Endless Road to Rediscover
Part 1: The Woman in White
Chapter 2: Have A Little Faith
They drove and drove until Sam was sure that he hated cars and roads. They had been driving for at least ten hours, the only reprieve being a couple short gas stops. He didn't say anything though, he hoped that if he followed Dean's rules that maybe Dean would like him a little.
Dean had been on a gas stop, intent to head for Lawrence to get some answers from Missouri, because his dad sure as hell wasn't answering, when a voice message had appeared from his dad. A strange EVP message with the haunting voice of a woman, and the town Jericho, California was then their next destination.
It had taken just a second and Dean was heading them toward California. The kid was quiet, like too quiet for a kid. Not that Dean had much experience, it was nice though, he didn't have to worry about the brat then. He was trying to ignore Sam completely, that way he wouldn't have to confront his issues with his father and also the issue of training. When they stopped for the night it was hitting just before midnight and the kid looked beat. Dean hesitated, taking in the exhaustion on the kids face before the simmering anger at his father blew away any care he felt. Kid needed to start his training.
Dumping his duffel at the foot of the bed closest to the door, Dean next sat the weapons bag on the bed. He'd filtered it so just the basic supernatural weapons were in it. The thin teen stood on the carpet uncertainly and Dean felt another pang of guilt. The kid's whole world had been upended. Not that the orphanage had seemed like that great of a place.
"You're getting your first lesson in the supernatural."
The kid looked confused and Dean held back a frustrated sigh. Sam probably would be like most and not believe in the supernatural until it reared its ugly head right in front of his nose. Dean waved him over and the kid hesitantly approached.
Unzipping the bag, Dean pulled out the first weapon: Salt. Best to start it off easy. Sam looked extremely confused and slightly worried. Kid probably thought he was crazy.
"This is salt." He stated firmly.
Dean shoved the salt into the kid's hand and watched as Sam fumbled with it, nearly dropping it. He held back a smile.
"Salt is the most basic weapon against the supernatural, it hurts or is a least a nuisance to nearly every single monster out there. Ghosts, spectres, basically any human spirits with ties to this earth, can be completely stopped by salt."
Dean turned away to keep Sam from seeing the smile on his face. The kid was the funniest cross between an eager want to please and the usual 'this guy is crazy' that most had when the supernatural was mentioned seriously. Some of the anger dropped away because the earnest puppy dog look that left Sam's eyes wide and soaking in every word made Dean feel like he was more than just some 22 year old on his way to being an alcoholic and just a step away from being dead and forgotten.
He showed Sam how to lay a salt line down in the motel room and then told him that it would be his job from here on out. Dean remembered when he was eight and his dad had appropriated the very same job to him. Sam was just the same, eager to please and overly careful with the salt, casting glances back at Dean for approval. Dean however was reminded that his dad had left him, and Sam received nothing more than a somber stare.
Sam seemed to wilt a little and Dean begrudgingly gave a tiny nod of approval. The shy overjoyed smile made Dean regret being so frigid, but for just a moment.
When Sam was finished he went back over to Dean, offering the salt back to Dean. Dean took it and placed it back in the bag, he drew out a bottle of holy water and a cross, however he jolted to a stop when he looked at the kid. He really was exhausted looking yet he stood, determined to impress Dean. Dean himself felt tired.
"How 'bout we hit the hay?"
Sam smiled gratefully and went over to the mattress, not changing, and practically collapsed on it. He was out in a minute. Dean felt a smile growing on his face despite himself. The kid's mouth was hanging open and his scrawny arms and legs were splayed out. Dean felt a part of him soften that had been turned to stone when his mother and brother had died.
Dean tugged the kid's shoes off and pulled the covers over him. Quietly Dean began his research of Jericho and its missing persons.
They pulled into Jericho the next day, a tiny California town out in the county of Modesto. They were just coming in through the town when Dean pulled the car over upon coming up to a bridge that had a few police cars and some officials milling about. Dean tugged open the glove box, ignoring Sam's confused stare.
"Stay here, kid." Dean said, once he'd gotten a hold of the right I.D..
Opening the car door, he got out and approached one of the men.
"Hi, I'm with the state troopers. Can you tell me what happened here."
The man gave him a disbelieving look. "You're a little young to be a state trooper."
Dean smiled. "Thank you."
They began to walk farther down the bridge.
"He's not been the only one, are there any other connections between the people other than them being all male?"
The policeman shook his head while Dean peered around, eyes turning toward the river as two other policemen called up to the bridge. The swinging groan of a car door had him snapping his head to the Impala, where Sam was getting out. No, no, no, kid. Don't get out of the car. Dean watched as Sam looked at Dean. Dean did his best to send him a look that meant 'stay in the friggin' car, or else'. Sam seemed to misinterpret it and came trotting over.
"Kid, you can't be here."
Dean swooped in, a false smile on his face. "That's alright, this is my brother."
The policeman raised a suspicious brow. Dean grimaced.
"Just me and him, both parents are gone. School got out early and I had to have him tag along."
He smiled, ruffling Sam's hair. The policeman's suspicion seemed to fade just a little.
"We don't allow children at crime scenes."
"Of course, officer."
Dean gripped Sam's shoulder and guided him back to the car. Once they were both in and driving away, Dean turned on Sam.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
"Impersonating an officer of the law is a felony." Sam replied, voice quiet and tone trembling with fear.
"I-I looked in your trunk. There's a lot of guns. If, if you're some kind of murderer-"
"No, kid, no I'm not a killer. God, didn't I explain this to you. I hunt the supernatural."
Sam shook his head and curled into the corner of the car as far away as Dean as possible.
"Okay, I believe you."
Dean let out a huff of frustration. Kid thought he was a psycho killer, probably was too afraid to disagree. This was going to make working the hunt ten times harder. He drove aimlessly, going through a drive thru and then stopping so they could both eat. Sam still seemed terrified of him.
Dean needed to figure out something. The only thing though he could think of was coming back to the bridge at night and hopefully catching a glimpse of whatever was doing this. He leaned toward vengeful ghost, especially after the EVP. Maybe the kid would believe him and this would become a lot easier.
Finally night fell and they were heading back toward the bridge, when Dean stopped the car and cut the engine. Sam was pale and shaking.
"I'm not going to kill you." Dean said in exasperation.
It didn't seem to calm Sam down at all. Dean opened the door and started across the bridge. When Sam didn't follow, Dean turned and motioned to him. The door swung open and Sam meekly came over to Dean.
"Men have been disappearing from here, all on this bridge. This usually indicates monsters."
Dean frowned, glancing about the bridge before setting his attention back on Sam.
"Something like this might be a ghost."
Sam bit his lip and he frowned. Dean held back another frustrated sigh.
"Ghosts are usually created through a violent or awful death. The experience ties them to this world-"
Dean was cut off as Sam lurched forward, eyes wide and hand reaching out. "No!" Sam screamed.
Dean turned in time to see a woman look at them from over her shoulder, feet placed on the railing of the bridge. A moment later and she stepped, plummeting from view. Both of them raced forward, slamming against the railing and peering over the side. There wasn't a body.
"Oh My God! That woman-" Sam turned to Dean, hazel eyes blown wide with confusion and panic. "She-she should be dead, down there."
Dean went to say something but he didn't get a chance as he heard his baby roar to life. Dean let out a soft curse under his breath as the headlights blinded them both. Both stayed stock still until the car shifted gears and began roaring toward them. Dean turned, beginning to sprint for his life when he saw Sam white and motionless, standing like a deer in headlights.
"Shit!" Dean yelled, turning and roughly grabbing the kid's arm. "Friggin' move!"
Sam snapped from his daze and managed to run with Dean, stumbling behind as best as he could with Dean gripping his arm tightly. The car accelerated and Dean looked at the long stretch of bridge that gave them no where to go. Dean made a split second decision, tugging them both to side where the railing was.
"Jump!" He yelled, he watched in horror as Sam froze again before trying to scramble over the railing at a speed that was going to end up leaving Sam as roadkill.
Without a second thought, Dean used his hold on Sam's arm to propel both of them over the side to go tumbling down toward the river. There was a heart stopping moment as every sense seemed to implode upon submerging in the water, then Dean was kicking toward the surface, grip having been lost on Sam. When his head came up he tried to spot Sam but with quick horror realized that the kid hadn't come up.
A thrashing limb that broke the surface of the water alerted him to where Sam was and from the movements Dean could tell that Sam didn't know how to swim. Trying to grab Sam while the gangly limbs were flailing was difficult, but Dean managed to snag an arm around Sam's waist and begin moving towards shore. Sam slowly stilled and Dean had a feeling that it wasn't because Sam had realized he was being saved.
Crawling up the river bank, Dean pulled Sam after him, placing the kid on his back. Sam was still, unnaturally still, as his chest stayed frozen in place. Dean let out another curse word.
"Shit." He rolled Sam to his side, pounding on the kid's back.
Sam however didn't stir. "You better not die on me kid."
Sam let out a strange jerk, body convulsing as he threw up water. Dean watched a few seconds to make sure the kid really was alive before sinking back on his knees. Both of them were covered in mud and it was now edging into early morning.
Sam's eyes flickered open and he let out a soft whimper. Dean leaned over and checked Sam's pulse, it was steady enough and Sam was breathing. Dean was exhausted, but they needed to get out of here and get some place warmer. Dean slapped Sam's cheek causing hazel eyes to spring open in alarm and fear.
"Get up." Dean said firmly, gripping Sam's arm and hauling him to his feet.
Sam stumbled, legs weak and struggling to stay under him. Dean waited for Sam to steady himself before heading up the bank, climbing the steep, crumbling side which was difficult to ascend. Dean turned back and saw Sam struggling to come up and quickly backtracked to help him up.
When they were in the car, Sam slumped in the seat, asleep in seconds. Dean drove them to the nearby hotel, the sun coming up. Damn, they'd been out late. They arrived at the hotel and Dean gently jostled Sam who didn't wake up. Dean got out and went to the front desk.
He had them checked in, the strange comment about Aframian family reunions making Dean head toward the room that he suspected his father had been in. Breaking into the room, Dean saw his father's work splayed across the wall, and old food. He forgot about everything else as the room was an entire testament that his dad was alive, taking away the painful doubt that his dad had died and left him.
Looking at the notes strung out on the wall he found all the research they'd already done and more. Constance Welch, the woman who had killed her children before committing suicide. This made things easy to wrap up, all they had to do was find her grave now and burn the bones.
First though, he was covered in mud. The kid was probably exhausted and would sleep the twenty minutes it would take him to shower and change. Then they could figure out the ghost girl, from the looks of it his dad already had an address. Dean jotted the address down and took the note with him back to the car where he grabbed his duffel. The kid was still sound asleep. Dean left the keys there in case the kid did wake up, along with a note and the address.
Heading back to the room he showered and got out, taking maybe fifteen minutes. Nothing left to do but head out, get something to eat and then put the girl to rest. It seemed like his dad was gone though. Dean grit his teeth as he walked out, frustration again bleeding through and a deep anger and hurt from the abandonment of his father. Then the startling taking on of a poor teenage kid who somehow would make it possible to take down the thing which had killed his mother.
He wasn't paying attention and the cops surprised him. He let out a soft curse as the officer from before approached.
"False ID, false name, false credit cards. Anything you got that's not false?"
Dean smirked. "My boobs."
Thank you for reading everyone! I hope you enjoy!