DISCLAIMER: Continued from Asylum. Bridget added in of course

S1 EP 11 SCARECROW

Sam sat up in the bed, eyes wide and more awake than ever as he listened to the voice on the other end. The voice he'd been searching for the last six months.

"Sam, is that you?" John asked.

"Dad? Are you hurt?" he asked concerned.

"I'm fine," he reassured his youngest.

"We've been looking for you everywhere," Sam said. Bridget stirred slightly on the bed, sitting up on her elbow, hair still in her face as she listened to Sam speak. She figured who he was talking to and shook Dean as Sam continued on the phone. "We didn't know where you were, if you were okay."

"Sammy, I'm all right," he said again. "What about you, Dean and Bridget?"

"We're fine. Dad, where are you?"

That caused Dean to jolt awake at last and he jerked his head to Bridget who nodded without him having to ask.

"Sorry, kiddo," John apologized. "I can't tell you that."

"What?" Sam exclaimed. "Why not?"

"Is that Dad?" Dean asked his brother.

"Look, I know this is hard for you to understand. You're just gonna have to trust me on this," John said.

"You're after it, aren't you? The thing that killed mom and Bridget's family."

"Yeah. It's a demon, Sam."

"A demon? You know for sure?" Sam asked.

"Demon? What's he saying?" Dean questioned.

"I do," John said to Sam. "Sammy, I, uh…I also know what happened to your girlfriend. I'm so sorry. I've done everything to protect you from that."

"Do you know where it is?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, I think I'm finally closing in on it."

"Let us help."

"You can't. None of you can. You can't be any part of it."

"Why not?

Dean held his hand out, "Give me the phone."

"Listen, Sammy, that's why I'm calling," said John almost sounding desperate. "You and your brother and Bridge, you gotta stop looking for me. Alright, now, I need you to write down these names."

"Names? What names, Dad - talk to me, tell me what's going on."

"Look, we don't have time for this. This is bigger than you think, they're everywhere. Even us talking right now, it's not safe."

"No. Alright?" he said sternly. "No way."

Dean wiggled his fingers, "Give me the phone."

Sam shook his head and Dean yanked it from him. "Dad, it's me. Where are you?...Yes, sir…Uh, yeah, I got a pen…what are their names? Got it…yes, sir…you too."

He hung up the phone and ran a hand over his face. "We got work to do."

Not more than an hour later they were in the car, driving down the road. Bridget had a slight bruise on her cheek and Dean's shoulder was still aching but other than that, things could have been worse.

"All right," Sam said, driving the car due to Dean's injury. "So, the names Dad gave us, they're all couples?"

"Three different couples, all went missing according to what Bridget dug up," Dean said.

"And they're all from different states and towns?" Sam asked, looking at Bridget in the review mirror.

"That's right. You got Washington, New York, and Colorado. Each couple took a road trip cross country. None of them ever arrived at their destination, and none of them were ever heard from again," she reported.

"Well, it's a big country. They could have disappeared anywhere."

"Yeah, could have. But each ones route took then to the same part of Indiana. Always on the second week of April. One year after another after another," she said.

"This is the second week of April," Sam said.

"Yep," Dean nodded.

"So, Dad is sending us to Indiana to go hunting for something before another couple vanishes?" Sam asked.

"Yup. Can you imagine putting together a pattern like this? All the different obits Dad had to go through?"

Bridget snorted, "I never would have pieced that together."

Dean nodded, "The man's a master," Dean said.

Sam shook his head with an annoyed look and pulled the car over, turning it off. Dean looked puzzled. "What are you doing?"

"We're not going to Indiana," Sam said sternly.

"We're not?" Bridget questioned, leaning over the back seat.

"No. We're going to California. Dad called us from a payphone. Sacramento area code."

"Sam…" Dean started.

"Dean," Sam said. "If this demon killed Mom and Jess and Dad's closing in on it, we're gotta be there. We've gotta help."

"Dad doesn't want out help," Dean said.

"I don't care."

"He gave us an order."

"Sam spoke firmly, "I don't care. We don't always have to do what he says."

"Sam," Bridget tried. "Your dad is asking us to work a job and save people's lives. It's important."

"Alright, I understand, believe me, I understand. But I'm talking one where here, to get answers. To get revenge."

"Alright, look, I know how you feel," Dean said.

"Do you?" Sam all but yelled causing both to jump. "How old were you when Mom died? Four? Jess died six months ago. How the hell would you know how I feel?"

That made Bridget angry, "Even if he doesn't I do, Sam. Sure Jess died six months ago, but my entire family that I had left died four years ago, okay? Including my fiancé, so yeah, I know how you feel? How angry you are, how hurt, how guilt ridden you feel. I get it. But your dad said it wasn't safe and as much as I want to kill the son of a bitch that killed them, I trust your father's words."

"I know you understand, but what I don't get is how you have such blind faith in the man. You're like Dean, you never question any of it."

"Because I trust them both."

"And it's called being a good son," Dean said.

Sam shook his head in anger and got out of the car. Dean and Bridget followed to see him unloading his stuff out of the trunk. "You're a selfish bastard, you know that?" Dean said. "You just do whatever you want. Don't care what anyone else thinks."

"That's what you really think?" Sam asked.

"Yes, it is."

"Well then this selfish bastard is going to California."

"You're not serious," Bridget said.

"It's the middle of the night," Dean said. "I will leave your ass here!"

"That's what I want you to do," he shouted back. Dean shook his head and got in the car.

Bridget shook her head with tears in her eyes and stared at Sam. "I thought you were the smarter one, Sam. The more mature because you were different, you were compassionate, you understood what it was like…but I was wrong…you are a selfish bastard and if you go to Cali you're just gonna get you and your dad killed because you know what that thing wants? It wants you because you got away that night…and you're walking straight to it…so you proved me right though…everyone leaves me, everyone I loves does die…have a nice life, Sam, whatever's left of it," she turned her back and got in the car, slamming the door and leaning her head in her hand as Dean took off into the night, leaving Sam behind. She fought the tears that threatened to spill over. A hand slid into hers, fingers interlacing and she squeezed Dean's hand, glad when he squeezed back. Neither spoke along the way, nothing needed to be said.

Once in Burkitsville, Indiana, Dean pulled over to the side of the road. Bridget watched from the corner of her eye as he pulled out his cell phone then put it back after a moment, turning the car off.

"He'll call when he's ready," she reassured him. "Right now, we got work to do."

She got out of the car with him and headed up to Scotty's Café where an older gentleman sat on the porch. "Let me guess," Dean said gesturing at the sign. "You're Scotty."

"Yup."

"Hi, my name is John Bonham, this is my girlfriend, Hermione Granger," Dean said and Bridget shot him a wide eyed death look.

"John Bonham, isn't he that drummer from Led Zeppelin?"

Dean looked taken aback, "Wow. Good. Classic rock fan."

"What can I do you for John and Hermione?"

Dean took out the missing flyer add from his jacket pocket and handed it to him. "I was wondering if, uh, you'd seen these people by chance."

"Nope," he shook his head. "Who are they?"

"Friends of ours," Bridget said. "They went missing about a year ago. They passed through here and we're already asked around Scottsburg and Salem -."

"Sorry," he handed the flyer back to Dean. "We don't get many strangers around here."

Dean nodded, "Scotty, you've got a smile that lights up a room, anyone ever tell you that?" Bridget nudged him with her elbow. "Never mind, see you around."

After four more stops they finally had answers and were headed that way. Bridget sat drawing with her feet up on the dashboard, sketching out a blonde girl with piercing eyes. She knew it was the demon that had killed Will, but the details of the face still weren't clear enough to get a good sketch. Still, she knew if she saw her, she'd recognize her. In a heartbeat. Aloud beeping noise caused her to jump and she put the sketch pad down, leaning over the backseat.

"What the hell?" Dean asked as she pulled the EMF meter to the front seat. It was going crazy. "What's causing it? Is it broken?"

She looked it over. "No, its fine," she looked out the window at the orchard field. "Pull over. Let's see what it is."

He did so and they both walked around coming up to a scarecrow, dark and creepy with a sickle in its hand. "Dude, you're fugly," Dean said.

Bridget kept staring at it and frowned, "Its tattoo…"

"What?"

"Dean, look t its arm…"

"What the…" he frowned and grabbed a ladder from a nearby tree to get a better look. He took out the flyer and held it up. The tattoo the missing man from last year had was identical to the one on the scarecrow. He looked back at Bridge.

"Let's go talk to that Emily girl at the gas station again…"

The girl looked up with a smile as they pulled up next to a gas pump, "You guys are back."

"Never left," Bridget said.

"Still looking for your friends?"

Dean nodded, "You mind fillin' the car up for me?" Emily grabbed the gas pump as Dean continued on. "So you grew up here?"

"I came here when I was thirteen. I lost my parents. Car accident. My aunt and uncle took me in."

"They're nice people," Dean said.

"Everybody's nice here," she said.

"So, what, it's uh, a perfect little town?"

"Well, you know, it's the boonies. 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."

Bridget raised an eyebrow, "You been out to the orchard? You seen that scarecrow?"

"Yeah," she shivered, putting the pump away. "It creeps me out."

"Whose is it?" Dean asked.

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

Dean nodded towards a red van parked by a garage. "That your aunt and uncle's?"

"Customer. Had some car trouble."

Dean paused a moment. "It's not a couple, is it? A guy and a girl?"

Emily nodded. "Mmmhmmm."

Bridget and Dean exchanged a nervous glance. That couldn't be anything good.

They walked into the diner and spotted Scotty talking to the couple. "Hey, Scotty!" Bridget grinned. "Can I get two coffees, please?"

"Oh," Dean added. "And some of that pie, too, while you're at it." He and Bridget moved to sit next to the couple at a nearby table. "How you doin'?"

They smiled and waved.

"Just passing through?" Bridget asked.

"Road trip," the girl said.

"Yeah, us too," she said.

Scotty came over and refilled the couples cider. "I'm sure these people would like to eat in peace."

"Just a little friendly conversation, Scotty," Bridget smiled.

"Oh," Dean said. "And that coffee, too, thanks man." He turned back to the couple. "So, what brings you to town?"

"We just stopped for gas. And, uh, the guy at the gas station saved us."

"Is that right?" Bridget said.

"Yeah, one of our brake lines was leaking. We had no idea, he was fixing it for us," the man said.

"Nice people," Dean muttered.

"Yeah," the guy nodded.

"How long til you're up and runnin'?" Dean asked.

"Sundown."

"Really," he made a show of thinking about it. "To fix a brake line? I mean, I know a thing or two about cars. I could have it running in an hour for free."

"You know, thanks a lot, but I think we'd rather have a mechanic do it," the girl said a bit too snotty for Bridget's liking.

"Sure, we understand…it's just these roads aren't really safe at night here," she said.

"I'm sorry?" the girl said with a frown.

"I know this may sound strange, but I think you're in danger," Dean said.

The man started to get angry, "Look, we're trying to eat here."

"Yeah," Dean pouted in disappointment. Bridget's charm wouldn't work on this either. Damn Sam for not being there. "My brother has this puppy dog look and you would just buy right into it."

The door charmed as someone came in and Bridget saw the sheriff smelling trouble already. Scotty talked to him for a moment and sure enough he came straight for them. "May I have a word with you two."

"Come on, we are having a bad day already," Bridget sighed.

"You know I could make it worse?"

"Where have I heard that before," she mumbled and stood with Dean. They were forced to leave town and Bridget watched the review mirror to see the sheriff watching them.

"We aren't leaving are we," she said, eyes on the mirror.

"Not a chance in hell," he said.

She smiled. "I love it when you play rough."

He grinned sideways at her, "You have no idea how rough I can be."

"Let's keep it that way," she winked as Dean turned down a back road to the Orchards. Once there, they waited, the couple would be coming down this way and they were betting the car would break down from a now cut break line. He tossed her a shot gun and she tucked the pistol into the back of her jeans, putting extra shells in her front pocket. He slammed the trunk lid down. "Ready?"

"Oh yeah, killer scarecrow, just another day for us," she said and they walked into the orchard.

It didn't take long until she was running with Dean, shooting at the scarecrow that just kept coming and the couple that was running. They reached the clearing but it was gone, still they didn't put their guns down.

"What – what the hell was that?" the guy asked in fear still panting.

"Don't ask," Bridget shook her head.

They managed to get the couple out of town and she sat in Dean's car with him as he talked on the phone to Sam. He hung up the phone a few minutes later.

"Is he coming back?" she asked.

"No, but he helped a bit," Dean said and Bridget tried to hide her disappointment.

"We can get along without him," she said.

He nodded, "What do you think we should do now?"

She shrugged, "Talk to a professor at the community college. See if there's any folklore about this sort of thing."

Dean shook his head in amazement, "Seriously if you weren't here I'd be lost."

"I wouldn't leave you, Dean. You wouldn't know what shoe went on which foot if I did."

"I did that one time," he growled and started the car. "And I was drinking."

"You had one beer and you will never live it down."

They argued the entire way back to the hotel and the banter continued until they both passed out at long last.

As she imagined the community college was small and finding the professor of ideology's room proved easy. "It's not every day I get a question on Pagan ideology."

"Yeah, well call it a hobby," Dean said.

"But you said you two were interested in local lore?"

"We sure are," Bridget nodded, sipping her coffee.

"I'm afraid Indiana isn't known for its Pagan worship."

"What if it's imported? You know, like the Pilgrims brought their religion over. Wasn't a lot of this area immigrants?" Dean asked.

"Well, yeah."

"The town near here, Burkitsville. Where are their ancestors from?"

"Uh, northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavia."

"What could you tell us about those Pagan gods?" Bridget questioned, standing near Dean and sharing her coffee with him.

"Well, there are hundreds of Norse gods and goddesses."

"We're actually looking for one. Might live in an orchard," said Dean, draining the last of the coffee to get a glare from Bridget.

"Well, let's see," he looked at the large bookshelf behind him and pulled a thick book from it laying it on the table. "Wood god, hm?" He flipped through and Bridget noticed a picture if a scarecrow.

She backed it up pointing at the picture, "Wait, wait, who's that?"

"That's not a wood god," the professor said.

Dean read from the book, "The V-Vanir were Norse gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villages practiced human sacrifice. One male, one female," he pointed at the picture. "Looks like a scarecrow."

"I'd say so…" Bridget nodded. They found their creature and she wasn't looking forward to fighting a god.

Dean kept reading, "This particular Vanir springs energy from a sacred tree."

Bridget looked at the professor. "So what would happen if this tree was torched?"

"These are just legends," he chuckled.

"Oh, of course," Dean nodded. Thank you very much," he said and grabbed Bridget's hand. "Come on, honey, we need to be going."

Dean opened the door only to be met with the back end of a rife and knocked out. Bridget's eyes widened as she stared at the Sheriff. Before she could hit him and fight back, something heavy hit her head and she met blissful blackness, landing partially on Dean.

Bridget sat in the cellar with a headache, Dean feeling the same. "Should have known he was in on it…damn small towns," she mumbled. "Now we're gonna get sacrificed to a scarecrow."

"You know what we should do?" Dean said.

"I swear to God, Dean, if you say have sex I will kill you before the scarecrow does."

Dean thought it over, "Never mind then."

The cellar door opened and Emily was thrown in with them. Dean hurried to the door, trying to open it and Bridget stood to her feet, hoping her added weight would help but to no avail.

"I don't understand," Emily cried. "They're gonna kill us?"

"Sacrifice us," Bridget corrected her. "Which is, I don't know, classier I guess. Three of us though…guess cuz I'm just a pain in the ass and you might have figured out too much."

Dean looked at Emily. "You really didn't know anything about this did you?"

"About what?" she asked hysterically. "The scarecrow god? I can't believe this."

"Well, you better start believing. Cuz we need your help."

"Okay."

"Now we can destroy the scarecrow, but we gotta find the tree."

"What tree?"

"Maybe you can help us with that," Bridget said standing near her and Dean. "It would be really old. The locals would treat it with a lot of respect."

She thought about it for a moment, "There was this old apple tree. The immigrants brought it over with them. They call it the First Tree."

Dean asked, "Is it in the orchard?"

"Yeah, but I don't know where," she shook her head and the doors opened and six elders come in, headed by Sara, Emily's aunt. "It's time."

Bridget was now tied to a tree next to Dean, Emily on his other side and no matter how hard she wiggled, the ropes weren't coming loose. "So, I thought you only needed two people? Why am I here?"

"Well, you know too much," the sheriff said.

"And Emily."

"She was digging around too much after you two showed up and she doesn't fit in anyway with us. She's not a local."

"Gee…how many people have you killed, Sheriff? I mean, how many cars gave you hidden, clothes you buried?"

He turned away from her after checking her ropes.

"Uncle Harley, please," Emily cried.

"I am so sorry, Em. But you shouldn't have gone digging around."

"It's our responsibility, and there was just no choice. There's nobody else but you," she pointed at Bridget. "This girl is too different for his liking so we needed another."

"Different?" Bridget questioned.

"He said you were different. That you needed to be destroyed as well, but not worthy enough for a sacrifice."

"Hey, if we're talking virgin in the volcano then Dean is beyond impure," she argued.

"I'm your family!" Emily cried out.

"Sweetheart, that's what sacrifice means. Giving up something you love for the greater good. The town needs to be sage. The good of the many outweighs the good of one." The six elders walked away.

Dean growled. "I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!"

"So, what's the plan?" Bridget asked Dean.

"I'm workin' on it."

She nodded. A few hours later the sun was setting.

"You don't have a plan do you?" Bridget sighed, still trying to loosen her bonds.

"I'm workin' on it. Can either of you see?"

"See what?" Emily and Bridget both asked.

"Is he moving yet?"

"I can't see," Emily shook her head. But she did see a shadow. "Oh my God."

"What?" Bridget asked turning her head sharply trying to see the girl.

"Something is coming, oh my God."

Bridget tried to break the bonds but nothing would work, they were going to die…but then her ropes fell away and a hand was on her arm, helping her to stand. "You okay?"

She looked up into his face, into the blue eyes she thought she'd never see again and couldn't help the impulse as she threw her arms around his neck hugging him. "Sam!"

She moved back so he could cut Dean's ropes who was more than overjoyed. "Oh! Oh, I take back everything I said. I'm so happy to see you. How'd you get here?"

He looked a little embarrassed and cut Emily's ropes, "I…uh…stole a car."

Dean grinned, hitting his arm. "That's my boy! And keep an eye on the scarecrow. He could come alive any minute."

"What scarecrow?" he frowned.

Bridget and Dean spun to see the post empty. They exchanged a nervous look. "That's not good…" he grabbed Emily's arm. "Go. Go!"

"We gotta find the tree to destroy him," Bridget said. "There's a sacred tree brought from the immigrants planted here somewhere. It's the source of his power."

"Let's find it and burn it then," Sam said.

They hit a clearing and froze as elders stood there and a few other towns people, waiting for them. Dean motioned to the other way. "Let's try here." But that way was blocked as well.

"Please...let us go," Emily begged.

"It'll be over quickly, I promise," her uncle said.

"Please…"

"Emily, you have to let him take you. You have to -." He was cut off as the scarecrow appeared and his sickle was driven straight into his stomach. Emily screamed and Bridget jumped back, grabbing Sam's arm out of reaction as he put an arm around her protectively. Her aunt screamed as well before she was grabbed by the scarecrow. Everyone else ran away in fright and Dean took the opportunity to get out of there. "Come on, let's go."

The four started running again, Bridget keeping her hand in Sam's. They stopped after a minute but heard and saw nothing. The scarecrow had his victims. He was done. By morning they found the sacred tree. Bridget handed Sam the gas tank from the car and he poured it on the tree while Dean grabbed a branch and lit it.

Emily grabbed the branch from him. "Let me."

"You know, the whole town is gonna die," he reminded her.

"Good," she said with no expression and tossed the branch onto the tree. They stood watching it burn for awhile, no one saying anything. Sam slid his hand back into Bridget's and she stood there with her family, feeling complete again with him back. She knew once they had John back, the circle would be fulfilled.

Emily was on a bus a few hours later, leaving the town and the state behind to venture off to less deadly places. Dean waved as the bus drove out of sight. "Think she'll be all right?" Bridget asked, arms folded over her chest in desperate need of a bath.

"I hope so."

"And the rest of the townspeople?" Sam asked.

"Well, what happens to the town will have to be punishment enough," they started off towards the car, "So can I drop you off somewhere?"

"No, I think you guys are stuck with me," he said.

"What made you change your mind?" Dean asked and even Bridget wanted to hear this.

"I didn't. I still wanna find Dad. And you're still a pain in the ass. But, Jess and Mom – they're both gone. Dad is God knows where. You, me and Bridget…we're all that's left. So, if we're gonna see this through, we're gonna do it together."

Dean nodded, obviously moved by it, but of course he wouldn't let it be known. He sniffled and stepped closer to Sam. "Hold me, Sam. That was Beautiful," he hugged Sam who shoved him away and he went to Bridget who held her arm out blocking him.

"You should be kissing my ass, you were dead meat," Sam reminded him.

"Yeah right, I had a plan. I'd have gotten us out," he went around to his side of the car. "Let Bridget kiss your ass. It'd be gross if I did it."

Bridget stepped closer to him to whisper, "Maybe we can do that later." She moved into the backseat with a sly smile.

"Right," he nodded and got into the car as they drove off. Bridget sat forward between the two, continuing the banter, feeling more at home.