Chapter 8
Eyes Of Fire
(Season 1, episode 7 - Hook Man)
Dean pulled up the car slowly to the church and Lori's home. The night covered the land with only a few lights shining around the church. Everyone stepped out of the car and made their way toward the building.
"All right. We can't take any chances. Anything silver goes in the fire."
"I agree," Sam said to his brother.
Sarah only nodded back.
"So, Lori's still at the hospital. We'll have to break in."
Dean didn't see any problem with it. "All right. Take your pick."
"I'll take the house."
"Okay. Sarah?"
Sarah wasn't paying attention. She only stared at the old church, thinking of the last time she was in one with her family. She gulped hard at the thought.
"Sarah?" Dean reached out and lightly tapped her shoulder.
Trying not to look startled, Sarah tightened her shoulders and turned to Dean. "Yeah?"
"House with Sam or church with me?"
House with Sam or Church with Dean. Which was better? If I went to the house, I wouldn't have to go into that church. If I went to the church, I would be with Dean. No. I can't start thinking like that again. "Church," she answered quickly. Crap.
"Okay. Church it is." Dean smiled at her. Thank you for saying Church. Sam started walking to the house when Dean stopped him. "Hey. Stay out of her underwear drawer."
Sam stared at him in shock as Dean grabbed his bag and walked down the path to the church laughing at his own joke. Sarah looked back and forth from Dean to Sam.
Realizing what she was thinking, Sam's eyes widened. "No. No, he's just kidding."
Sarah giggled knowing he was telling the truth. Sam is not that kind of guy, but I have to mess with him. What's the fun in just letting it go. "Right. When we get back to the house though, remind me to hide my bag from you."
He shook his head. "No, uh, I wouldn't-" He was lost for words.
She smiled widely. "Don't worry, Sam. I was only kidding." She started to jog to catch up to Dean. When she was at least halfway to him, Sarah turned back around. "But seriously, stay out of my underwear."
Sam waved, giving up. "Will do."
Once the two were inside, Dean started a fire in the basement in a fireplace with some of the supplies he brought. "Go look around and grab any silver. Bring it down here and toss it in," Dean instructed.
Sarah nodded and wasted no more time. She ran up and down the aisles, looked under and over pews, even checked inside the books. She wanted to be as thorough as humanly possible. Not one piece of silver was going to get past her eyes. Once she was sure she had everything, Sarah ran back to Dean. The two of them threw the pieces into the red and yellow flames. Minutes later, Sam joined them with his own share of silver.
"I got everything that even looks silver."
"Better safe than sorry." Dean tossed another piece in.
Sam handed Sarah his full bag. "Thanks." She continued to toss the silver into the flames and watched each new piece dissolve.
Footsteps creaked from above, halting all three hunters. Three or four steps moved directly ahead of them.
"Move, move." Dean grabbed his gun and started to sprint up the stairs. Sam followed and so did Sarah.
Sam stopped and put his hand out to her. "Sarah, stay here and keep burning those things."
She breathed slowly. Reluctantly, she nodded. Sam ran to catch up to his brother and Sarah sauntered back to the fire. She picked up each individual piece and buried it in heat. Did they still not trust me to go with them? She sighed deeply. They have no reason to trust me. I don't blame them. It just sucks. I thought we were making progress. Or maybe I'm just blind. I'm letting my feelings get in the way.
For some reason, Sarah had pissed herself off. She couldn't take the way she was thinking. She grabbed the closest piece of silver and chucked it into the fire as hard she possibly could. Stop it. Now. This isn't you. You don't know them nor do you need them. You can't gain anything from them and they can't gain anything from you. You can't be friends. You can't help. Burn these fast and get the hell out before this gets out of hand. You're a hunter. Hunters don't get to have friends or people who like them. Hunters don't get to keep relationships. You know that.
Seeing that the footsteps belonged to Lori, Dean sent his brother to her. She was always more comfortable around Sam. Instead, Dean quickly jogged down the stairs to assist Sarah in finishing the melting. "How we doing?" He kneeled down next to her and saw both bags nearly empty. "Wow. You've been going at it."
Sarah ignore him. She continued with the job because that's all this was to her. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
Dean noticed her sudden distress. He only knew this woman for a short time and he could already tell when something was bothering her. He felt so connected to her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand why. She was just another hunter. Why do I feel the need to comfort her right now? We have a job to do. When he thought about it, Dean realized he sounded a lot like his father, putting the job first. He hung his head for second then placed his hand gently on her shoulder. He didn't want to be harsh like his father. "Are you okay?"
She desperately wanted to tell him everything, just lay it all on the table, but she knew better. No connections. Besides, she hardly knows Dean Winchester. He had no right to know what was going on in her brain. Instead, she shrugged him off. "I'm fine."
Dean removed his eyes from her sorrowful face. She didn't want his help. He dropped his hand and grabbed another piece of silver without saying another word.
Suddenly, a scream sounded from above. Dean knew it couldn't be anything good. "Sammy?" he called.
Sarah knew the look in his eyes. Dean wanted to go save his brother. That was a look Sarah knew and respected deeply. "Go. I'll finish here. Make sure Sam is okay." Sarah started to push him up the stairs, not willing to take 'no' as an answer.
"What about you?" He didn't want to leave her here all by herself. She didn't deserve to die because he was too worried about his baby brother.
"I'm a hunter, remember? I can take care of myself. Now, go."
Dean nodded quickly, knowing she was right. Sam needed him. Sarah would be fine. He ran as fast as his feet would take him to his brother.
Sarah kept feeding the silver into the fire. The crashes and screams from above forced her to move faster and faster. She was running low but the screams continued. Why isn't that thing dying yet? She furiously threw more and more in until she was down the her final handful. Die you son of a bitch.
Bang. A gunshot. Sarah jumped slightly, but just enough to let the final handful drop to the floor. Oh, no. She dropped to her stomach and grabbed everything that shinned and flung them with the rest of the melted silver. The ground was soon cleared, but the shots continued. I must have missed one. Sarah crawled on the floor, searching for that missing piece. I have to find it. She slithered around like a snake, praying to find it.
The door to the basement opened and Dean stomped down the steps. "Sarah," he screamed.
She popped up as soon as he tossed a small silver cross attached to a chain. Without questioning, Sarah caught and threw it as hard as she could into the fire. The two were in sync. She trusted Dean and Dean trusted her. This resulted in silence. The ghost was gone.
A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience. I had surgery this past week so I was unable to get a chapter out. I hope this was worth the wait. The song is Eyes On Fire by Blue Foundation.
