hello again everyone. sorry this took a little longer, i got a new computer (switched from microsoft to apple) and it took me a little bit to figure out how it worked. and even longer to figure out how to post.

thank you all again for the great reviews, and i hope you all enjoy this new chapter. :) let me know.

D: i still dont know anything.

ETERNAL

Chapter 5

Sam's sharp eyes scanned every inch of the ballroom, searching the area for anything out of place, all the while holding Kerri's arm tightly in his own. His brother had made a promise to her long ago and it was a promise they were both going to keep. She had been through far too much in her life, and Sam would be damned if he was going to let her suffer any more. No, in his mind everyone in that room was a suspect, every single guest dangerous. There were just far too many people in far too small a space to see things any other way.

His already bad mood only grew worse when he spotted the reason why they were there. The millionaire was smiling and mingling with his other guests, all of whom, Sam noticed, were older than them by at least twenty years. He silently cured at his absent brother, the older hunter really did know how to pick them. He was about to fall back into the crowd when he saw the older man turn towards them, his smile growing when he saw the two hunter.

Sam had just enough time to whisper a warning to Kerri, pulling the girl a little closer as the man approached, his dark eyes taking in every inch of the twenty-nine year old girl. And that hungry look was not lost on Sam. He had wanted to keep a low profile, had wanted to try and stay as far away from the potential murder as he could, but that apparently was not going to be the case.

"Hello, Mr. Connors." The millionaire smiled, extending a hand towards Sam.

"Sam." Sam answered as politely as he could, his anger growing as the man before them turned back towards Kerri. "And this is my wife, Kerri."

"Pleased to meet you." He smiled, kissing her hand lightly. "I must say, Mrs. Connors, that when your husband spoke of you, he failed to mention how beautiful you were."

"Oh well, that's Sam for you." Kerri smiled, her demeanor relaxed and friendly, the only sign of her growing anxiety was the strength with which she held Sam's arm.

"Yes, so it seems." Mr. Bramhurst's smile faltered for only a moment as his gaze swept over Sam, the younger man standing a good three inches taller. At that moment Sam almost had to smile; it was clear that neither man trusted the other. "Sam here tells me that you are quite a fan."

"Oh yes, your collection is wonderful. I have to say that it's better than most museums. How did you get your hands on these artifact?"

"Now, if I told everyone my secrets then there would be no art left to collect."

"You do have a point."

"I was actually wondering. Mrs. Connors, if you would be at all interesting in a private tour of my collections."

Sam unconsciously straightened at the comment, standing to his full hight. Wow, he thought, this guy really doesn't waste any time.

"Sam and I would love that."

"Well, I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries, but I have set up a few meetings with various art collectors. I have told them of your gallery and they seemed quite interested. I doubt he will have time for the tour."

Sam didn't even try to be discrete when he pulled Kerri towards him, making it a clear as he could that he would not be leaving her alone. He didn't like this man, not one bit, and the longer he stood there and spoke with him the more his distain seemed to grow. He didn't care if Bramhurst knew that he was on to him, he just knew that there was no way he was going to be leaving Kerri in his company.

"William!" Whatever else Mr. Bramhurst was going to say was cut short when an older man began calling his name as he less that gracefully made his way through the crowd. "William." He smiled at the millionaire before turning towards the hunters. "You dog, you're keeping the new ones all to yourself. My wife can't stop chattering on about these two youngsters."

"Mr. Edmonds." Bramhurst began curtly. "This is Sam Connors and his wife Kerri, they own an art gallery back east."

"Well, well." The overweight man laughed, taking a renewed interest in the couple. "Always nice to have some fresh meat around. Sam is it?" He nearly shouted as he turned towards Sam. "Come have a cigar with me."

"No thanks, I don't smoke."

"Don't be silly, everyone smokes, boy."

"Maybe later, then."

"I'll hold you to that, boy. Now William." He began, wrapping his pudgy arm around the scowling millionaire and leading his back to the ever growing crowd that filled the large room.

"Oh my god. Forget the millionaire, we're both going to get abducted by crazy old people." Kerri began as the two made their way further into the room, taking care to avoid as many of the overly curious guests as they could. They both knew that this job would be hard, but now, seeing the people they would be spending an evening with, the entire task seemed nearly impossible.

And, worst of all, was that it was becoming obvious that it would take a bucket of super-glue to keep them together. Bramhurst had already tried to pull Kerri away, and now a cigar smoking guest was trying to steal Sam. If the youngest Winchester had a bad feeling before, it was now literally beating him over the head.

"We just gotta stay together." He stated when they finally reached a quiet corner.

"Have you heard from Dean?"

"No."

"I hate to say this, but I don't think he got in."

"Nah, he's here, I know it. I just can't figure out where."

"Don't hate me, Sam, but I think it would be better if we split up."

"What? Are you nuts. He's already tried to get you alone, Kerri."

"Yeah, I was there, too. I just think we'll look odd if we walk around here like we're joined at the hip."

"We are supposed to be newlyweds."

"Still, I think we'll just look too obvious if we're trying to lurk together."

"So you're gonna take Bramhurst up on his offer?"

"Hell no, I'm not going anywhere with anyone."

"So, we're just gonna sneak around by ourselves and hope we find something?"

"That was the extent of my plan."

"You know, you're getting as bad as my brother."

"Yeah well, I don't really have a lot work with here."

"Look, Kerri, I know that we're short on time, but I just don't think it's a good idea to let you wander around by yourself."

"But--."

"Please, I just don't want to split up."

"Ok, Sam, we'll stay together."

"Thanks, Kerri." Sam smiled, his shoulders lightening. He was still sure that someone, somewhere would try and separate them again, but at least now they weren't trying to do it themselves. Sam didn't know why, but he just couldn't shake the feeling that they were in way over their heads.

"Where do you think we should start first?"

"Well, as much as I hate to say it, I think we should mingle."

"What? With who?"

"The other guests."

"Sam, what do we have to mingle about?'"

"Well, from the way that guy was acting it seems like a lot of people know Bramhurst. So, they might know more about his collection. And , maybe they knew some of the girls that went missing."

"This is gonna be a long night." Kerri sighed, taking Sam's arm once more as they made their way into the hungry crowd.

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Dean stumbled once again, his elbows hitting the narrow walls. No, inside a wall was definitely not a good place for Dean Winchester to be. If this job had been a bad idea, than sneaking in inside the walls had been even worse. Sam and Kerri were in that house somewhere with a supernatural killer on the lose and he wasn't there to back them up. He couldn't lose them, either of them, and he suddenly felt like he was going to.

The only reason he had volunteered them was because he thought he would be there to back them up, to keep them safe. But now, well now everything was screwed up, and he knew that he had to fix it. He couldn't and wouldn't let them be caught in the crossfire because of another one of his bad ideas. He had to find them, had to keep them safe, that was his number one priority. They'd just have to find the artifact later, when they were all together, because now there was just too much else at stake.

He kneeled down again, having left his previous position to try and find a vent with a better view of the room, the other offering a view of nothing but an empty wall. He knew they were in that room, knew there was nowhere else for them to be, well at least he hoped not. But for the life of him he just couldn't find them. There were too many people milling about, too many voices ringing in his ears for him to be of any use as a look out.

However, just when he was about to go search the rest of the house, he heard a loud voice ring out across the room.

"William." Dean searched the space, his sharp gaze finally landing on a chubby old man, a chubby old man who was waving at Bramhurst. Dean didn't know whether to be relieved or worried when he saw his brother and Kerri standing by the millionaire, Sam obviously holding the older girl tighter than was necessary.

At that moment, Dean wanted nothing more than to jump through the wall and ring that creepy guy's neck. He was staring at Kerri, just staring at her, and it was obvious that it was scaring the hell out of her. It just wasn't natural to look at someone that way, not unless you were planning on doing something to them.

The elder Winchester cursed as he watched the group, wishing that he was close enough to hear what they were saying. He could see that both Sam and Kerri seemed nervous, and he couldn't help but smirk when he saw the snooty millionaire glaring at their newest guest. He was obviously getting in the way of whatever the man was planning. And, at that moment, Dean was hoping that it would be enough to get Bramhurst away from the other two hunters.

A few minutes later, Dean smiled when Sam and Kerri slowly made their way to the back of the crowd, and away from William Bramhurst. He could tell that they were arguing and, by the way Sam was acting, he could tell that Kerri had probably just suggested they split up.

"Don't even let her think about it, Sammy."

Dean felt some of the tension in his body lessen when he saw the two smiling at each other, obviously having come to some kind of understanding. They were all treading on shaky ground, and he was afraid that at some point during the night, one of them would fall. Dean was brought back from his worrying mind by a set of voices, two women having made their way over to where he was hiding.

"Did you see the way he was looking at her? Shameless."

"Oh come now, Charlotte, she's an attractive woman."

"All of the women he takes an interest in are attractive. 'Owns an art gallery', I'm sure. Those two are nowhere near old enough to know what they are doing."

"You don't know that. My husband has just been over to speak with them and he said that the boy was very polite."

"Now, Margaret, you know I have nothing against that boy. He's the best catch that's come through those doors in years. All I'm saying is that, the only reason they were invited is because William has taken an interest in Mr. Connors' little bit of arm candy."

"You're just jealous because he's married."

"Oh honey, a bit of paper has never stopped me. Married! Oh dear you are too funny."

"You leave those two kids alone, Charlotte!"

"Well, someone is going to have to look out for that boy when William takes his lovely wife on one of his little tours."

"Sometimes, you are just wicked."

Dean had heard enough, way more than enough, from the two gossiping women. He searched the area again but, to his dismay, Sam and Kerri had moved and he could no longer see them. No, there was no question, he had to get out of that wall and fast. Not only was Bramhurst trying to lure away Kerri, now there were bunch of horny old ladies that wanted to jump Sam.

Oh yeah, Dean thought as he moved through the small space. This was definitely a bad idea.