Ghostwriter: Thanks for the comment and being a faithful reader!
IheartPadalecki: I was DEFINITELY worried too. I was afraid I wouldn't get back into the same rhythm with the story.
Spuffyshipper: I want Dean and Amy to say those words too, soon. But I like postponing it just a LITTLE. So be patient…
Thanks for all of my reviews and I hope you all enjoy. Reviews/Comments MUCH appreciated.
O.O.O.O.O.
Chapter Fourteen – Who to Accuse
It had to be Vic. It was Sam's only real suspect. Despite the lack of following someone around or doing background checks, Sam felt that the aloof step-brother was the main suspect. Yet, he didn't have that gut feeling. No vibe. Nothing to really tell himself that it was one hundred percent correct. He had made mistakes before. Accusing the wrong person, and it was always in the end when the true villain would reveal themselves. Vic's been gone most of the time…not at his place, not at the hospital…quiet when we all first met him…Sam also wondered if maybe Vic was too obvious of a suspect. That happened a lot too. The most unlikely person could also be the bad guy. Greg, Hunter, even Hero? Hero would never do that to her daughter…she was so upset…But then again…What if Hero was really upset at Isabella leaving, and dropping out of Northwestern…Isabella even admitted it took a great deal, and possibly GOOD contacts, for Izzy to be even LOOKED at…what if Hero was upset…and tried to get back at her own daughter…It wasn't bad accusing family. After all, Sam remembered Max Miller.
There was also the case of Isabella's missing father. He could be on his way here immediately. Sam didn't understand why the man didn't show up after the first few days Izzy was in the coma. Work? Transport? Sam remembered hearing some sort of excuse for a man to finally see his comatose daughter after two weeks. He wasn't a part of Izzy's life for a long time…maybe moving to California upset him…maybe daddy didn't want to lose his little girl…
Greg. Isabella's only the step-daughter. He seemed loving at first…but back at his house, he kept bringing up the fact that Isabella didn't want to be put on life support for a long time…didn't Greg want to cut her off soon?
Hunter. The guy in the flashy suit with a fake smirk. Maybe he had a thing for Isabella, and she refused him. Sam knew how people could be in Los Angeles…What if he's getting back at her-
"Stop it," Sam said aloud. He was alone in the Impala, driving back to the apartment. It was six o'clock, and with no phone call in the last short hours, Sam knew Dean and Amy were still asleep.
Vic, Greg, Hero, Missing Dad, and Hunter seemed to be the only ones suspected. But it was such a poor group to gawk at. Sam knew this. His father taught him better than this. Even if one of them were responsible for Izzy's state…Sam would have to hunt down the reason why. Anyone could have a motive. Who knew?
Isabella could have had an ex-boyfriend here. He knew she would be coming back to her hometown. He could have followed her here and set up the deal with Daryl Greene…it could be anyone hanging out at the hospital…
And what about some angry actress who got pushed aside because Isabella came into the picture? Maybe this girl wanted to do more than try to do the L.A.-actress thing and ruin Izzy's reputation…why not try to kill her…
He got a headache from thinking about all of this. There wasn't anything to go on. Sam only had a few visions of the black, cloudy figure – the Rada – and he hadn't had another one since then.That was all the evidence he had. Visions. Not even Amy nor Grammy could get anything. The villain couldn't be detected. Maybe the villain would never be detected.
O.O.O.O.O.
His tired eyes opened slowly to adjust to the sudden darkness in the room. Dean could have sworn the room was filled with bright light as he had fallen asleep. He was on the edge of the couch, sleeping, with Amy squeezed between him and the cushions. She continued to sleep, unmoved by Dean's jolt to the dark. He blinked his eyes harder, yawned, and looked around. Obviously, Sam wasn't just sitting around watching them. And he knew Sammy. He could never nap this long.
Dean adjusted himself easily as to not disturb Amy. He turned around gently to look at the center table. The car keys were gone. Instead, there was a small note in familiar handwriting. Dean reached for the note, read it, and tossed it to the floor irritably.
Worry filled Dean like electricity. It meant Sam had been out for hours without a phone call.
He moved fast, but gently, off from the couch and pulled his cell phone from his back pocket. Speed-dialing Sam, Dean waited for his brother to pick up. Amy had begun to move around and she rolled onto her side, looking up at Dean. She raised her hand up to rub his back softly. Dean turned to her, concern found dead in his eyes, and Amy quickly leaned up on her elbow-
"Sam!" Dean answered, sighing in relief and giving Amy a satisfied grin. He focused back to his cell and barked, "Where you been, man?"
He listened for a few minutes, feeling Amy's hand rest on his thigh. Dean rested his hand on hers, without even looking down, and he squeezed her fingers.
"Alright then, see you in a bit," Dean said, and the conversation was done. He put the cell phone back into his pocket and looked back at Amy.
"Sam's been out. Doing solo. He thinks Vic is the main suspect. Grammy called him and said she's going back home for some rest. Isabella's off doing her own thing. Sam was coming back here but is high-tailing it back to go see Vic. And he suggests we do something mighty productive as well."
"Such as?" Amy asked as she sat up fully.
"I prefer sleeping a bit more," Dean said slyly, pressing his forehead against hers. Amy smiled tiredly up at him. But she stared at him seriously. Dean sighed and said, "But…since we don't exactly have a wide list of suspects…maybe we can try going to Hero's place…invite ourselves over…find any altars."
"Sounds productive," Amy agreed, and was in the process of getting up as Dean grabbed her small waist and hoisted the young woman into his laps, with her legs swinging around him. He gave her his version of a serious glare, and said, "The first thing I'm going to do when this case if over…is kiss you, Miss Cromwell."
Amy smiled and bit the corner of her lower lip. "Is that so?" Dean nodded slowly. "And the time in between?"
"Do whatever I want," he said in a matter-of-fact way, and reached up to touch her face. She was the first to bring her face down to his and crashed her lips with his. They were both smiling, while kissing, and Dean wrapped his arms around her back and smiled up at her.
"C'mon Winchester," Amy laughed playfully, she got up from his lap and pulled his hands so he would get off from the couch. "We have work to do."
O.O.O.O.O.
Vic was definitely at home now. Sam knocked on the door hard, sure to get attention, and was greeted with a tired looking man. Sporting a rough looking black leather jacket and jeans, Vic appeared as if he had taken a short, very short, and abrupt nap before Sam came to his apartment. The man lived on the third floor of a nice complex.
"Yeah?" Vic asked. His voice was calm, Sam was surprised. He half-expected Vic to be yelling or at least upset on some level.
"Hi, I'm Sam…we met at the hospital?" Sam greeted.
Vic nodded and tried to smile. He was obviously tired. "Come in." He walked back into his apartment and Sam walked in cautiously. Vic didn't notice Sam was careful to place his gun on the inside of his coat pocket.
"I actually came looking for you earlier," Sam explained, gazing around the place. It was similar to Amy's, but made for just one person. A perfect bachelor pad. Vic didn't seem too much like a lady's man, but the large garbage can by the opening of the kitchen, filled with empty beer bottles, said something else about Vic. "I just wanted to come around to make sure you were okay. About Izzy and all. Also, have you got in touch with her father?"
The step-brother was surprised by the questions. His face was so expressionless. Sam wasn't sure whether to be suspicious about this man or confused. Vic showed no emotion at all. He showed he was tired, but was he happy…sad…
"Umm," Vic thought for a moment. "Sorry. I was out at a bar with some friends today. I called Matt" (Izzy's real father) "but nothing again. I guess he's on the road. I got home just now and must have shut my eyes for just a moment…" Vic paced the carpet and asked, "Hey man, you want a beer?"
Sam nodded his head and relaxed into the sofa. Vic went into the kitchen but suddenly came out. "Hey, sorry, I had a party here the other night…let me go to my friend's place – right next door – he owes me a case anyway…be right back…"
Vic left the place slowly, his hair looked lighter in the remaining sunlight outside. Just as the door was closing, Sam leaped to his feet and ran into what was obviously the main bedroom.
A gray bed, a television set with a DVD player, and a dresser. It was a guy's room. Some clothing on the floor, even an empty beer bottle, which wasn't surprising. He looked around the area and found a large walk-in closet. He opened it, hoping to find an altar, but found regular clothes hanging and shoes on the bottom. He searched deep and then moved on somewhere else…
O.O.O.O.O.
Vic, outside, waved to a friend from the next apartment over and carried a case of beer back into his place. He opened the door, and found Sam sitting in the same place looking at one of his car magazines.
"Got some good stuff," Vic grinned – showing the first sign the man had any emotions – and Sam grinned back.
Vic handed Sam a bottle and looked down at the magazine he held in his hand.
"Hey man, you and your brother have a niiice ride. 'Sixty-seven, I bet?"
"Yeah," Sam laughed, "she's a beauty. She's my brother's."
"Shame," Vic sighed. He slumped in the couch, next to Sam, and drank down his own beer in seconds. Vic was opening up a second when Sam tossed the magazine aside.
"So, Vic…" Sam started, feeling he had the step-brother's attention, "do you think anyone is responsible for Izzy's accident?"
"Responsible?"
"Do you think someone was trying to attack her…"
"Are you kidding?" Vic's tone was serious. "Look…everyone is really upset…I get that…but the car crashed…it just went off the road…either there was some car trouble…or she…" His face cringed and Vic shook the thought he had away. "It was just car trouble. Izzy would never do anything to harm herself."
Sam couldn't finish his first beer. That sudden tone Vic revealed about himself was that he was a caring step-brother. His gut told him. Every vibe was telling me that Vic was innocent. An okay guy.
O.O.O.O.O.
"A bust too?" Sam asked, driving the car back to the apartment.
Amy was talking to him this time, laughing the whole time. "Yeah…we went back over to Hero and Greg's place…the place is clean. No altars. Dean made every excuse possible to visit every room possible. Even the basement and attic."
Sam chuckled as he turned into the apartment complex. He would be back before Amy and Dean would.
"How'd he manage that…"
Amy laughed. "He used a lot of bathroom excuses. 'I need air' stuff…yet he never left the house. He wanted a tour of the house, and when he didn't see too much of the house, he complained of his 'man' troubles and searched the entire upstairs. Closets, shelves, even tiny little spaces where there could be an altar. I did the same, 'woman' stuff and needed to go around the house…I even got Hero to take me into her bedroom…you know, I said I needed 'female'stuff…and I looked around everywhere too Sammy…the place is clean…"
"What about Izzy's agent, was he there?" Sam asked, parking in the lot and relaxing in the car.
Amy was laughing again, not about the past experience at Hero's home, but because she thought Dean was "cute" driving her Cooper.
"Oh, sorry," Amy laughed again and continued the conversation, "the agent wasn't there. But oh! The dad called – a Matthew – and he's a couple of hours from here."
"So the dad's finally back…" Sam thought aloud.
"I say he'll be number one priority," Amy got serious, Sam realized she and Dean had discussed this, "think about it…what if the dad isn't hours away…what if he's been here the whole time…he could have a perfect alibi…"
"I agree," Sam sighed. "Maybe. But we need to keep out eyes opened."
Amy was laughing again. She was poking more fun at Dean, and Sam could hear his brother yell: "Dammit, woman."
Sam laughed, and with a "See you later", got out of the car.
O.O.O.O.O.
A/N: This was just a short update. I'll update with more exciting stuff in the NEXT chapter…things get interesting…REVIEWS/COMMENTS much appreciated!