Chapter 5
Unbelievers
(Season 1, episode 7 - Hook Man)
It had been a few weeks since Sarah had met the Winchester brothers. There wasn't a day that went by where she wouldn't think about them. She wondered what her life would have been like if she just accepted the ride. She knew that saying 'no' was the right thing to do, but she could still think about it. Being tied down to a certain group of people was dangerous, but there were times where she would regret it. She was really starting to like Sam and Dean.
Dean would have the same thoughts as well. That girl had done something to his mind. He would catch himself thinking about her and where she could be at that moment. He understood why she couldn't take them up on their offer to come along, but he still wished she said 'yes.' She could have made a great addition to their team. Dean just hoped that whatever she was doing, she was being safe about it.
He would also wonder if she thought about him as well. He couldn't get her off of his brain, but did he leave the same effect on her? The more he thought about it, no, it wasn't possible. How could Sarah even think about me like that? She didn't even like me. Hell, she hated me. She seemed more into Sam than me.
No matter how much he thought about her, he couldn't let Sam know about it. Sam had other things on his mind. He didn't need to worry about his brother's fascination with a girl they worked with once. Instead, he played it like he had totally even forgotten about her. Sam would ask if he heard from Sarah every once in awhile, but Dean pretended not to care. Deep down, he felt pain at the sound of her name.
Sam was on the phone with someone who may have known where their father could be and Dean sat at the table and let his mind wonder. He was supposed to be doing some research on a case he found, but he just couldn't help it. He loved thinking about how that girl didn't give a crap whenever he insulted her. Her toughness seemed to make her more likable to him. When Sam came back, he pushed the thought of Sarah Greenely to the back of his mind and made a joke about Sam's drink order. "Your half-caff venti vanilla latte is getting cold here, Francis."
"Bite me," Sam said as he sat with his brother.
"So anything?"
"I had them check the FBI's missing-persons databank. No 'John Does' filling that description. I even ran his plates for traffic violations."
"Sam, I'm telling you, I don't think Dad wants to be found." Dean looked away from his brother for a second. He had to take a second look, but he knew he saw something. He hit his brother's leg and pointed to a shorter girl with long brown hair, holding a cup of coffee coming out of the coffee shop. "Is that...?" Dean trailed off. At first, Dean thought he was seeing things, but it just seemed too real to be a hallucination.
Sam followed his brother's gaze and saw her, too. "I think so. Should we invite her over?"
Dean didn't know what to answer. He wanted her with them but then he didn't. He felt her presence could hurt him more than when she left the first time. He watched as she took steps in the opposite direction.
Sam didn't want her to leave without them at least saying 'hi.' He knew his brother wasn't going to answer his question, so he stood up and called, "Sarah!"
The girl stopped and whipped her head around at the sound of her name. Oh no, she thought. She faked a smile, pretending to be glad to see them, and walked over to meet the brothers at their table. "Hey, guys." Don't get attached, Sarah. You need to keep your distance. Say 'hello,' then leave. You can't stay.
Sam excitingly bent down to give her a hug. She accepted and hugged back with one arm. When he released her, she set her cup on the table. Dean didn't stand to greet her and she didn't expect him to. For all she knew, this was the first time he had thought about her in weeks. "Are you guys stalking me or something?"
Sam giggled. "No, we were just looking for our father. We thought he would be here."
"Oh, so no luck with that, huh?" Secretly, she had been asking her contacts if they had seen John Winchester as well. Although none of them have, she wanted to at least try and help Sam and Dean.
"So, what are you doing here?" Dean looked up from his screen and asked. "You're not stalking us, now are you?"
"No, Dean. I'm not stalking you either. I just finished a case a few streets away. I was just getting ready to leave town when I decided to for a cup of coffee. It was kind of a long night." Sarah picked up her drink, took a sip, and saw Dean's computer.
"How was it?" Sam asked, curiously.
"It was fine. Just a normal salt and burn. Nothing too big." She didn't want to admit that she hadn't worked anything big since she left them. All she did lately was small salt and burn cases.
Dean relaxed inside. I don't see any bruises or cuts. Good. She's been safe at least.
"Are you guys working a case?"
"No-" Sam started, but Dean cut him off.
"Yeah, we are." This was the perfect excuse to ask Sarah to come along. Claim we need help, then she'll have no choice but to join us. He turned his computer to face his brother and the girl. "Check this out. News item out of Plains Courier, Ankeny, Iowa. It's only about 100 miles from here.
Sarah leaned down in between the boys as Sam read the article aloud. "'Mutilated body was found near the victim's car parked on 9 mile road.'"
"Keep reading," Dean instructed.
"'Authorities are unable to provide a realistic description of the killer. The sole eyewitness, whose name has been withheld, is quoted as saying the attacker was invisible.'"
"Could be something interesting."
"Or the witness could just be crazy," Sarah straightened herself down and looked at Dean.
Sam agreed with Sarah. "Meaning it could be nothing at all. One freaked out witness who didn't see anything doesn't mean it's the invisible man."
"But what if it is? Dad would check it out." Right then, Sam was on board. Now all Dean had to do was convince Sarah. "What about you?"
"I don't know. This seems more like something the two of you should do. I don't want to get in the way of you two finding your father." She was looking for any excuse to say 'no.' Sarah couldn't let herself get roped into another adventure with Sam and Dean, not again. It was such a close call last time.
"No. You wouldn't be in the way. We could really use your help with this." Dean wasn't going to let her go again. She was such a well trained hunter and he knew that she would be a great addition to their tiny team.
She sighed. If they really needed her help, she couldn't reject them. Knowing my luck, they would really need my help. If I don't help, they could end up dead and that would be on me. I don't need that hanging over me. "Fine. I'm in. I just need to pick up my stuff at my motel room."
"We'll drive you there." Dean closed his laptop and picked it up.
As he started walking, Sarah made a stop sign with her hand. "This isn't some kind of trap, is it?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you seem really happy right now and frankly, it's scaring the crap out of me."
Dean had been caught. He froze, not knowing how to answer. Blood quickly rushed to his cheeks.
Sam swooped in and saved him from further embarrassment. "You're a good hunter, Sarah. We're just glad you are willing to help."
She shook her head, trying to forget Dean's freaky behavior. "Uh, okay then. What are we waiting for? Let's get going, boys." She knew that Dean was playing something, but she didn't know what.
The three of them piled into Dean's car and drove to her motel room to collect her things. Dean and Sam sat and the car and waited for her. Once she was inside, Sam looked to his brother. "What the hell?"
"What?"
"You hated her and now you want her to tag along? We're supposed to be finding Dad, Dean. We can't let her get in the way."
"She won't be in the way. She could be real help."
"I know she can be, but that's not why you want her here. You just want to get in her pants."
Dean couldn't believe Sam's accusation. "No, I don't want to get in her pants, Sam. I just thought it would be nice to have someone else here besides the two of us."
"The two of us work fine."
"Not after last case."
"Last case was fine. We didn't die."
"No we didn't, but someone almost did. We were reckless. Maybe she could keep us in line."
Sam slumped in his seat. "You're so full of it."
Sarah opened the door from her room and carried bother her bags out. Dean was tired of this conversation and decided his time was better spent away from Sam. He opened his door and met Sarah outside. "Here. Let me take these and put them in the trunk. Go turn in the key and meet us back here."
She pulled away. "Um, no. How about you take the key and I'll put my stuff in the trunk?"
Dean took the key from her hand. "Still don't trust me?"
"Not really," she said as she walked back to the car.
"Fair enough. Sam, pop the trunk."
Soon, the trio was on the road again. Dean drove as Sam sat silently in the passenger seat. Sarah leaned forward in the back and struck up a conversation with Dean. "So, last I heard you were dead Mr. Winchester after brutally assaulting, what? Two women?"
"Yeah. I was shot and killed while attacking one of Sam's old college friends. I'm just the ghost of Dean Winchester. Sam was just too attached to burn my body," he joked. "No. It was a shapeshifter."
"A shapeshifter?"
"Yup. Decided to take the look of the better looking one."
"Well, I wouldn't say that." That got a small giggle out of Sam. "Wow. I haven't heard of a shifter appearance in years."
"Us either. Imagine the shock we had when we found out. So wait. If you heard all that stuff about me, why did you decide to tag along?"
"They said you were dead. When I saw you breathing, I figured that whatever happened back in St. Louis had something to do with a case."
"You figured correct."
They seemed to reach the town in no time at all. Sarah was actually a bit upset to see that they were there so soon. They were having such a good time in the car and she didn't want that to end.
It was a small college neighborhood. Young college students roamed the streets with backpacks and books. They pulled up in front of a large house with a bunch of young men hanging around.
"Tell me again, why are we here?" Sam asked Dean as they exited the car.
"Victim lived here." Together, the three of them approached a boy under his car. "Nice wheels," Dean complimented. He just stared at them. "We're your fraternity brothers from Ohio. We're new in town - transfers. Looking for a place to stay."
"What about her?"
"I'm his girlfriend," Sarah lied and pointed to Dean. For some reason, whenever someone questioned her presence with them, it resulted in her becoming Dean's fake girlfriend. We really need to stop doing that.
"She can stay here as long she wants," the kid's friend commented.
Dean just shrugged. He hid the fact that what that kid said pissed him off. He had no reason to be upset. It's not like they were actually dating or anything. He just thought they should respect her better. I bet if they knew what we actually did, they would show some more respect.
The kid agreed to let them stay upstairs, but went back to working on his car. Dean led the three of them up the stairs.
"God, I hate college kids," Sarah whispered, not wanting any of the other boys to hear her.
Dean smiled. "Why?"
"They're gross, smelly, and childish."
"Hey," Sam voiced, slightly offended being a college kid himself.
"Sorry, Sam, but its true."
They reached an open door with a sticker that said 'purple man' tacked to it. Inside the room, a boy was painting himself blue for an upcoming pep rally.
"See," Sarah commented.
Dean knocked on the door and the kid stopped what he was doing. "Who are you?" he asked.
"We're your new roommates."
The kid didn't argue nor did he question Sarah's presence. "Do me a favor? Get my back." He reached his hand out and offered the paint brush to Dean. "Big game today."
Dean stared at him in surprise and pointed to Sam. "He's the artist. Things he can do with a brush..."
Sam gave Dean the death stare, but took the brush anyway. He didn't want their cover to be blown.
Dean sat on a chair next to a window and picked up a magazine. Sarah sat on the floor next to him, praying that it was at least semi clean. "So..." Dean started. "Murph, is it true?"
"What?"
"We heard one of the guys here got killed last week." Sarah elbowed Dean in the knee. He should be a little more sensitive.
"Yeah."
"What happened?" Sam asked the boy as he painted his back.
"They're saying some psycho with a knife, maybe a drifter passing through. Rich was a good guy."
"Rich was with somebody?"
"Not just somebody - Lori Sorenson."
That got Dean's attention. "Who's Lori Sorenson?" He pointed to the kid's back. "You missed a spot."
"Lori's a freshman. She's a local. Super hot."
Sarah pressed her hand to her forehead. Some guys just have no respect for women and she hated it.
"And get this - she's a reverend's daughter."
"You wouldn't happen to know which church, would you?"
He told them which church and exactly how to get there. Dean thanked him and the three exited the house.
Sarah couldn't have been more relieved to be out of there. Once they were at the car, she gasped for air. "I swear, I had to hold my breath the whole time. It smelled awful."
Dean opened his door and sat behind the wheel. "Oh, it wasn't that bad."
"'Not that bad?' Were you in the same room that I was?"
"Well, if you have to throw up, let me know and I'll pull over. I don't want you to throw up in my car."
"Oh wow. Thanks for the gesture."
"Anytime."
The church was small and a bit outdated. It could have used a major renovation. Trees were planted in certain places to cover up parts of the wall that had been slowly decaying.
Sarah got out of the car and stared at the church. "It had to be a church."
"What's wrong with a church."
"She's not a believer, Sam."
Sarah was shocked that Dean even knew that. It's not like the subject of God ever came up in their conversations. In fact, she didn't recall ever mentioning it.
"Not even a little?" Sam's face had a weird way of giving this puppy face, making people just fall for him.
Sarah had to look away, trying not to be sucked in. "Nope." She didn't asked what their beliefs were, nor did she care. She hated the topic of religion. It had a way of keeping people apart instead of together. She had way too many arguments with people about God. Instead, she walked ahead of them to the doors of the church.
Dean pushed himself forward. "Maybe I should go first."
"Whatever." She wasn't in mood to fool around. She just wanted this job done so she can leave. I can't let this be permanent.
When they entered, a service was going on and the reverend was speaking. "We should reflect on what this tragedy means to us as a church..."
Not realizing the ongoing service, Sam let the door slam behind him. All of the church's members stopped and stared at them, even the reverend. He didn't seem too pleased about being interrupted during his service.
After Dean, Sarah, and Sam sat in the last pew in the church, the reverend continued. "...As a community, and as a family. The loss of a young person is particularly tragic. A life unlived is the saddest of passings. So, please, let us pray for peace, for guidance, and for the power to protect our children."
Everyone bowed their heads for the deceased, except for Dean and Sarah. Sam nudged the both of them, making them lower their heads and at least pretend to believe. It was then Sarah knew that Dean stood with her on the subject.
The service was short, but not to Sarah. It had been years since she even set foot in a church, let alone participate in a service. She wanted desperately to leave, but knew she had to stay to assure their cover. She hated it and nearly walked out at one point, but remained seated for the sake of the case.
When the service finally concluded, Sam pointed to a young woman who sat in the front row. She was wearing a green shirt and a small clip held her hair away from her face. The innocence in her eyes told them exactly who she was. Lori left the church with a friend. They needed to catch up to her and talk to her before they lost her.
Sam was the first to reach her. "Are you Lori?"
"Yeah," she answered.
"My name is Sam. This is my brother, Dean and our friend, Sarah. We just transferred here to the university."
She nodded. "I saw you inside."
"We don't want to bother you. We heard about what happened."
"We wanted to say how sorry we were," Dean told her.
"I kind of know what you're going through. I - I saw someone get hurt once. It's something you don't forget." A slight pain surged through Sam's heart as he thought about Jessica. It had felt that no time at all had passed since her death.
Lori took their sympathy into consideration. Before she had a chance to respond, her father appeared from behind her. "Dad, this is Sam, Dean, and Sarah. They're new students.
Dean reached hand out to the reverend who was still dressed in his service clothing. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I must say that was an inspiring sermon."
He took Dean's hand and gave a firm handshake. "Thank you very much. It's so nice to find young people who are open to the Lord's message."
Sarah held it in. Her objections wanted so bad to rise and tell this guy exactly how things were and what she thought, but she kept them down. Instead, she smiled wider and pretended to agree with him.
Dean could see the struggle in her eyes. Sam and Sarah needed to talk to Lori without her father there anyway. He took the opportunity to talk to the reverend about whatever that would get him away. "Listen, we're new in town, actually, and we're looking for a church group." That got the reverend to follow him.
Sam and Sarah stepped forward to talk a bit more privately with the girl. "Tell me, Lori, what are the police saying?" Sam started walking and Lori and Sarah went with him.
"Well, they don't have a lot to go on. I think they blame me for that."
"What do you mean?" For some reason, Sam jumped in to talk to this girl every chance he got. Sarah noticed it, but didn't say anything. She just let Sam speak.
"My story. I was so scared, I guess I was seeing things."
"That doesn't mean it wasn't real."
Lori smiled at him and told him everything. She fell Sam's puppy face.
Sarah knew what was going on and couldn't let it go any further. "Well, it was very nice talking to you, Lori, but it seems that we have to go." Sarah grabbed onto Sam's jacket and started pulling him away.
"Yeah, it was nice meeting you." Sam waved to her and started walking with Sarah. "What the hell?" Sam whispered.
"Sam, I'm not blind nor am I deaf. You can't develop any emotional ties to this case."
"I wasn't developing emotional ties. I was trying to get information."
"That wasn't gathering information, Sam. I don't know what you were thinking nor do I care. I just want to make sure this case is done right. We don't need your emotions getting in the way." In a way, she was talking to herself. She needed to take her own advice and stop thinking about Dean. This case was the important thing right now.
Sam shook her hand off of him. "Whatever."
When they reached Dean, Sam and Sarah both put their happy faces on again. Dean was still caught up in a conversation with the reverend about church groups. Sarah smiled politely. "Dean, it's time to be going."
He smiled back. He knew her smile was fake, but he liked it anyway. The way she tilted her head to give the full effect that made it look like she was actually happy made his head spin. "Oh, okay. He was just telling me about a church group that meets here every Friday that is just for college students."
"Oh, that sounds like it would be great for us. Thank you so much," she said to the reverend.
"No problem, my dear," he responded.
Dean raised his hand as a goodbye. "We'll see you later then, Reverend."
He nodded and grinned slightly.
"Thanks again," Sarah called back to him as they started back to the car.
Once they were far enough away, Dean looked down at her. "I thought you weren't a believer."
She looked back up at him. "It's called acting, Mr. Winchester. It's part of the job."
"Well, that was pretty damn good acting. I knew the truth and even I believed you." He nudged her on the shoulder.
The touch of his hand gave her goosebumps, a chill that she only got when she was nervous. She tried so hard not blush when she said, "Why thank you very much."
Dean, Sam, and Sarah all piled into the car and headed to the library to check up on some lore. They believed there was some sort explanation for the death of the young man.
Once inside, Sam explained to Dean what Lori had told them. He tried to keep his voice low so no one would hear him. The last thing they needed was someone hearing them and calling the police. That was just something the three of them weren't in the mood to mess with.
"Do you believe her?" Dean asked Sam.
"I do."
"I think she's hot, too." Sarah giggled. At least Dean saw Sam's attraction to her, too.
"No, man, there's something in her eyes."
He then turned to Sarah. "What about you?"
She sighed. She didn't want to believe her, but something in her stomach told her that Lori wasn't lying. "Yeah, I do."
"And listen to this," Sam added. "She heard scratching on the roof found the bloody body suspended upside down over the car."
"Bloody body suspended? That sounds like -"
"Yeah, I know. The hookman legend."
"That can't be it." Sarah crossed her arms in disbelief.
Dean shared in her disbelief. "That's one of the most famous urban legends. You don't think that we're dealing with The hookman."
"Every urban legend has a source, a place where it all began." Sam leaned against the bookshelf.
"What about the phantom scratches and the tire punctures and the invisible killer?"
"Yeah, that doesn't match the legend at all."
Sam didn't have any other idea, so he ignored Dean and Sarah's doubts. "Maybe the hookman isn't a man at all. What if it's some kind of spirit?"
Sarah thought about it. Sam could have been on to something. "Go get the records. It's the only lead we have right now. Might as well look into it."
Sam nodded and went to talk to the librarian. Sarah and Dean found an empty table in the back. Sarah skipped the seat next to Dean and saved it for Sam. Sitting with Dean could lead to something bad. I don't want bad.
Within minutes, Sam joined them and a woman brought over a series boxes with everything they needed inside. "Here you go. Arrest records going back to 1851."
The dust had blown up into Dean's throat and he released a small cough. "Thanks." His voice squeaked from trying to hold his breath.
Sam started to brush off the dust and some flew in Sarah's direction. She waved her hand in front of her face. "Hey. Don't blow that crap towards me."
"Sorry."
Dean flipped the first box open. "This is how you spent four good years of your life, huh?" That comment informed Sarah that Dean never went to college, just like her. They both must have been dedicated to the job even after they turned 18.
"Welcome to higher education."
The three of them spent hours after hours digging through the files. The piles of police records never seemed to decrease. When they finished a box, two more seemed to appear.
After the third or fourth hour, Sarah couldn't do it anymore. "I don't think it's the hookman, guys. We spent hours looking through this and we've found nothing."
Dean threw a file he had been working on. He was with Sarah. If this really was the hookman, they would have found it by now.
Right then, Sam spoke up. "Hey, check this out. 1862 - a preacher named Jacob Karns was arrested for murder." Sarah and Dean stood up to see what Sam was looking at. It sounded like someone finally had something. "Looks like he was so angry over the red-light district in town that one night he killed 13 prostitutes. Right here, 'some of the deceased were found in their beds, sheets soaked with blood, others suspended upside down from the limbs of trees as a warning against sins of the flesh.'"
Dean pulled out a sheet that was behind what Sam was reading. "Get this - the murder weapon? Looks like the preacher lost his hand in an accident, had it replaced with a silver hook."
Sarah examined the hook. A cross was engraved on the side on the holster. She shook her head. How can someone do such a thing? Especially someone who devoted his whole life to God and doing good.
Sam pointed to another spot on the paper. "Look where all this happened."
"9 mile road," Dean said aloud.
"Same place where the frat boy was killed."
"Well, I'll be damned. Looks like you were right, Sam," Sarah said as she skimmed the pages again.
"Nice job, Dr. Venkman. Let's check it out."
Sam closed the file and started to head out with his brother.
"Guys." They stopped and looked back at Sarah. "We have to clean this up. We can't just leave police files everywhere."
"But we have a case to do." Dean knew she was right, but there were so many. He didn't want to spend his time cleaning up his mess.
Sam sighed. "No, she's right. Come on, Dean."
"You know, if we all work together, we can get it done quickly," Sarah joked in a motherly voice.
"Bite me, Sarah."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Another one will be up soon. This chapter was named after the song Unbelievers by Vampire Weekend.
