Chapter 3

A.N. For the purpose of this story and crossover I have made the Winchesters part of the Mag 7 time frame and setting.

Ghosts and Trails

Alison Sullivan looked around in the room where she had found Kendall. She had been one of the employees of the privately run orphanage. Her duty had been to look after the infants. It hadn't been a hard work and was in fact probably the most rewarding as the smallest children were the first to be adopted. Finding Kendall's body was another unexpected bonus.

Two months had passed since Kendall had been murdered and there was still no sign of the girl who had done it. Allison had found him draped face down on his bed covered in blood. She hadn't alarmed the others immediately. Instead she hid Kendall's treasury behind a loose plank in the wall, leading everyone to come to the conclusion that the young escapee had killed Kendall and stolen everything. Now she wanted to fetch it.

Allison made her way through the abandoned rooms carefully. As a result of both Kendall's death and uncollectable debt, the orphanage was closed down and the children were taken to another home. The building was in bad repair which made the place hard to sell, disappointing Kendall's debtors yet once again. Suddenly Alison heard a rustling noise behind her. She threw a quick glance back, but no one was behind her. She let out a sigh of relief and went to the cranny. With a hammer she smashed the plank, revealing the small chest. Her eyes lit up. Now she would finally be able to go to San Francisco and open a boardinghouse.

Allison hesitated again as she pulled the box free from the cavity behind the wall. The draft she suddenly felt was unnerving, she shrugged it off believing it came from the hole she had made in the wall. It didn't registered until the sound of a large bang that brought her abruptly around, that in actual fact the whole room had suddenly got very cold. The door had slammed shut. Allison ran to it but found it locked. A pocket of what seemed like solid air jumped from beer stomach to her throat in matter of seconds. She looked up to see a fine mist forming above her head and jumped back. Alison spun around and faced a tall, fat, unshaved man. His right side was covered in blood and his eyes were burning with hatred. Her eyes went wide as she noticed the axe in his hand.

"K-K-K-Kendall." She stuttered, "This….. this isn't possible. You're…" She didn't get any further. The man raised the axe and beheaded Alison with one swift single strike.

Two days later

"Dad, I think I've found something!" Seventeen year old Sam Winchester yelled. He was sitting on a chair in the room of the boarding house where they currently lived. His feet were propped up on the bed and he was leafing through the local newspaper. "Alison Sullivan was found dead in a vacant orphanage. Two months ago a man called Kendall Brooks was killed there. He was stabbed in the throat by a girl from the orphanage. She stole everything he owned and ran away. They're still looking for her. The orphanage is in Rockridge. It's only one days ride from here. Sounds like a ghost."

John was sitting in a rocker sharpening a large silver-knife. Recognizing the name Rockridge he froze and looked up and frowned. Before Sam could notice his demeanor he quickly got his reaction under control, neutralizing both his expression and twinge of emotion. "It'll be worth a look. Go and get Dean. He's in the saloon."

Sam tossed the newspaper away and got to his feet. As he crossed the street and headed towards the saloon, he heard loud yells and the noise of breaking glass. Sam let out a deep drawn sigh; nearly in every saloon Dean visited he got into a fight, usually about the result of a poker-game. Sam opened the swing-doors and looked at the familiar scene. A man with a large belly and a huge mustache stood in front of Dean gesticulating with his hands. The man's face had turned a deep red color. Dean was putting money in his shirt pocket, then he crossed his arms across his chest and smirked defiantly at the big, now at boiling point, fat man that stood in front of him.

"YOU CHEATED!" The moustache-man growled.

"No I didn't. But if you can't afford to lose you shouldn't play poker. Anyway thanks for the money and have a good day." With that he turned away and headed for the door.

With trembling fingers the man reached for his gun, but his friend quickly grabbed his right arm and held it firmly.

"He won the hand fair." He grumbled but also threw an angry glance towards Dean who gave him a broad smile, waved to him and left the saloon with Sam tight on his heels.

"What the hell are you thinking Dean? In every saloon you get into fights because of your gambling."

"We have to get money somehow, don't we? Not many pay us for the work we do." Dean replied and turned grinning around to him and waving the money he had won in his little brothers face.

"Speaking of work, I think we might have a job in Rockridge." Sam said and quickly filled Dean in on all the information he had.

"Good. Finally we've got something to do again. Since the Werewolf in Ricksdale we hadn't had anything to do I've been bored out of my brain for at least four weeks now." Dean declared, letting out a deep sigh.

"Well let's hope it's a ghost then and not just a murderer." quipped Sam sarcastically. He shook his head at Dean's eagerness. It was always like this in the beginning. Dean got excited about the job. He craved the action and the energy of the hunt. It was times like this Sam thought he was almost a different person.

"Are we going now?" Dean asked took off his hat and tossed it high up in the air. It landed perfectly on his head again, which earned him some admiring cheers. Sam looked around and spotted a pretty young saloon girl dressed in an emerald green Saturn dress. She clapped her hands at Dean's stunt, evoking a wink and smile at her. Sam rolled his eyes.

"Come now you charmer, we have to go." Sam put a hand on Dean's shoulder and steered him towards the boardinghouse.

"I would like to get to know this girl a bit more; I think once this job is done, I might just mosey on back here and pick up where I left off. Or at least pick up." He chuckled.

"You'll only break her heart. Come now pack your stuff." Sam muttered and continued to drag his older brother towards the boardinghouse.

Half an hour later they had loaded up their saddle bags with all their equipment. Dean added another bag of salt purchased from the mercantile, to his saddle bag. Then all three Winchester men mounted their horses and set out for Rockridge.

Meanwhile in Rockridge

"Did ya hear, they haven't found her head? It's disappeared. I betcha' it was a ghost." Benjamin said. The twelve year old boy liked to scare smaller children. However he knew he'd gone a little too far when five year old Melissa ran off clutching her dress and crying. Ben apologized to the other children who were sitting with wide eyes in a circle in front of the abandoned orphanage discussing who might have killed Allison Sullivan.

"Tell them ghost's don't exist." Ten year old Robyn ordered. She had long blonde hair and dark brown eyes.

"How do you know? I betcha' you wouldn't dare to go into the orphanage at night." Benjamin teased grinning broadly. He knew that he already had won the argument. Robyn would never accept that he had called her a chicken. She didn't reply and instead nervously twisted her fingers. He started to laugh.

"Robyn is a chicken, Robyn is a chicken…." Benjamin sang and stood up.

"I'm not a chi…"

"BRACOCK!" Benjamin yelled flapping his arms up and down like a chicken as she glared at him.

"You're acting like a child!"

"Bock bock bock bock bock!"He said walking around.

"FINE! I'LL DO IT!" Robyn yelled, "But yer coming with me." She added with an evil grin.

Benjamin immediately stopped his acting and turned around to her.

"If you ain't afraid of it of course." Robyn smiled broadly at him.

"I'm not scared, course I'm comin' with ya. We'll meet at midnight in front of the orphanage okay?"

Robyn nodded, then nervously glanced at the orphanage widow. She paused for a moment to watch a fine mist swirl in the reflection on the glass. Mesmerized she watched it transform into a figure. A man covered in blood that ran from the side of his throat all the way to his waist. He held one hand up to the window, in it's a grasp was an axe. A gasp and small squeal escaped from Robyn's throat as she spotted the head in his other hand. Her eyes went wide and she was about to scream when the man suddenly disappeared. He didn't duck or jump to the side. He just vanished. Robyn rubbed her eyes and looked again. There wasn't anything. It must have been something else, maybe a bird, or maybe it was just the sun playing tricks on the dirty glass of the broken window, she tried to calm herself down.

"Robyn are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Benjamin asked concerned about the now pale and trembling girl.

"I'm alright. It was nothing." She smiled at him.

"Good, if you chicken out tell me."

This woke her anger again and she brushed the picture of the man angrily away. "I'm coming. Tonight at midnight, betcha' I won't be the one who chicken's out though"

Four Corners

Amalia used the sleeve of her blouse to wipe her eyes, then looked up at the man who was holding her. Chris hadn't reacted as she had expected, he hadn't even got angry.

"Are ya sure you ain't gonna hang me?" She asked tentatively.

Chris frowned and pulled her tighter in his embrace. "You only defended yourself Amalia. And now quit askin' such things." He ordered.

Amalia snuggled deeper into his embrace feeling warm and safe. Maybe she should stay here. This Chris seemed kind and if he found a family for her, she would be able to stay close to him. That would be perfect. Suddenly Chris rose to his feet and a surprised squeal escaped her lips. He settled her on one arm and carried her out of the room.

"Where are we goin'?"

"To the bathhouse." Came the reply.

"Why?" Amalia scowled.

Chris hesitated,' heck he shoulda realized he may have scared the child, considering everything the girl had just told them. He thought. "Because you got all dusty and dirty trying to run off like that, and you also smell. Don't worry I'm gonna ask Mary ta come over and help ya."

"I don't need no help ta bath, I don't even need a bath I done had one jist over a week ago. No I ain't going ta get into any no cold water!" She declared.

Chris placed Amalia back on her feet and bent down close, he took both her hands in his and spoke gently, "Amalia, I know you haven't known us long, but you need to trust us. You need to wash and clean up those feet. I also want Nathan ta take a good look at you, ALL OVER, just to make sure you are healthy. He won't touch you anywhere without asking ya first, and Mary will be there all the time."

"Will you be there?"

"Do you want me to be there?"

"Yes, even though I don't want a bath, but, but…"

"But you're scared. I understand that."

"No I ain't. I ain't scared of no one. I have wolf, he won't let anybody hurt me!" said Amalia with all the bravado she could muster.

Chris looked her in the eyes and squeezed the small hands he was holding, "I won't let anybody hurt you." He paused and searched the sincere faces watching them, the small group that had encircled the pair, "None of us will and neither will Nathan."

Amalia spoke softly, "I believe that…You make me feel safe already. I don't feel scared or I dunno… 'Irky' when you cuddle me or touch me or look at me. Kendall had bad' irky' touches and creepy mean looks." She explained.

The black clad lawman was impressed with the girls instinctive perception. "Then, let's get to the wash house." Chris stood up taking Amalia into the crook of his safe arms again. He looked at the others who had been watching their exchange with reverence. "Vin can you get Mary; see if she can come over and help?"

"Why Mary?" Asked JD.

"Cause I believe she raised a hoard of younger brothers and sisters at one time." Chris replied.

Amalia brightened, "Can I try the new clothes ya bought for me?"

"Not before you're clean."

Amalia sighed and let Chris carry her out to the bathhouse.

"Then afterwards you let Nathan take a look at you and your cut feet."

"Okay." She mumbled and buried her head in the crook of his neck. It felt good to be held like this. She stretched her neck and gave him a peck to the cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Little One."

Inside the bathhouse Chris helped her unwind the bandages of her cut feet. Mary arrived soon after and while Chris stoked the fire in the pot belly she helped Amalia strip off her nightshirt and cautiously lifted her into the steaming bathtub.

"The water is warm!" She called astonished. "At the orphanage we only had cold water, cause Kendall didn't want to waste any money for heating water."

"Course the water is warm, now get washed before it gets cold." Mary handed her a soap bar and helped her wash her tangled hair. "You need a brush for your hair." Suggested Mary, "It's beautiful hair, you should brush it a hundred times a day. That's what my momma use to tell me. "

Chris smiled, remember his own Sarah, washing and brushing her beautiful locks, and the times she had bathed baby Adam by the large fire at the ranch. It had been cozy and simple and a time he most fondly remembered and a sadly missed, "You can ask Rose if she will lend a brush to you."

"I ain't had much use for a brush I suppose. My hair used ta be real short. It was easier for the nurses ta keep all the cooties outta it. It done take a whole year fer it ta grow back," she explained.

Chris laughed, this kid was sure a fighter and it seems a survivor, he had to admire her spunk, "Just the same I think you need to start brushing it now. I'm sure Rose won't mind if you borrow hers until we can buy you one."

"Oh okay." Amalia replied, but she had no intentions of asking Rose. She was still angry because of the fight they had yesterday.

Chris rolled up his sleeves and knelt down next to the tube picking up a fresh bucket of tepid water and poured it over her head.

"Ahhh." she yelped.

"Close your eyes," ordered Chris.

Amalia squeezed them tight as Chris poured another bucket full of water over the child's head to clear the suds and soap.

Mary helped her wash her back, and frowned as she worked a little harder on what seemed to be ground in dirt. However it did not move and she looked at Chris, "Ahh Chris, ya should have a look at this."

Chris moved over and looked at Amalia back, noting seven fine silver scars of an obvious lashing, and what looked like fading bruises around her ribcage. Chris was sickened at the thought, who on earth would lash a child's back like that. He was gonna make sure Nathan gave the child a thorough examination and a make written report of the abuse that this child had most likely received at the hands of Kendall.

Chris nodded at Mary, then the woman continued to wash Amalia's back. Amalia rubbed the excess water from her eyes, and glanced back over her shoulder, "Hey watcha lookin at?" She growled.

"Your very dirty little face, scallywag, now here let me wash it." Chris picked up another flannel and soaked it in the soapy suds then attacked Amalia's face much to her discomfort. She protested but he just carried on until he was satisfied with the result.

"Well let's see if the clothes I bought you fit." Chris said. "I'll fetch them. I left them in my room. I'll be back in a minute. You get yourself dry" He handed Mary the towel. Once she was wrapped he helped her out of the tub sitting her down on a stool so she didn't have to stand on her sore feet. Chris left Mary to continue to dry the child, while he went back to the boarding house.

Mary rubbed Amalia dry, getting her warm in the process, "You're a lucky girl to have a friend in Chris." She said, "He'll look after you even though he's a diamond in the rough. Ya know he and the others they look after all of us. Saved my son several occasions." She boasted, singing the peace keepers praise.

Amelia nodded smiling. She was still astonished about the turn her fate had made. She had been sure that they would hang her or put her into jail, but instead Chris had comforted her, fed her, washed her and even bought her new clothes.

The door opened slowly and Wolf jogged in. Mary jumped back in surprise.

"Don't worry he won't hurt ya. He knows ifin you're a bad person." The animal spotted his mistress and immediately headed for her and licked her face. Giggling she scratched his head. "You like it here too, don't ya?" She whispered into his ear.

Wolf answered her question with a soft nudge of his nose to her cheek and snorted. The girl took the wolves head in her hands and looked straight into his eyes. She had always been fascinated by them. They were nearly the same color as snow but slightly more blue.

"Maybe you should take a bath too." Amalia suggested. Wolf immediately took a step backwards causing both Mary and the girl to laugh. "Na, I was jist jokin'. Come ere." She spread her arms and caught him in a tight hug. "I think we've found a home Wolfie." She whispered into his ear. He turned his head and licked her face.

The door creaked again and Amalia looked up. Chris was back with her clothes and handed them to her, then went about emptying the tub. Mary helped her into the pants and shirt then picked her up, "Here you are Chris; She looks like a princess." She stated handing him the little girl.

"Hey that ain't fair, you said I needed washing ya didn't say anything about looking like a silly princess!" admonished Amalia.

Both Chris and Mary laughed at her indignant expression, "But now you look nice and clean again." said Chris.

"Wish I looked that pretty!" Laughed Mary ruffling the child's still damp hair.

"Come on Nathan needs to look at those feet." Announced Chris moving off towards the clinic. "Thanks for the help Mary."

"You're welcome Chris. It was a pleasure to meet this little princess."

Amalia scowled as she heard the word princess but didn't reply anything instead she played with one of the buttons of his shirt.

"What's wrong?"

"You want me ta come too, Amalia?" asked Mary.

"No. I don't want ta go." She looked up at Chris pouting, "Do we have to? My feet feel fine. Well at least better than yesterday." Amalia added quickly as Chris frowned.

Truth to be known Chris almost laughed as she finished speaking. She sure acted like any other child he knew. She was afraid of doctors. He held back the chuckle which threatened to escape his lips and instead looked down at her. "Yes, we do have to go." He stated and then wiped her around and up onto his shoulders, before strolling off towards the clinics.

Meanwhile at the clinic.

Rose was helping Nathan as he prepared new bandages for Amalia, while she was pondering on how she could convince the darkskinned healer to allow her to help the girl with her wounds.

"Nathan? I could help ya. I know some plants which helps with the healing, my mama taught me. Silverweed would be perfect. It helps fight infections and makes wounds heal faster. I've seen it in the forest. Could I go and get some?" She asked. Rose also hoped she could get to her room, where she kept a small bag with Ginkgo-leaves. Her mother had given them to her. She had told her that they come from a land called China and that they were very good for almost everything. They even helped improving people's memory.

"Was your mama a doctor?" Nathan asked.

Rose froze. Why hadn't she kept her mouth shut? She shouldn't have told them anything about her mother. The other men had killed her ma for that was she was. They had called her a witch and in league with the devil. It weren't true. She knew the peacekeepers were different, but she still didn't dare say anything.

"Rose?"

"Uhm…. yes kind of." She quickly replied.

Nathan turned around to her. "I've also heard about Silverweed, but ya don't go into the woods alone. When you sneaked out the last time, you had us worried sick. Ask JD to go with you."

"But I can go on myself. I've already gone…" Her voice trailed off. She had went into the forests alone after she had found Fury and Vin had found her.

Nathan's eyebrows narrowed at this little piece of information. "You went into the woods alone despite Chris' warnings?"

"Nathan please don't tell Vin or Chris. They'll be so disappointed an' angry. I promise I won't do it ever again." Rose pleaded. Vin had threatened to spank her for real if she snuck out again and she definitely didn't want to experience that.

Nathan spun her around and gave her one quick sharp swat. Rose yelped and threw both hands back in case he wanted to smack her more, but he didn't, instead he turned her around again and crouched down in front of her. "You will not go into the woods alone again, Is that clear? You could get hurt and that would break our hearts. We care about you."

Now she felt horrible for sneaking out. A single tear trickled down her cheek and Nathan wiped it away with his thumb trying to reassure her that he wasn't angry anymore.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Just don't do it again. I will not cover up for ya again."

"So you won't tell? THANK YOU!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Chuckling Nathan cuddled her back then gently, but firmly released himself out of her grip. "Now go and get JD and look for the Silverweed. And no more sneaking off on yer own." He warned.

"Yes, sir." She turned around and ran out of the clinic.

Rockridge 12am

Robyn stood in front of the orphanage anxiously waiting for Benjamin. No other children had come too, to see if they dared to go in. She guessed they were too afraid. Shortly after 12am Ben ran up to her.

"Sorry for being late. I had to climb out of the window." He panted. "Now shall we go?" He asked as he had gotten air back in his lungs.

Robyn nodded. Together they headed for the door. They were both afraid, but neither of them wanted to admit it. Ben put a hand against the door and gave it a light push. Creaking, the door opened and they peered down a long corridor.

"Lady's first." Ben made an inviting gesture towards the entrance. Robyn snorted and entered the house. Benjamin hesitated before taking a step towards the door but before he could enter the door slammed shut with a loud bang in front of his nose.

Robyn screamed with horror and spun around. "BEN! Open the door! It ain't funny!" She yelled banging at the door with her fists.

Benjamin grabbed the doorknob and pulled with all his strength. Unable to open it he leant close and shouted through the wooden panel, "I haven't done anythin'! Don't worry. It must have been the wind." He said, trying to sooth her, but mostly he said it cause he needed to convince himself as well; he was just as scared He hadn't felt any wind and was desperately hoping that what he had said was the truth. Suddenly he heard Robyn scream again. It was a high-pitched sound of pure horror and then it was abruptly cut off.

"Robyn?" He banged against the closed door, but no response came. "ROBYN!"

AN: Thanks to Gaben and otkcp who helped me with this story and corrected a lot of mistakes I made. I hope you liked and please review. I've got the next chapter already finished and the more reviews I get the quicker I'll post it so it depends on you when you can read the next chapter ;).

No, just joking, I'll post it in one or two days.