Burkittsville, Indiana…

Dean pulled over to the side of the road and shut the car off. He looked over to Angel and noticed she had her cell out and open to Sam's contact.

Regret filled his eyes as he watched her, "Think we should call him?"

"Maybe…" Angel sighed before closing her phone and putting it in her pocket, "Not right now though. Let's just get to work."

They both get out of the car and walk over to Scotty's Cafe where a man sat in a chair on the porch.

"Let me guess…" Dean gestured to the sign above them then to the man, "Scotty."

"Yep."

"Hi, my name's John Bonham." Dean introduced, "This is my sister Deborah."

Scotty raised a brow, "Isn't that the drummer for Led Zeppelin… and his sister?"

"Wow. Good." Dean laughed off his shock, "Classic rock fan."

"What can I do for you, John and Deborah?"

Angel pulled out two missing persons flyers for Holly and Vince Parker and handed them over, "We were wondering if you might've seen these two around?"

"Nope." He shook his head as he studied the flyers, "Who are they?"

"Friends of ours." Dean answered, "They went missing about a year ago. They passed through somewhere around here, and we've already asked around Scottsburg and Salem-"

"Sorry." Scotty quickly dismissed as he handed the flyers back over to Angel, "We don't get many strangers around here."

Dean and Angel each nodded stiffly as they watched him.

Dean smiled, "Scotty, you've got a smile that lights up a room, anybody ever tell you that?" Scotty stared at him strangely making him chuckle, "Never mind. See you around."

As they walked away Angel scoffed, "Okay, Mr. Creepy over there is definitely hiding something."

"Oh, yeah." Dean shook his head, "Question is, what?"

Jorgeson General Store…

Dean looked between the older couple, "You sure they didn't stop for gas or something?"

The older man, Harley, showed the picture to his wife Stacy before they both shook their heads, "Nope, don't remember 'em. You said they were friends of yours?"

Angel nodded as a younger girl their age, Emily, came downstairs carrying some boxes, "Yeah, that's right."

Emily looked over, "Did the guy have a tattoo?"

Dean nodded, "He did."

Emily put the boxes on the counter before coming over to them and looking at the picture of Vince, "You remember?" She looked to Harley, "They were just married."

"You're right…" Harley nodded as if recognition just came to him, "They did stop for gas. Weren't here more than ten minutes."

"Okay…" Angel pierced his eyes, "You remember anything else?"

"I told 'em how to get back to the Interstate." He shrugged, "They left town."

"Mind pointing us in the same direction?"

"Sure."

Following their directions, Dean drove through a back road next to an orchard.

Angel looked around at the trees tensely, "Is it just me or is everyone in town giving you Children of the Corn vibes?"

Dean agreed, "They might all be in on the disappearances or at least know who is." When a buzzing sound came from the backseat his brows furrowed, "What the hell?"

Angel turned and shuffled through his duffle bag to find the EMF reader beeping frantically.

She took it out and motioned, "Pull over, pull over."

They shared a look before quickly getting out of the car and walking through the orchard. Fairly quickly they came across a big creepy looking scarecrow hanging on a post. They walked closer to it for a better look.

"Jeeze." Angel grimaced, "That thing is…"

"Fugly?" Dean finished before turning back to the thing, "Dude, fugly isn't even the right word."

The scarecrow didn't move an inch as they watched it. Dean noticed a sickle in the scarecrow's hand as well as a design on its arm.

"Crap…"

Dean took a ladder from a nearby tree and climed to the top so that he was eye level with the scarecrow. He moved the shirt it was wearing to show Angel the design it had on its 'skin'.

Dean looked down at his sister, "Recognize that?"

She pulled out Vinces flyer and compared the tattoo to his, "Nice ink, freakshow… Guess we know what happened to our old friends."

Burkittsville gas station…

Dean pulled up in the impala to the gas station where Emily was standing by the pumps. She smiled between them as they both got out of the car.

"You're back."

Angel looked her over, "We never left."

"Still looking for your friends?"

"We are."

Dean walked over to their side and noticed Emily's nameplate necklace, "You mind fillin' her up there, Emily?" Emily grabbed the pump and started filling the impalas tank, "So… you grew up here?"

"I came here when I was thirteen." She explained, "I lost my parents- car accident. My aunt and uncle took me in."

Angel nodded, "They seem like nice people."

"Everybody's nice here."

Dean smirked, "So, what, it's the, uh, perfect little town?"

"Well, you know, it's the boonies." She shrugged, "But I love it. I mean, the towns around us, people are losing their homes, their farms… But here, it's almost like we're blessed."

Dean nodded as he watched her closely.

"Have you been out to the orchard by chance?" Angel asked, getting to business, "Maybe you've seen that creepy scarecrow posted up?"

She frowned, "Yeah, it creeps me out."

Dean laughed, nodding in agreement, "Whose is it?"

"I don't know… It's just always been there."

Dean motioned his head to a large red suburban van parked by the garage with its hood up, "That your aunt and uncle's?"

"Customer." She scorrected, "Had some car troubles."

"That's too bad…" Angel frowned, "It's not a couple, is it? A guy and a girl?"

Emily nodded as if nothing was wrong, "Mmhmm."

Dean and Angel both shared a concerned look with each other.

Scotty's Cafe…

Scotty served the couple whose car broke down two plates of apple pie with a smile, "We're famous for our apples. So, you gotta try this pie."

The woman quickly shook her head, "Oh, no. It- please."

Scotty quickly dismissed her with a smile as Dean and Angel entered, "It's on the house."

Angel smiled brightly once he turned to greet them, "Hey, Scotty. Can we get two black coffees please?"

He smiled back, "Comin' right up."

As he walked away to get it Dean added, "Oh, and some of that pie, too, while you're at it." He and Angel pointedly sat at a table next to the couple, "How ya doin'?"

The couple eaves at them with smiles that Angel returned, "You guys just passing through?"

"Road trip."

"Wow, small world." Dean and Angel looked at one another before looking back at them, "My sister and I are on one of those too."

Scotty resurfaced to refill the couples cider, sending a look to Dean and Angel, "I'm sure these people want to eat in peace."

"Oh, we're not trying to be a bother." Angel turned her charming eyes to the couple, "We just like to make friends on the road when we go on our family trips."

"It's fine." The woman dismissed Scotty's worry, "It's always fun meeting new people."

"Just a little friendly conversation." Dean called as Scotty walked away, "Oh, and that coffee, too, man. Thanks." Dean turns back to the couple, ignoring Scotty's agitated look, "So, what brings you to town?"

"We just stopped for gas." The woman explained, "And, uh, the guy at the gas station saved our lives."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah, one of our brake lines was leaking." The man nodded, "We had no idea. He's fixing it for us."

Concern etched both Angel and Dean's faces, "Nice people."

"Yeah."

"So, how long till you're up and runnin'?"

"Sundown."

"To fix a brake line? Thats crazy." Angel looked them over, "My brother and I know a thing or two about cars. We could probably have you up and running in about an hour. At the most."

"Free of charge."

The girl looked between them, "Uh, you know, thanks a lot, but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it."

"Oh, I mean if it makes you feel better, he and I run a family shop back home." At her blank stare Angel shrugged, "Understood."

Dean looked between them before leaning in, "You know, it's just that these roads… They're not real safe at night."

The couple exchanged a look with each other as Angel glared at her brother.

The woman eyed Dean, "I'm sorry?"

"Sounds strange, I know but uh…" Dean motioned between them with a shrug, "You might be in danger."

Angel kicked him from under the table as the man became annoyed, "Look, we're trying to eat. Okay?"

"Yeah…" Disappointment crossed Dean's face as worry crossed the couples, Dean's voice dropped as he turned to his sister, "You know, Sam could give them this puppy dog look, and they'd just buy right into it."

"Gee, it's probably because Sam doesn't come off like such an abductor when talking to people." Angel glared at him then stiffened when someone walked into the diner, "Heads up; 5-0."

Scotty came out from the back room, "Thanks for coming, Sheriff."

Both Winchesters watched them nervously as Scotty whispered something in the Sheriff's ear. When they both looked over Dean quickly looked away but Angel rolled her eyes at them. As the Sheriff walked over, Angel leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.

"I'd like a word, please."

"Yeah, no." Angel shook her head, trying and failing to ignore the irritation and frustration that was building up, as she held the cops glare, "We haven't done anything wrong so we don't really need to entertain you, babe."

"Listen here sweetheart-"

"Look, pudgy…" Angel glared even harder as she leaned forward towards him, "We're already having a bad day so why don't you go look for someone to pass out a speeding ticket too."

The Sheriff leaned down to their table meeting her glare, "You know what would make it worse?"

The Winchesters both looked at one another before grumbling and getting up to follow him out. Soon they were on the interstate, the sheriffs following them to make sure they left town. His sirens and lights were on and everything.

"I can't believe that hick seriously chased us out of town!" Angel scoffed as she watched the cop turn around and head back, "What a jackass."

Dean shook his head and turned the car around, "New plan."

In the orchard…

The couple from earlier are walking through the orchard after their car mysteriously broke down.

"I can't believe it." The girl shook her head, "We just got the car fixed."

The man put a comforting hand on her back, "This way."

They walked towards a clearing just as the Scarecrow whips past them from behind. The girl gasped and whipped them around.

Fear clouded her eyes as the two of them heard more and more noises, "Steve?"

The man, Steve, looked around as he shuffled her behind him, "Who's there?"

They looked around and saw the Scarecrow coming out from behind the trees headed straight towards them. At the sight the turn and sprint as fast as they could away from it. They almost made it to the clearing when Dean and Angel ran in front of them, weapons in hand.

Dean motioned hurriedly, "Get back to your car." The couple looked behind them and saw the Scarecrow getting closer, "Go! Go!"

As they bolted, the two Winchesters cocked both of their shotguns and shot at the thing. It stumbled for a second but kept walking towards them.

"Okay… Plan C." Angel grabbed her brother's arm and took off, "Run!"

As they both took off they both periodically turned and fired at the thing. Again, it kept chasing after them, seemingly unphased. Dean tried one more time, but the scarecrow kept moving.

"Jesus!" Angel huffed, "What is this thing on? Scarecrow Angel Dust?"

Finally, the Winchesters and the couple reached the end of the clearing. Angel and Dean each cocked their shotguns again and looked around expectantly but the Scarecrow had disappeared.

"You see it?" Angel whirled around, "Where'd it go?"

"I dont know." Dean shook his head, "It's just gone."

Steve panted, "What- what the hell was that?"

Angel huffed as she put her gun down, "What we were trying to warn you about earlier."

Later on in the Impala…

Dean drove as Angel had Sam on speakerphone and explained everything that's happened since they got into town.

"The scarecrow climbed off its cross?"

"Oh yeah, Sammy." Angel scoffed, "I'm telling you, this thing was fast. This is definitely not your average Po-Dunk spot."

"Yeah." Dean chuckled, "Burkittsville, Indiana. Fun Town."

"It didn't kill the couple, did it?"

"No." Dean answered, a little humor in his voice, "We can cope without you, you know."

"Right." Angel snickered, "Which is why we had to play Captain Save-The-Scarecrow-Meat with those people."

Dean burled up, "What does that mean?"

"Please!" She deadpanned at him before dropping her voice, "'These road's aren't safe at night. You might be in danger.'" She shook her head, "Dean, you came off creepier than the weirdo townspeople!"

"Oh, come on. You're the one that got us kicked out of town."

"Am not!"

"You were snarky as hell with that cop." When she rolled her eyes he raised his brows, "You called him pudgy!"

"Okay, well I'm just tired of these local cop assholes making our jobs harder. I mean all they do is sling their dicks around and arrest for dumb shit we didn't even do." She shook her head, "It's annoying."

"Guys, focus." Sam reigned them in from speaker phone, a little laughter in his tone, "What do you guys think is animating it? A spirit maybe?"

"No, it's more than a spirit. It's a god." Dean said, "A Pagan god, anyway."

"What makes you say that?"

"The annual cycle of its killings." Angel explained, "And the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. Like some sort of fertility sacrifice or something."

"And you should see the locals." Dean added, "The way they treated this couple. Fattenin' 'em up like a Christmas turkey."

"The last meal…" Sam mused, "Given to sacrificial victims."

"Yeah." Dean nodded, "We're thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan god."

"So, a god possesses the scarecrow…"

"Then the scarecrow takes its sacrifice."

"And for another year, the crops won't wilt, and disease won't spread."

"Do you know which god you're dealing with?"

"No, not yet."

"Well, you figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it."

"We know. Dean's driving to the local community college. We've got an appointment with a professor."

Dean smirked, "You know, since we don't have our trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research."

Sam laughed, "You know, if you're hinting that you guys need my help, just ask."

"I'm not hinting anything. Actually, uh- I want you to know… I mean, don't think…"

"We're sorry, Sammy." Angel interjected at Deans fumbling, "Both of us are."

"Yeah… I'm sorry, too. For everything I said to both of you."

"No, Sam." Dean argued, "You were right. You gotta do your own thing. You gotta live your own life. Even if we don't agree."

A little shock filled his voice, "Are you serious?"

"Sam… Ever since you were a kid you've known what you wanted and you've always went after it." Angel smiled, "I've always admired that about you, Sammy."

"You stand up to Dad, for everything you believe in and wanna do. You always have. Hell, I wish I…" He trailed off before clearing his throat, "Anyway… I admire that about you. I'm proud of you, Sammy."

"We both are, little b."

"I don't even know what to say…"

"Just say…" Sadness filled Angel but she knew he had to do what was best for himself, "Say you'll take care of yourself."

"I will."

"Good." Dean nodded, "Call us when you find Dad."

Sadness crept into Sam's voice, "Ok… bye, guys."

Angel looked over to Dean who was frowning and responded, "Goodbye, Sammy."