Author's Note: Hurray! The final part…of chapter 8. Lol, you think I was finished just yet? Come on. Anyway, hope you guys are all comfy. Buckle those seatbelts because this story is about to take some rough turns in the next few pages. I've been waiting to get this one out there. Hope you enjoy it, I'm not sure how it came out really I'm still on the fence with this one. Maybe it seems a bit out there or rushed, I don't know. You tell me. As always thanks for the reviews and don't forget to comment on this one!

Disclaimer: Okay, you got me. I don't own Supernatural. The jig is up. Sam, Dean, get out of my basement. And take Kripke with you.

Crash Course

By:Babyhilts

Chapter 8: Part 3

Though I never came from Kansas, don't forget to thank the cook
Which reminds me of my duty, I was lost but now I look
For the turning and the signpost and the road which takes you down
To that pool inside the forest in whose waters I shall drown
I'm not a humble pilgrim - there's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper when I'm trying to sell you cheese

The Devil Came From Kansas :Keith Reid

The roast beef sandwich didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Brown chunks of meat slid out from between the two layers of bread and mustard, onto a pile of untouched fries. Sam watched me from across the table next to Dean. I could feel him sizing up the situation. The uneaten meal, the tremor in my voice and the anxiety that leaked from ever open pore on my body. I forced my mouth around the soggy bread and swallowed even though my stomach cried out that it couldn't handle the food at the moment.

"You said the EMF meter went out of whack?" Dean continued to press the issue one more time. He sat over his greasy plate of onions and steak, the devoured remains of a baked potato and a few partially eaten carrots, demanding I explain once again how things went down in the cemetery that afternoon.

"Yes, it was fine until I started to leave and then it just started lighting up like crazy. I don't know why."

"And then all of a sudden it just stopped. For no reason at all?" He cocked his head questioningly and shoveled another forkful of steak.

"Yes."

When I'd caught up to the impala on the dirt road, I'd made sure to slow down my horror movie run. It wouldn't have looked too good on my Ghost Buster résumé if they found out I'd taken off out of a cemetery, in the daylight, when all that had showed up was a toothless old man, and a broken EMF. Oh, and the small detail of the whispering winds. I also chose to leave that out. I wasn't sure why I didn't tell either of the Winchester's. I guess it's true, hindsight is 20/20.

"I don't see how that can really justify going back there tonight." Dean polished off his beer.

Sam nodded before adding "He's right. You might have just stepped under a power line you missed when you first got there. That could explain why the EMF meter started flashing."

"Well, what about all those stories. Those local stories people have been telling for the past thirty years? You guys are just going to forget those too?"

Stop. Leah, what are you doing? I wanted to kick myself because this wasn't me talking anymore. Since when did I care whether or not Sam and Dean found the boogeymen and saved the town of Stull? Only two hours ago I was running for my life down a back country road because of a couple of none –life –threatening occurrences that as far as the Winchesters were concerned were nothing at all. If they weren't worried, then I shouldn't be either. Just leave it. Case closed. That's it. But that annoying voice was back and it was gnawing at my gut. Call it instincts or whatever, something had kicked in and I knew that like it or not, I had to follow it.

"Yeah, for now we'll forget them. Sam and I will be staying in town for another week, if we can't dig anything up by then than we can close this case and hit the road."

"Close the case and hit the road? You guys barely did any research for this" I protested.

"Yeah, tell that to the stack of archives at the library."

"I'm serious. How can you just forget about this town so fast."

"Leah…"

I could feel myself getting frustrated. "No, I was out there today. You didn't see what I saw. You didn't feel what I felt."

"Leah, to be honest, you didn't see anything either."

I shot an accusing glance at Sam. I dropped my roast beef sandwich. I wanted to jump out of the booth, hit the restaurant floor and just start kicking and screaming like I was five again. Maybe then I'd get my way. Maybe I'd even get ice cream after.

"You're siding with him too?" I couldn't believe this.

"No one is siding with anyone" Dean said. "It's just this legend, it's probably nothing but a prank that's been told over and over again too many times for the towns liking. I understand you want to check this thing out some more. You think there's something there because the EMF told you, but I've had it do the same thing to me on other hunts. It's not the most accurate detection."

"I felt something up there Dean. I…I just know okay. We have to keep looking into this."

"And we will"Sam reassured. "But you gotta realize that this is probably a bust."

"Then why would your dad send us here. He had a reason. He wouldn't just send us here for no reason."

No one said anything to that. They shared a look that I couldn't decipher. Dean returned to his steak and potato but I refused to eat anymore of the cold food. My stomach was doing somersaults, clenching and unclenching anxiously beneath the white fabric of my dress. Sam reached forward when my eyes had wandered to the parking lot and he took my right hand in his. He closed his strong, callused fingers around mine and forced my attention to his face.

" I don't know what to expect with this town Leah. Our dad, he's sent us on a few bogus hunts in the past." Dean shot Sam a look. "But, maybe you're right. For now let's just finish our meal and tomorrow we'll go check it out, together."

I shook my head. "Tonight. We should go tonight."

"Missouri's expecting us for ten. We have to leave in a few minutes."

"She won't mind. Tonight is when we should check out the cemetery."

"Leah" Dean smirked. "The cemetery will still be there tomorrow. Come on, eat up."

I tore my hand away from Sam's and shot the older Winchester a dirty look. "I'm not seven; don't patronize me like I am."

Dean looked surprised by the outburst. Sam recovered with a "Leah, he didn't mean anything…"

"Don't. Don't try to fix this. Why won't you guys just believe me? I've gone along with everything you wanted the past week and you guys can't check this one thing out for me? I mean it's your hunt! I don't need to be here. I'm trying to help you. How come you won't let me help?"

Sam grabbed my hand once more. "Leah, come on now…"

I pulled away. "Don't! Okay, just don't anymore Sam. I'm not a child, I can handle this on my own. Forget that I even mentioned the cemetery. If you guys don't want to check it out then don't. I mean who cares right?"

I inched my way out of the booth, because there's no cool way to just get out of one of those tight spaces in a rage and still keep your dignity. I slid out and pulled down my dress that had begun to rise up my thigh.

"Where are you going?" Dean called to me as I stomped across the diner.

"Bathroom."

A few of the locals turned to watch as I grunted and cursed my way across the dirty linoleum and into the women's washroom. It was a single stall room, which I was glad for. I locked the door and nearly sank to my knees as the metal sounded out that reassuring clicking sound. My body wanted to cave in on itself. There was this overwhelming feeling of frustration and anger reaching it's boiling point within me. I felt like I was having one of those hormonal moments I'd witness my mother go through when I was a teenager.

Shaky hands ran through my sweat coated locks. Tears broke through the dams and I sat on the floor of the bathroom, sobbing quietly into my hands. Why was I being such a drama queen about this? They'd agreed to search the place with me tomorrow, which should have been good enough. Course, nothing was good enough for me lately. No, that wasn't it. It wasn't that it wasn't good enough, it was that feeling that wouldn't go away. It had been there all throughout supper. From the moment I left the cemetery something had been urging me to go back, get another look. I wouldn't call it dumb curiosity, although going back would be a dumb move on my part. I'd heard that voice. That eerie warning drifting across stale air. I'd felt the drop in the temperature cut through me like a driven nail. Something was in Stull cemetery waiting for the Winchesters. Waiting for me.

I lifted myself from off the floor and stumbled in front of the small mirror. With the help of a rubber band tied about my wrist, I pulled my blonde hair into a high ponytail atop my head. The tears of confusion and doubt had dried on my face, leaving trails through the blush I'd added a few hours earlier. I wiped away any signs of weakness and rubbed the redness away from my eyes. I had to be strong. I couldn't start to fall apart now. I'd come this far already to not give up now.

I chanted this mantra over and over inside my head as I approved of my appearance. The blade still shifted around next to my leg. I tapped the side of my right boot for security. If Dean and Sam wanted to keep waiting for something more conclusive than that's what they could do. I wasn't sitting around any longer waiting for something to happen. Waiting to wake up. Waiting to find out why I was in this strange new world. Waiting was all I'd been doing lately and I was sick of it. There was a reason for me being here, for finding myself with the Winchester's in Stull and the cemetery might be the answer to all my problems. I couldn't be sure, but I had to know. I had to get rid of that gnawing in the pit of my stomach.

I stepped out of the bathroom with fierce determination set in place. This was it. I scanned the restaurant and found Dean at the counter paying for the check. Sam was finishing off the last of his beer, while my plate sat full, and untouched.

"Sorry boys" I said to no one but myself and walked past the crowd entering the restaurant and disappeared into the parking lot.

The walk to the cemetery wasn't a very long one. The town was small and because of this, things were more bunched together and easier to access on foot. I briskly stepped onto the dirt road that Dean had dropped me off on earlier that day. The same dirt road I'd bolted down like the devil himself was after me.

I stopped.

Besides the midnight sun and the glowing orbs of pale yellow that encompassed the bruised tapestry there wasn't much to help guide me through the dark. It also didn't help to ease any fears. I laughed out loud and trudged onward. Maybe the Winchester boys didn't want to go rampaging through a cemetery at night because they've got some hidden fears of the dark. I knew it wasn't true, obviously, but it was cute to think about them staying awake at night, a nightlight tucked in between their motel beds.

The cemetery wasn't that much further. The closer I came, the colder the air seemed to become. I wished I'd stolen a flashlight from Deans Chevy, maybe even a shotgun loaded with rock salt. I'd only used a shotgun once in my life and I knew it would take more than that one time to help me in using one again. Besides, I still wasn't sure what it was that lurked in the shadows of old Stull cemetery.

The creaking of the metal gate broke the stillness of night. The breath hitched in my throat. I rubbed my hands vigorously against my arms in hopes of generating some warmth. The moon shone above the graves, casting down ebony demons that lay beneath sheets of white fog. I bent down and pulled the blade out from my boot. The sheath I left alone, but the knife I kept close to my chest. Whatever was in there better think twice before messing with this chick.

No patrol cars or local worshippers of the holy ground were positioned outside. I didn't hear the slick engine of a vehicle running or the approach of footsteps, so I figured it was my lucky day. At least I wouldn't be bothered or arrested. If I got arrested in this world, would it appear on my record in Vancouver?

I slipped through the gate and started up the path through the long, ankle high grass. It was wet with dew and stained my boots a darker brown. I ignored the shadows that shot up from the let and right of me. If I dared let my eyes stray, even for just a moment, my imagination would get the better of me and I'd start to loose control of the situation. I wasn't planning on stalking up and down through the aisles of tombstones again. No, it was the remains of the old church that had a hold on me. It was there when the EMF started to react, when the temperature dropped and when I heard that voice call out to me. Call out for the Winchesters and call out for death.

My grip tightened around the handle of the knife. I stopped five feet from the pile of cement and wood. Nothing happened. Part of me expected something to jump out from beneath the pile of rubble as soon as I got within scaring range and then I'd run off like I had before. But, there wasn't anything waiting for me. I planted my feet firmly in the grass and held the blade away from me. Loose, yet firmly prepared. I scanned the small space around me. Thick bush surrounded the outer limits of the cemetery. The metal gate whined as it swung in the light breeze. A chill ran through me. I thought I heard the shuffling of feet. I spun around on the back of my heel but nothing was behind me. I was alone.

I was seriously doubting coming out to the cemetery. What an idiot I'd look like when I showed up back at the restaurant, a sweating mess, explaining to the two Winchester men that I wanted to go hunt some ghosts.

"Idiot" I muttered out loud.

I dragged my feet recklessly through the grass, carving a trail behind myself. I circled around the remains of the church. I did this a few times, glancing up at the shifting of clouds in the sky, the full moon, and the stars. At least it was a nice night.

When I'd done one last survey of the cement by my feet I decided that this hunt truly was a bust and that it was time to head back and face my embarrassment with a grin. I bent down to fix the zipper of my right boot which had slid down when I'd taken out the blade. A splashing sound took me off guard as I rose to my feet. My heart thudded in my chest. When had there ever been a pond or lake, or pool for that matter in the cemetery? I held tight to blade as if it where a rosary.

Slowly, I turned around on the spot, but there was nothing.

"What the hell?"

Leah.

I faltered in my movements. The voice came and died so suddenly I almost thought I was hearing things.

Leah.

I heard it. I connected the sound with a direction and began to move cautiously backwards past the cement pile and towards the thick area of bush. As I walked the sky darkened more and more. The voice didn't call out again right away but I continued moving. The blade stuck out through the darkness and once or twice I cut through the ebony walls for good measure.

Splash.

I looked to my feet and found myself standing ankle deep in water. Murky and dark, it swirled around my Swede boots. I searched the space around me. I turned to go back but I didn't see any way back. I stared at the surrounding trees, the endless dark; the suffocating dark. I wanted to scream for help, but who would hear my cries this far out? Had I really wandered that far? Panic escalated as did my heart rate. One hand I pressed firmly against my chest, the other shook as it held the blade.

Leah.

I spun in circles, trying desperately to locate the voice now.

Leah!

I jumped back and landed on my butt in the water. The blade slipped into the mud next to my waist. Was the water getting deeper? The trees shifted from a sudden wind. It ruffled my tied air and blew a deathly chill through my thin dress. I searched hastily through the water for the weapon. My fingers dug deep into the mud. I felt the water slosh around near my elbows. It was growing deeper. I felt tears of frustration trickle down the length of my face. I called myself stupid for coming out here. I wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go.

My palm rubbed against the wrong end of the blade. I grimaced at the slight pain and searched until I had a hold of the handle. A thin trail of blood escaped from a minor cut. I ignored it and clutched the blade to my chest. The water was rising. I couldn't move. The water was cold but it had a scalding effect on me. I shivered and moaned against the discomfort and tried to stand up once more. I failed and landed forward on my knees. Water splashed upwards and soaked my chest and face.

Leah.

I tightened my grip.

Leah!

The anger and fear clashed at once and without thinking I whipped the blade through the night and to where I heard the voice. A moment after, when I realized what I'd done, I began to panic even more. Although there wasn't much time for me to worry about the blade.

The water around my knees stirred by some unseen force. I looked down at the movement. I thought I felt something brush against my left hand. I was right. In mere seconds a grip like no other took hold of both my wrists. I struggled against the force pulling me into the depths of the murky water below. It was rising and was up to my chest. I cried out and pulled harder. I looked to the sky for help but there was nothing there. Another thrust from below the water and my head was submerged into the black.

I held my breath, but I hadn't thought to do it soon enough. The yelling I'd done just before I'd gone under had left me open to swallowing a lot of it and I had barely enough air left in me to hold out for long.

Whatever had pulled me down continued to do so. I felt my knees sinking deeper and deeper in to the mud and I feared that if the supernatural being responsible for this didn't stop soon, I'd end up submerged in the thick mass of dirt, buried alive, next. I tugged harder and accidentally breathed in through my nose. The water burned the length of my throat as it filled my lungs. I wanted to scream because my chest was about to burst. I didn't stop struggling, but soon I was about to drown or pass out from exhaustion and lack of air.

I managed to free one of my hands, but the thing holding onto the other, held tight to its last limb and wasn't going to let it go without a fight. I thrashed my head back and forth in the thicket of the growing pond in hopes of breaking for air. Please God, if you do this one thing for me, I'll never ask you for anything else. I hoped the prayer could be heard from beneath the water.

Another minute went by, but I wasn't sure if it was really that long. Time seemed to stretch on forever when you were drowning. Why wasn't I dead yet? I struggled once more, giving it all I had and then the water entered my lungs. My body started to go limp. I could no longer feel my arms or legs and I knew I was dying. I would drown here in this pond and that would be it.

As the water filtered in through my mouth and nose, I breathed in more and more, hoping to find oxygen in the process. My mind became a dizzying mess of jumbled thoughts and last requests. I thought of Caitlyn and my mother and wondered if when I died, if I would wake up with them. A minute later everything went black.

Cold. It was the first thing I noticed as I stirred back to consciousness. It wasn't quite as dark where I was. I was lying on my side in the grass. Water ran down my face and I picked up the minor detail that I was soaking wet. The first few minutes where I came to, I wasn't too sure where I was or what had happened. To be honest, I had no real recollection of anything up until earlier that morning when Dean dropped me off at La Femme Boutique to pick out an outfit.

I craned my neck downward and took in the new white dress and brown boots. When had I bought these? Why couldn't I remember anything?

I tried to move my body but I found it nearly impossible. The pain was all consuming and there was a dull throbbing at the back of my head. Hot tears escaped my eyes. I shivered uncontrollably in spite of the cold and curled my knees into my chest. I breathed in air like I hadn't tasted it in years. A burning sensation circulated through my chest and lungs. I coughed in agony and whimpered in confusion.

Leah.

My eyes widened. I searched the dark fearfully. In a rush, the events of the past few hours played back in my head. The cemetery, Dean and Sam at the restaurant, drowning. I was alive, that was a good sign, but why?

I wrapped my arms protectively about my torso and decided not to move. If I didn't move then whatever it was wouldn't find me. It was that same theory that if you hid under your blanket, the monsters under the bed wouldn't know you were there. It was just common sense. This time I felt more open. I couldn't run, I could hardly move and I was helpless. If something wanted to take me, it could and I'd be unable to stop it.

Leah.

"Please…please no" I whispered, my voice hoarse and pleading.

Winchester.

I shielded my face with my hands and pulled into myself. I dragged my hands roughly across my cheeks in hopes of shooing away the voice. I shook with fear and with the rising cold that never seemed to fade away.

The quick movement of approaching feet sounded behind me. I trembled harder and tried to move. A hand latched onto to my shoulder. I cried out and swung tiredly at my attacker. The movement pulled me backwards and I ended up panting on my back. The hand pulled back but soon there was another that joined it and I felt both of them come together to wrap about my arms. I shuddered and tried my best to pull free.

"No…don't please…please don't…no…" I mumbled the words over and over, hoping they would get through to whoever held onto me.

"Leah?" A warm hand brushed away some of my damp hair. I opened my eyes and took in a familiar face. Illuminated only by the moon, I recognized it as Sam, holding my arms protectively in his grasp. "What happened?"

I shook my head. "Please…"

Sam shushed me and I didn't bother to come back with a defense. I couldn't.

"Dean! I found her." I jumped at the noise and Sam came back with a "It's alright, just relax. We got you now, okay?"

I nodded and bit my lip in hopes of holding in the tears. Another set of shuffling feet carried through the air. My heart skipped a beat before I caught sight of Dean stalking towards us, shotgun in hand. When he made eye contact with Sam he picked up the pace until he was kneeling down next to his brother. He placed the shotgun on the ground and turned to face me. I saw the worry etched in his face. He took me in with wide eyes and pushed his younger brother out of the way.

"Jesus, are you okay?" I nodded. My teeth chattered. "You're shivering. When did you go swimming?"

Dean pulled off his leather jacket as he tried to make light of the situation, but even his jokes were half forced and laced with concern. He pulled the jacket like a towel about my wet form and rubbed it against my arms.

"I drowned" I croaked.

"What?"

"She just told you Sammy."

"Dean there aren't any sources of water around here for miles."

"Well what do you think happened? She's soaked right through."

I latched a tired hand on Dean's arm. He met my gaze and I struggled out a smile.

"I heard it."

"Heard what, Leah?" Sam edged forward. I turned to him now.

"A voice. It called out to me. Called out for the both of you. That's why I came back."

"Why didn't you tell us this?"

"There's something I have to tell you."

Dean nodded knowingly and smiled. "That's all fine and dandy, but how about after we get you cleaned up. You'll catch pneumonia out here if we don't get you somewhere warm."

Before I could protest Dean picked me up in his arms and held me close to his chest. I felt the fatigue come over me once again and I rested my head against him, listening to the soft, rhythmic beating of his heart. Sam followed suite and grabbed the shotgun, taking the lead as we exited the cemetery. Dean was saying something to me about being stupid and wandering off to be some macho hero, I wasn't really paying attention. I closed my eyes and was on the verge of passing out when I was placed in the back seat of the impala.

"Sam you drive. I've got to warm her up."

I heard the doors slam shut and the car jerked forward onto the road. I felt Dean remove the jacket and slowly felt an itchy, wool blanket take its place. I snuggled further into the material. The older Winchester raised me to a sitting position and gave me a quick shake.

"Sorry Leah, but you can't sleep just yet."

"Dean…"

"No."

"I'm tired." I closed my eyes. Dean shook me once more.

"I know. I fell through the ice once when I took Sammy skating. I know what the cold does to you but you gotta fight it, okay? Just for a few minutes until we get back to Missouri's."

"That's not a few minutes" I whined childishly.

Dean laughed before lowering his voice. "Hey, were you serious about what you said? About telling us the truth?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I am. Just promise you won't leave."

"Leave? Leah, what are you…"

"Promise" I pleaded.

"I promise I'll stick around. Why are you so worried?"

"Can you put on the tape player? I'd like to listen to some Zeppelin."

Dean didn't push the subject after that. He leaned forward and searched through his box of tapes and handed one of them to Sam who objected at first but reluctantly played it. I eased back into Dean's chest, singing the lyrics over in my head as a way of forcing myself to stay awake. Things continued like this until we pulled into Missouri's driveway.