You Know Who' scratches your eyes out."

"It's worth checking into."

"Wanna hit the library then?" Sarah stepped back and moved her gaze back and forth from Sam to Dean.

Suddenly, the clapping of heels on hardwood stopped all conversation. Sam and Dean both went ahead, alarmed about any approaching trouble. Donna's blonde friend met them at the door.

"What are you doing up here?"

"We..." Dean stuttered trying to find the right excuse. "We had to go to the bathroom."

Sarah squinted her eyes at him. Really? That was the best you could come up with?

She ignored the lame excuse. "Who are you?"

"Like we said downstairs, we worked with Donna's dad." The more Dean ran his mouth, the more Sarah wanted to slap him upside the head. This was going to get them nowhere and she knew it.

"He was a day trader or something, he worked by himself." I knew we shouldn't have said we worked with him. Sarah tried to control herself as the teenager disproved their identities. "And all those weird questions downstairs, what was that?"

Sarah crossed her arms and stared at Dean, waiting for his next remark. He said they could do it on their own and Sarah wanted to prove him wrong. She said nothing, not wanting to save them from whatever was going to happen.

"So you better tell me what's going on or I start screaming."

Dean jumped slightly at the threat. Sam decided to just come out and say it. "All right, all right. We think something happened to Donna's dad."

"Yeah, a stroke."

"That's not the sign of a typical stroke. We think it might be something else."

"Like what?"

"Honestly, we don't know yet. But we don't want it to happen to anyone else. That's the truth." Sam's words caused Sarah to think a little about her first impression of him. She thought that he couldn't be a hunter, that he wasn't made to be one. Of course, she hasn't seen him in action yet, but this made her second guess her initial claim.

"So, if you're gonna scream," Dean added, "go right ahead."

The girl looked down at the floor for a second, changing her mind about screaming. "Who are you, cops?"

"Something like that." Dean was right. The hunters were close to being police officers, serving and protecting.

"I'll tell you what. Here." Sam pulled out a pad of paper and a pen from his back pocket and wrote down his cell phone number. "If you think of anything, you or your friends notice anything strange, out of the ordinary, just give us a call." He handed her the paper and led Sarah and Dean out of the bathroom without another word.

The trio piled back into Dean's car. "Now what?" Sam looked to his brother and new companion.

"Have you boys ever been to a library." Both Sam and Dean turned and stared at the young woman. "Because it's time to do some research. We need to see if we can connect this Bloody Mary legend with what happened to Shoemaker. If we can't find anything, then we're back to square one."

"Where else would we go besides a library? That's always the next step in the investigation." Dean turned the key to the Impala and started the engine.

"Oh please. You're just jealous because I said it first. Sam, I think your brother has a bit of an anger issue. Maybe you should help him address it."

"I am not jealous and I am not mad." Dean shouted at his little brother. "Sam, where's the nearest library?"

"Um, a couple blocks, I think."

"Good. Let's get this over with as fast as possible. I want to finish this before I kill her." Dean sped down the street in frustration.

Sarah leaned forward and put her elbows over the front seat. "Wow. Such a child." She faced Sam. "Hey, Sam. Have you ever thought about going solo?"

He grinned at her suggestion. "No. I wasn't exactly planning on sticking to this for very long. I'm just helping Dean find our father."

"Sam," Dean warned.

"What? Is he missing or something?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, kinda."

"Sam?!" Dean repeated, nearly blowing out Sarah's ear drum.

"All right," Sarah backed up to the backseat. "Touchy subject. I'll back off. I was just trying to make conversation."

"Yeah, well don't. You don't need to know our business."

Sarah crossed her legs and folded her arms. "Why don't you trust me, Dean? I'm only here to help."

He looked in the rear view mirror and into her deep brown eyes. "First of all, we established that we don't need your help. Second of all, you don't trust us, so why should we trust you?"

"Dean, come on. Maybe she could help." Sam didn't like that Dean was being so cruel to Sarah. He could tell that she wasn't a bad person or anything. He wanted her help.

She lifted her hand slightly in agreement with Dean. "Fair enough. And sorry, Sam. I haven't heard anything in the hunter grape vine about missing Dads. If I do, I'll let you boys know."

"Thank you, Sarah." Sam accepted her input.

"Okay, that's enough about Dad." Dean abruptly turned the steering wheel to the right.

"Woah there, cowboy. Take it easy. We'll drop the subject. What do you want to talk about?" Sarah knew she could be annoying at times. Sometimes, she didn't know when to shut her mouth. Dean's crazy driving gave her the signal this time.

"Nothing. Can we please just have silence for the rest of the ride?"

Sarah sank into her seat, knowing she pushed Dean a little far. "Yeah. Sure." She felt guilty and understood why Dean disliked her so much. She wasn't exactly trying to make him upset. It just happens. Not wanting to upset him more, she obeyed his request and sat silently for the rest of the ride to the local library.

Every once in a while Dean would look back at her face and see the guilt in it. He tried not to care. She was being too nosey, he would think. She should learn to keep her mouth shut. Dean would force his eyes back on to the road and tried to focus, but they somehow always managed to make it back to her face. Maybe I was being too hard on her. It doesn't look like she has any friends. She might not know how to make a good conversation. Guilt fell on to his shoulders soon as well, but he brushed it off. I have to focus on the case. That's what's important.

About ten minutes after getting into the car, they pulled up to the town's public library. The building was older, but was in decent condition. The cars in the parking lot nearly took up all of the spaces. It was a busy day.

Dean found a spot after a few minutes of searching. The three hunters exited the car, leaving behind all that was said, and entered the library with the case in mind.

As the trio walked in, Dean broke the silence. "All right. Say Bloody Mary is haunting this town. There's gonna be some sort of proof, right? A local woman died nasty."

"Yeah, but a legend this wide spread, it's hard," Sam answered his brother. "I mean, there's like fifty versions of who she actually is. One story says she's a witch, another says she's a mutilated bride. There's a lot more."

"Hell, I've even heard one where she was just a kid and her mother scratched her eyes out." Both Sam and Dean stopped and looked at Sarah. "What?"

"Where did you hear that?" Dean's face was crunched with confusion.

"Well, when you go to an all girls sleepover, they tell scary stories. That happened to be one of them. It's actually very popular where I'm from."

"Seriously? What sick place came up with that?"

"Dean, if you're asking where I'm from, don't call it a sick place. That would make me not want to tell you." Sarah loved her home town. Even though she hardly visited anymore, she always tried to keep herself up to date on the newest news stories and sports teams.

Sam nodded at her. "She's right, Dean. Would you want to tell her about home if she called it a sick place?"

Dean couldn't believe Sam was always on Sarah's side. They had only just met and the two of them were ganging up on him already. I bet he likes her. That's why he's keeping her around. Dean sighed. "Fine. Sarah, where are you from?"

"Wow, Dean, that's very nice of you to ask," Sarah said in a sarcastic tone. "I'm from New York."

"Like, the city?"

"No, not the city. Why does everyone always ask that?" This was a problem among the people that resided from New York state. Everyone they met always assumed they were from New York City when most of the time, that was not the case.

"Okay, then where?"

"Buffalo, actually." Sarah was afraid to answer Dean. She honestly didn't want to. But for some reason, her mouth just let it out.

Dean chuckled. "Really?"

"How is that funny?" Sarah shot at him.

"That place has the worst sports teams ever." Dean couldn't contain himself. She sounded proud to be from somewhere that can't even bring back one championship.

"So? I don't think that has any reflection on the city at all. Besides, Buffalo has the most supportive fans in the whole country." Sarah was always extremely defensive of her home town. She hated when other hunters would judge it when most didn't even have a home at all.

"Guys," Sam stepped in. "We have a case to get back to."

Dean could see the offense that she had taken to his remark. Normally, he would have forgotten about it, but felt too awful to let it go. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Sarah's surprise drove all of her previous anger away. "Uh, thanks." She didn't know what else to say. She did not expect that at all from him.

"So, uh, Sam. The Bloody Mary stories."

Sam looked at his brother. He shared in Sarah's shock. "Right."

Dean lifted his hands from his sides, looking for more of an answer. "So what are we supposed to be looking for?"

Sam took a second to get back on track before answering. "Well, every version's got a few things in common. It's always a woman named Mary, and she always dies in front of a mirror. So we've got to search local newspapers, public records as far back as they go, see if we can find a Mary who fits the bill."

"Well, that sounds annoying."

Sarah sighed. "Extremely."

"No, it won't be so bad, as long as we..." Sam stopped, seeing the computers in the library with an 'Out Of Order' sign taped to each one.

"You were saying?" Sarah placed her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to the left. She shook her head. The boy spoke too soon.

"Okay, I take it back. This will be very annoying."

The hours ticked by as Sam, Dean, and Sarah searched the public library for books that will give them clues. After only finding three or four, they gave up and decided to go back to a motel and look everything over.

Sarah told them of the motel she was staying at. It wasn't too far away and the search for answers had become tiring.

Dean pulled up to the room Sarah directed him to and commanded that Sam follow him to register for their own room.

"You don't need to get your own room. I've got one here." Sarah slid the key in, but didn't turn it.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't really want to stay in the same room as you any longer than I have to." Dean tugged on Sam's jacket, jolting the tall young man towards him.

Sarah chuckled, not amused. "You're mistaken if you think that was a friendly suggestion, Dean. I'm telling you to stay here so I can keep my eye on you two. Sorry, but I don't trust you and I would feel a lot better if I can make sure you're not going to take the case and bail." She turned the key and flung the door open. "Now, get inside so we can do this like professionals." She didn't wait for them to answer. Sarah knew that she was right and she knew that they knew it, too.

She walked to her bag that sat on the bed farthest from the window and moved it to the kitchen table. She took out a black and white stripped tank top and black jeans. She kicked off her shoes and grabbed her one and only pair of combat boots. "I'm going to get changed, so don't think about ditching me. Oh, and don't go through my stuff. That would just be creepy."

The boys walked in just in time to hear her before she walked into the bathroom. Dean leaned over to Sam and whispered, "I don't like this."

"Why not? She has a point. There obviously isn't a lot of trust here. So, it would make a ton of sense for us to stay in the same room. She wants to keep and eye on us and we want to do the same with her. So what's the big deal?" Sam liked this girl, not in a flirtatious kind of way, but in an ally kind of way. They all wanted the same things and and this job would go faster with another mind there to help.

"I know it makes sense, but I still don't like it." Dean walked out of the room to his car. He popped the trunk open and grabbed his and Sam's bags. Dean knew that there was no arguing with Sam or Sarah. It would just make things easier to go along with it.

Dean threw one bag on each of the beds when Sarah opened the door. "Hey!" she called, looking at Dean. "One of these beds are mine. Now, get your bag off and put it on the ground."

"Well there are only two beds."

"You can count. Good job." Since Dean wasn't moving, Sarah grabbed the bag herself.

Dean grabbed her arm. "Don't touch my stuff."

Sarah stared deep into his eyes. "Then get it off my bed." She jerked her hand out of his grasp.

This time Dean obeyed. Be dropped it on the ground. "There. You happy."

"Yes. Thanks for asking." Sarah pushed past them to get to the table by the wall. Sam had set the books down there and it was time to get to work.

"Where are we supposed to sleep then?" Dean didn't want to drop the subject. He didn't like being bossed around.

"Well, Sam could have the other bed. You. I really don't care. Sleep on the floor if you want. Or better yet, sleep in the bed with Sam." She flipped the first book on the pile open to the first page.

Dean slammed it closed on her. "I don't think so. I need a bed to myself."

"What do you want from me, Dean? Do you want me to sleep on the ground because you're complaining like a little girl. That's not going to happen. I paid for this room and I'm going to sleep on one of the beds." Sarah couldn't believe how much of a child Dean was being about this. How did they last this long?

"You didn't pay for this room. The poor sap who you stole the credit cards from is."

"Don't be a hypocrite. You know you steal cards, too. If it would make you happy, you can share a bed with me." I did not just suggest that! Sarah immediately regretted what came came out of her mouth.

"I'd rather sleep on the floor."

"Fine. Maybe we'll put you out like a dog." Sarah had no patience when it came to Dean. There was something about him that annoyed her.

Sam had enough. "Guys! You have got to stop this. This fighting over random crap isn't getting us anywhere. In case you forgot, we have more pressing matters to attend to. People will die if you keep doing this!"

Sarah and Dean both stared at Sam. He was right and they knew it. They just didn't want to admit it.

Silently, Sarah and Dean started their research. Sam watched them for a minute before picking up a book for himself.

After some time, Sarah stood up from her chair. Dean didn't look up at her. He just continued reading.

Sarah went to her bag and dug through the side pocket. She pulled out a silver necklace with a diamond snowflake charm that hung on the chain. She slipped it on over her head and looked down at it. Sarah didn't like to wear it while hunting, but she needed it. This small token gave her strength.

Sam had fallen on the motel bed with a book by his side. He squirmed as his dreams raged on.

"Should we be letting him sleep? We have a lot of work to do," Sarah whispered to Dean as she sat back down.

"Let him sleep. This is the most he's got in the past couple weeks." Dean worried about his little brother. Sam had been acting strange and the not sleeping was making it worse.

"What could he possibly be dreaming about to make him squirm that much?"

"You have no idea."


A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter. The story should be picking up more very soon. This chapter was named after Matter Of Trust by Billy Joel.