Dean stood by the ride named the Flyer, watching the side-to-side motion of its flying cars. Feeling a bit nauseas he swallowed and forced his attention back to the attendant that waited for the ride to stop. "So you must get a lot of kids through here, looking for work?"
The grizzled old man, nodded, "Yup, you'd be surprised though, most of them are regulars."
Dean raised an eyebrow, again dragging his attention from the ride. "Regulars?"
"Yup, that's what we call the full-timers. You know the ones that come back every year. This is a pretty good place to work, most kids stay for about four years."
Dean nodded, motioning the kids behind him to take his place, as he watched the ride come to a stop. Watching as the attendant, set about helping people off and on, he motioned more people to go in front of him. As the cars filled Dean stood waiting until the man came back to his spot.
"Ain't you riding kid." The man asked his smile showing a few blackened teeth.
Dean raised a brow at being called kid, though, he figured he probably was a kid compared to the old man. "I'm in no rush. So you mentioned you get kids for four years, why's that."
"Because of the college, of course, we've got kids from Bloomsburg and a few others. Good kids looking to make a little money and have a little fun." The old man blew out a breath, "Yeah we get some good kids alright. Course we also get trekkers from time to time."
Dean again, waved kids on ahead of him, opting to stay firmly planted on the ground. "So trekkers would be, who?" Dean asked in confusion.
"Well, now trekkers are guys that come by now and again, work for a while and then go live off the money they've made. Some are ex-carney's, some are just wanderers looking for a steady paycheck. They'll come and go in a season, most are regulars meaning we see them from time to time, but there's no guarantee how long they'll be here." The old man moved away again, loading and unloading his charges. Once he had returned and started the ride again, he continued. "Now most of those guys are older, work in maintenance, sanitation and such, then you've got the senior contingency, like me. I'm here to supplement my social security, I like the job, the wage ain't bad and I'm working in the sun, instead of behind some counter asking people if they want fries with that." The old man slapped a hand on his knee and roared with laughter at his own joke.
Dean smiled and nodded, "Take it easy, man." Turning he began walking away from the ride, confident that he had gotten a couple leads. He just needed to find Sam and see what he had dug up. Being a bit younger, Dean had sent Sam off to chat up the college girls that seemed to work in droves here. He couldn't help but hope that Sam managed to meet some pretty little thing in the process. All work and no play made for a very dull, not to mention annoying, Sam. Smiling a bit at a couple of girls himself, Dean couldn't help but be impressed by the shear volume of pretty girls that made up the majority of the staff. He knew that it was going to make it that much harder for them to find the missing girl. Dean tipped a wink at a young blonde working the lemonade stand, sighing, he decided he'd just have to begin by questioning the staff. Yup, he thought as he turned his attention to the crowd searching for his freakishly tall brother, he might have to spend hours in the company of beautiful young girls in search for their mystery victim.
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Sam resisted the urge to roll his eyes, as the pretty, blonde girl he was speaking with again mentioned how much she loved tall guys. He found himself wondering why, after all the girl was tiny, not an inch over five feet if he had to guess. Any girl that short did nothing for him, nothing other than give him a crick in the neck that is. Smiling slightly he repeated his question, "So you know all the girls that work here pretty well?"
Sally looked up at the tall, gorgeous, guy in front of her and smiled even brighter. Batting her eyelashes a bit more, she vowed to make him hers, if only for the night. Sticking her chest out even farther she said, "I know everyone around here, if you want I could show you around. Like I said I love being..."
Sam frowned in concern as Sally's words trailed off, her jaw dropped open, and her expression became one of awe. Sam turned his head and followed the girl's line of sight. He was unsurprised to see Dean making his way through the crowded thoroughfare. With a smile of relief, he gauged Sally's obvious interest in his brother. Pushing her forward a bit he propelled her towards Dean. "Dean this is Sally, Sally my brother." Sam grinned at the predatory gleam that came into Dean's eyes as he took in the pretty blonde. "Dean, Sally here offered to help us locate our friend."
Dean glanced up at Sam, tempted to take his brother up on his offer. He knew that Sam was trying to pawn the young girl off on him so he could avoid becoming involved with her. Dean debated whether he should bail him out, as Sam so obviously wanted him to. Well hell, Dean thought as he took one look at the puppy eyes Sam was shooting his way. Holding out his hand to the girl, Dean flashed a smile, and drew her close to his side. Sending a wink towards Sam, Dean led the girl away.
Sam breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of his brother leading the aggressive blonde away. It's not that Sam wasn't interested, after all he was alive. It simply came down to not being willing to share a part of himself with someone he had nothing in common with. He wanted more out of a relationship; though he knew for Dean, it was the opposite. His brother had no interest in sharing anything of himself. Not the real Dean, not the part of him he allowed only Sam to see. No that side of Dean was kept hidden from all and one-night stands made that easy.
Sam allowed the crowd to absorb him, meandering this way and that with no real destination in mind. He knew it would be a couple hours before he heard from Dean, unless he learned something urgent. That left Sam with time to kill, deciding to find a bite to eat he headed for the one restaurant in the whole park. The day had become hot and the thought of sitting down in an air-conditioned restaurant appealed to him.
Relieved to find that the hordes of mid-day diners had already thinned out, Sam was able to nab a corner seat in the western style restaurant. In moments, he had himself settled in, laptop open and had begun researching the area for any mention of missing persons.
"So, what can I get you?"
Sam glanced up at the pretty brunette and was taken back. Her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, her face devoid of makeup; she stood before him a small smile hovering about her mouth as if she had a secret. Smiling he sat back and picked up the menu he had left unopened on the table. Glancing down he quickly scanned the contents before ordering a sandwich and coke.
Karen couldn't help but sigh a bit as she walked away from the young man, after taking his order. It wasn't often a guy like that came in here alone, nope, not often at all. Usually the male half of her customers consisted of Dads. Dads that stared at her chest, dads that screamed at their kids, and dads that seemed to stare as if slightly stunned by the sheer noise their offspring were able to make. Yup, Mr. Young Dark and Handsome was definitely a bit of a pick-me up. Planning to lord her handsome customer over the other waitresses, Karen headed towards the kitchen intending to place his order.
Sam's concentration had completely abandoned him, instead of using the laptop to research, he was using it to hide the fact he couldn't stop his eyes from following her. Karen's sweet smile and wide-open gaze had somehow managed to penetrate his normally well ordered mind. Now instead of searching the missing person's reports he was watching as she flitted about the room, bringing food, and drinks to customers. Every time he managed to focus on the computer screen her laugh would bring his gaze back to her slim, athletic body.
"Here you go one turkey club on whole wheat with a side of fries." Karen set the food in front of the young man, her eyes glancing at the computer screen before him.
Sam noticed her gaze and quickly closed the lid to his computer.
"Looks good, thanks."
Karen couldn't help fussing with the table a bit, picking up a discarded straw wrapper, wiping a water ring from the table.
"So are you here with your family?" Karen asked as she wiped a non-existent speck from the tabletop.
Sam was so captivated by the faint blush that rose in the girl's cheeks he barely registered her question. "Yeah."
Karen's heart plummeted back to earth at his words, nodding politely she moved away from the table. Damn, leave it up to her to start flirting with a married guy. She was always so careful to do no more than be polite to the guys that always seemed so intent on hitting on her.
Sam watched as Karen turned abruptly and began walking away. Searching his mind for what might have turned her off; he recalled what he had just said. Cursing himself he shouted out, "He's my brother." Wincing a little as his voice echoed through the room, he couldn't hide his smile when she turned towards him with an answering smile.
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Dean slipped his boots on, careful not to make a sound. He didn't want to risk waking the woman that lay in the bed behind him. It wouldn't be the first time, he slipped out of a room, quiet as a shadow. And he admitted to himself with a grin, it surely wouldn't be the last. Heading for the trailers, sliding door, he slipped out into the bright moonlit night. Breathing deep, he picked up his pace a bit and pulled out his phone intent on tracking down Sam.
Within moments, he was nearing the bridge where the victims had drowned, without thought he strode across the bridge, holding the ringing phone to his ear. Tension eased from Dean's shoulders at his brother's greeting.
"Where are you Sammy?"
Sam stood up from the table, holding one finger up to Karen he stepped away from her and answered.
"I'm at the restaurant, how about you."
Dean grinned, "Is it still open, I'm starving."
Sam grinned at his brothers never ending hunger. "Yeah, come on over. We're going to have to patrol soon; you might as well eat here."
"Order me a burger, and see if they've got any of those pickle things. I love those damn things."
Sam rolled his eyes, covered the mouthpiece of the phone, and asked Karen "Is it too late to get my brother a burger and some fries?"
Karen smiled and said, "Nope, I'll go put the order in. Is he on his way?"
Sam nodded, "Thanks." Lifting the receiver to his ear once more he told Dean.
"You're good to go. What'd you find out?"
Dean picked up his pace, the call of food putting a spring in his step. "Plenty, wait till I fill you in, I think I may have a lead on the girl. Did you get me a pickle, cause I just passed by one of those..." Dean never finished his statement, as a loud splash interrupted his train of thought. Turning, he scanned the area; it took only moments for him to pick out a figure splashing through the nearby stream. Already on the run, he lifted the phone to his ear, ignored his brother's questions, and said, "Get to the bridge Sam." Flipping the phone closed he ran in earnest towards what he could now see was the figure of a man lying face down in the water.
Stumbling down the embankment, arms windmilling to help his balance Dean didn't spare a glance for the ghostly apparition that floated at the far side of the stream. Instead, he splashed into the water, grabbed the shoulders of the lifeless body, and heaved. Unable to budge the man, Dean braced his legs and again pulled, all the while calling for help, hoping that Sam heard him.
Sam was already heading for the door before the word bridge left Dean's mouth. Running through the crowded street, he cursed himself for assuming that the woman would only make her move after midnight. Not caring that he was knocking people aside, Sam could only hope that he made it in time to save not only the victim but also his brother.
Dean gathered the last of his strength and again tried to pull the man from the stream. Cords of muscle stood out in relief on his forearms from the strain. Releasing a low growl, he heaved once more, managing to get the man's face up and out of the water. He felt a fissure of relief move through him at the gasping sound coming from the victim. Determined not to let another man die, he maintained the pressure, pulling him a bit farther away from the water. Suddenly he felt the man in his arms once again, pulled towards the water. It was if the man was a magnet and the water was a piece of steel and Dean was unable to separate the two any longer.
Moments later Sam spotted the lady floating above the bank of the stream first. He wondered at the miracle that no one else seemed to notice her. Leaping down the bank, he ignored his brother's struggle and flung himself up the far bank. At the last moment, just before he would have bowled the woman over, had she been solid flesh, he pulled out a small, white cylindrical shaped object. One twist released the top and he flung the salt at the ghostly figure. Ignoring the creatures pained scream Sam turned towards Dean, as she disappeared in a fog of smoke.
As the body under his hands was released, Dean went flying backwards, landing hard on his backside, water encasing the lower half of him. Scrabbling forwards on his hands and knees, he easily flipped the man, pulling him out of the water. Laying him on the bank of the river, he allowed Sam to push him aside as his younger brother set about determining if the man still lived. As Sam began resuscitation, Dean was relieved to hear a harsh cough, followed by a hacking sound as the unknown man began emptying the water out of his body.
Dean kept his eyes peeled. He and Sam had already been caught unawares once tonight, he didn't intend to let it happen again. Pushing himself to his feet, he studied his surroundings; though the fog had disappeared, he was sure that the woman would be back and more determined than ever.
It took a good half hour to explain to the park's medics and security guards just what had happened. For better or worse the man, whose name was Clive Baker, was so drunk that his incoherent ramblings about a beautiful woman were ignored. The Winchesters kept their tale short and sweet and were allowed to move on. Boots squelching with every step, they made their way towards the cabin. Both men intent on getting dry and then getting back to the stream, neither one wanted to risk another attack.
"Any luck finding out who the girl is Dean?" Sam asked as they let themselves into the tiny cabin.
Dean kicked off his wet boots and moved towards his bag, pulling out dry clothes he said, "Yeah, I've got three to work with. All three women, left without notice and Sally was surprised by all three disappearances."
Sam nodded "Well I've got to get back to the restaurant I left my computer there. You get back to the river and I'll meet you."
Dean headed for the door, intending to fight the campground insect population for the shower, turning to Sam at the last minute he grinned and said, "Bring me my burger..." Leaving the room he called over his shoulder, "And don't forget my pickle."