Then:

Sam pointed at the bookshelf of old dusty books. "We also have some information in there too. The men that created this place observed and recorded many things. You may want to check the books out so we don't miss anything if you don't mind."

She rose from her chair and walked to the bookcase. "This is going to be an interesting evening." she remarked as she lifted a book and opened the page.


Now:

Mara and Sam spend the next couple of hours researching goddess that steals youth. Not much result came out of it. It narrows down to two goddesses Hebe and Idun.

"Well I just got through mythical gods 101 class so what is next?" Mara sat back in her chair with her arms crossed.

Sam looked up from the laptop screen. "We will have to map out fixed points where she will attack again. Then we will narrow it down so we can see if we can finally trap her."

"How are we going to trap this goddess?" She stood up from the table.

"We find a good bait to lure her in and we have a pretty good one in this room." A masculine voice behind Mara answered. She turned her head and saw Dean walking toward them in fresh jeans and t-shirt. His damp hair gleamed under the incandescent lights.

She glared at Dean in mock annoyance. "Oh you want to volunteer me to be bait huh? Let me think about it."

Dean spread his arms. "What's to think about? You got battle skills and we have killed a few goddesses. Since it's the three of us here, it should not be too hard to take down one goddess."

Mara felt apprehensive about the situation. She never encountered a goddess. Her intuition told her this will be a very dangerous situation. "Ok Dean. As long has you guys have my back then I will be the bait."

Dean walked over to the woman and slapped his right hand on her shoulder. "You got it. Sam map out the location where this goddess monster could be so we can hunt her down."

Sam stared at the screen. "Doing it as we speak. So far, I pin pointed the regions of where the last victim died. The trail of deaths is coming from New Orleans bay moving toward Baton Rouge. There's our starting point and we need to move fast because this goddess does not stick around."

The green eyed man leaned over to look at the map on displayed on the laptop. "Well boys and girls get ready for an eleven hour drive. We'll spend the night somewhere near the town so pack an overnight bag. Let's get moving." Dean strolled away toward his bedroom.

Mara finished packing few days' worth of clothes. She slung the overnight bag over her left shoulder and headed to the Garage. She bumped into Sam on the way. "Has Kuryiel already left?" She inquired as she followed Sam.

"Yeah they already left for the Alps. Hopefully it will not take too long. Dean told them if things get harry we will call them." Sam held the door open for Mara. "Are you going to ride your motorcycle?"

Mara shook her head. "No I will ride with you guys. I don't feel like being on my bike for many hours unless it a joyride." She watched Dean place various weapons in the trunk of his car.

Sam walked over to Dean and handed his duffel bag to him. Mara did the same. Dean looked over and smiled. "Welcome to your official Winchester monster hunt tour. We rock and roll at different locations hunting town anything that kills innocent people. You're lucky to get the VIP Pass and good food along the way." He said in sardonic humor.

"If you say so." She remarked with a twisted smile and opened the left rear passenger door. Dean slowly drove the car just past the Garage doorway. He waited for Sam to get in the car after he closed the door and floored the gas petal.

When they arrived at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, they stopped at a nearby motel in the town. Dean turned the car off. "Well guys we are going to camp out here just in case we need to get geared up and rest." I'll go in and get our room keys.

Dean walked out and handed Sam and Mara a key. Dean turned to the woman. "Get settled in and I will see you in a little while so we can get our game plan."

Mara entered the room that was next to Dean and Sam's. She looked around to take in the beige walls and the full size bed that had an earth toned color comforter. She set her bag on the table by the door. Instinctively she checked the whole room to make sure there was nothing suspicious. This became an old routine since she joined the FBI and having caution of potential danger that was related to her job. Afterwards, she knocked on Dean's motel door and Sam opened the door. She sat down on an old wood table similar to the one in her room. "Well, what's next? Do we scout around? I want to see the last place the victim's location."

Dean walked out of the bathroom. "We will do that and ask around to see if they spot a woman that is not from their town. A new face appearing around here should give us a start. Sam do you have a witness description of what this goddess looks like?"

Sam opened his bag and fished out a notebook from his duffel bag. He flipped a few pages and read a few lines. When he found what he was looking for he read out loud what was described by a young twelve year old boy that saw the victim, Sherrie Ross, grabbed by a tall woman wearing strange clothing. She looked slightly tanned, long dark hair and very dark eyes, she looked pretty to him but he said she looked out of place with the clothes she was wearing. There were two other people with her that looked ordinary. They all got in a white four door sedan and drove away. The boy was walking home after playing video games with his friend when all this happened that evening."

Mara stood next to Sam to review his notes. "Yes we need to go where the boy saw this. I may be able to pick up something also I need to question the boy." She wanted to probe the boy's thoughts but she did not want to share that knowledge with the two men in front of her. "I have a way of questioning people that can get answers without them feeling interrogated or intimidated."

"Ok, we will leave you in charge of questioning the boy. Sam and I will ask around the town if they have seen this woman and her buddies. Rest for six hours, then we will head out and check the town out. Maybe will see if there is a diner nearby to get something to eat as well."

Mara agreed and went back to her room. She took her shoes off and sat on the bed. The drive was a bit long and it wore her out a little. Especially, being stuck in a car listening to Dean's rock oldies for hours. She forgot that she had left her ear-buds in her overnight bag in the trunk of Dean's car. It's was amazing to her that Sam did not go mad listening to that music on very long trips. He must have a strong tolerance for things. She mentally scanned the area to see if she picked up on suspicious thoughts and did not receive any. Next she focused on the brothers in the room next to her and read their thoughts. Deep down she knew she should not be invading their privacy but Mara wanted to make sure she is on the same page with them with this hunt. She proceeded to scan the guy's minds. Sam thoughts were no different than usual and there were no hidden agendas. Dean was not suspicious either but she did pick up thoughts about her. Mara gasped in picking up Dean's wolfish thoughts. She really did not want to how he fantasized about her in the motel shower. After quickly scanning the rest of his mental garble she stopped scanning immediately. She pulled out her laptop and VRN into the FBI network to see if there were any updates or correspondence for her. When she read a few emails she replied to them and logged off the website. She spent the remainder of her five hours sleeping.

Dean was surfing on the laptop while Sam was in the shower. He heard the shower running and imagined Mara soft skin under the under the spray of hot steamy water. Her auburn hair would be like a dark curly wavy wet curtain down her back. He visualized rivulets of water running down the curve of the small of her back that connected to the shape of her firm humm… Dean shook his head to stop himself before he gets aroused by his thoughts. He could not help himself since he was attracted to this woman. He closed the porn website he was view a moment ago thinking it only enhanced his thoughts of the woman next door. He redirected his focus on the problem at hand and looked up the city local newspaper's websites online.

Sam exited the bathroom with a towel on his bare shoulder. He walked across the room in his socked feet and jeans. "Any updates?"

Dean scrolled the webpage. "Naw. Not yet. I'm heading to the shower. I am going to crash after. I'm beat man."

The brothers went into a deep slumber to rest up for what is going to happen later in the day. By the sixth hour everyone was refreshed and dressed to go on the road. Dean looked at Mara in the rear-view mirror. "Hey there is a diner I want to check out. I heard it has great burgers so I hope you are hungry lady."

"I'm starved." Mara replied as her stomach was growling in protest. She rubbed her clothes covered belly imagining biting into a juicy burger with bacon in it. She looked up and saw Dean's eyes twinkling as he briefly looked at her. He focused on the road as his old rock songs blasted the speakers.

After a while, Dean drove them down Choctaw Drive to Lindsay's Diner. "Well guys, eat well because we have to do some groundwork." He pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off as soon as parked. Everyone got out of the car and headed to the diner. Mara ate heartly enjoying every bite of her food. Dean and Sam felt the same with and finished their plate of food feeling contently full. She looked across the table to see Dean taking a last swallow of his coffee.

Mara fished out her wallet from her jacket. "My turn to pay this time." She smiled as she placed cash on the table.

Sam smiled in gratitude. "Thanks Mara. We contacted the boy's mother. Steve Quinn is the his name so we will entertain the mother while you question the boy."

"That's fine with me. I can't wait to get this started." Mara grabbed her jacket and slid out of the booth. The boy's house was fifteen minutes away from the dinner.

Everyone got in the car and headed off to see this witness. Dean glanced at his rear-view mirror and noticed Kuryiel swept her hair up into a bun. "Wow all you need is some glasses and you would look like a librarian." Dean joked as he drove down the road.

"Well you are the last one to talk. Both of you look like the water down version of the blues brothers in a bad remake." She retaliated instantly.

Dean grimaced and Sam chuckled. "She can dish it out as fast as she receives it. You better have better jokes she can't fire back at you."

"Yeah whatever." He gave Sam a sideways glance. "Well boys and girls were here so let's get our game face on."

Everyone exited the car and approached a beige ranch style house. Dean rang the doorbell getting his serious FBI expression ready. A minute later a woman opened a door peering at the people standing on her porch. "Are you the FBI that called me earlier to speak to my son?"

Dean walked up to her and showed his badge. "Yes ma'am we contacted you. May we come in Mrs. Quinn?" He gave her an earnest look with his green eyes.

Woman at the door was quite petite with a small oval face, light brown hair pulled back in a banana clip. She had plain features with slight freckles and a small hand that swung the front door wide to invite them in. "Please call me Gale."

Everyone followed the woman with the T-shirt and Jeans to the living room. Dean looked around the cozy living room that looked like a typical family environment with kid's jacket hanging over the arm of the couch and a basketball on the floor by the doorway. He walked closer to the woman. "How is he doing? Is he having any bad dreams or feeling scared after what he saw?"

The woman gestured for everyone to sit down. "Steve is not having any nightmares. He did ask me for updates if they catch those people after the interview a few days ago. He is not expressing any fear in front of me but I want him to talk to someone. Have you gotten closer to finding out who these people are?"

Dean put his ID back in his inner pocket of this blazer. "Not yet but we are getting some leads. Steve may have information that could be critical in this investigation. They will be caught for killing this woman."

Gale gave Dean a polite smile. "Let me fetch him out of his room. I will be back in a moment." The hostess left the room.

Mara walked toward the nearest chair and sat upright in her suit. Dean and Sam sat on the floral patterned couch. Dean gave everybody the thumbs up and mouthed the words. "Showtime."

Mara gave him a smile. She quickly turned her head when she heard two sets of footsteps approaching the room. A skinny boy with similar hair color and freckles like his mother walked into the room. His mother was right behind him. Mara stood up to greet the boy. "Are you Steve?" The boy looked slightly up at the woman's eyes and nodded his head. "It's nice to meet you. I know you probably have homework to do but it would be great if I can ask you some questions about what you saw a few days ago."

Steve looked apprehensive being questioned by the FBI. Mara saw the boy's facial expression of discomfort and added. "You can have your mother in the room with you while we talk. So you don't have to be afraid." Mara waited for his predicted expression of embarrassment and bruised young male ego. She read his thoughts and silently congratulated herself for strategic comment to get the young man projected as a momma's boy.

The young preteen moved his chin a little higher and replied. "I am not afraid of the FBI or you so I don't need my mom in the room."

Mara gave him a look of acknowledgement. "Ok we can talk in the kitchen in the next room so lead the way." She followed the boy in to the kitchen and they both sat down at the table. She asked him simple questions about school and what his hobbies are to break the ice. While she questioned him she started to probe into his mind to plan how she will stage her questions. When she slowly broached the subject of the evening that he left his friend's house she started getting glimpses of images from his mind and what he was thinking. Mara followed through a gamut of questions that was putting together a story of what he saw that night. The boy told the story from beginning to end. Mara asked a few questions to make sure she covered all bases. When she was finished they walked back into the living room. Dean was having a conversation with the woman sitting in a chair next to him. Sam was checking his cell phone for messages.

Dean looked up and asked. "Are you finished? We need to make a trip to the crime scene."

Mara walked over to the men. "Yes I am done with the questions. Steve did a good job remembering the crime." She turned her head toward the boy and spotted the look of pride of accomplishment on his face.

The boy's mother put her arm around her son. "I hope you catch these people. We don't have things like that happen in this neighborhood. Even though my son's keeps reassuring me he is alright but I want him to get counseling."

"Aw Mom I don't need a head shrink. She did not die in front of me. So I don't need a counselor." He stepped away and crossed his thin arms in frustration.

Mara walked toward the boy and put her right hand on his left stiff shoulder. "It may be best at least for a short time. Sometimes people develop phobias when bad things happen. Take it as challenge by dumping your thoughts for a short time to prove you don't have any phobias or fears and it will be over with before you know it."

Steve gave Mara a serious look. "Yeah, I will think about it. Do you think you will catch the bad guys?"

Dean stood up. "You bet. We will and they are going to pay for what they done the woman." The FBI agents walked to the front door.

Dean loosen his tie as he walked back to his car. "That was successful. Mara I hope you got some good information from the kid."

"I sure did and I will tell you both on the way back." Mara updated Dean and Sam of what she discovered from the questioning and stealthfully told the brothers specific details that came from the Steve's mind. She knew they assumed she was good at questioning by getting useful information from the boy. They continued their conversation in the Winchester's motel room.

Mara described the scenes step by step simulating Steve's witness accounts and Sam took notes to analyze the next morning.

Dean sat back in the chair feeling motivated. "Wow that boy has a good memory. I am impressed." He grinned as he took a drink of his beer.

It was all Mara could do not to laugh at the man sitting across from him. She wish she can tell him about her abilities. Her past experiences it ended up in a disaster. Mara resigned that it's better she keep it a secret. She was grateful that Kuryiel did not reveal her telepathic abilities to these guys. "Yeah it may have to do with kids playing video games these days. Perhaps it enhances memory." She interjected so they will not get suspicious of the boy.

"Yeah maybe. Since this goddess will do one more killing again before she moves along we need find out where she is hiding out. I bet my baby outside the goddess is either in a warehouse, abandoned house or an empty house for sale."

Mara with a glowing expression raised in her right finger in acknowledgement. "Good thinking. The goddess and her followers don't want to draw too much attention to themselves when they pick up a victim. So what's the plan?"

The green eyed man grinned. "We will use the rest of this evening to search online. Sam you search for a list of abandoned houses. I will find out if there are any empty warehouses or even storage facilities that are barely used. Mara you search for empty homes in areas that are not heavily populated in the neighborhoods."

The auburn hair woman rose from her chair. She pulled unloosen her hair bun and wild curls spilled around her back. "Let me grab my laptop. I'll be right back." She left the room.

Dean his mouth started to dry was gazing at her leaving the motel room. "Did she really have to do that?" He muttered low to himself. Dean heard a chuckle behind him and he scowled. "What's so damned funny?"

"You bro. I thought your eyes were going to pop out of the sockets watching her butt sway out of here. Do you need a moment alone so you can take care of yourself?" Sam held out a box of tissue and smirked knowing he caught his brother off guard.

"Man cut it out!" Dean snarled. "I don't need to take care of anything man so end that subject right now." He growled feeling embarrassed.

Sam raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright bro chill out. I was just joking but you have to admit she has a nice body. I don't blame you for having the hots for her."

Dean took two steps toward Sam. "Sam if you don't stop I am going to knock you on your ass." He exhaled and ran his right hand through his hair. "Ok she does have a hot body but I don't want to hear any more jeering remarks."

Sam feigned a passive expression. "Ok. I will start looking online so let's pull the table away from the wall so all of us can sit down. Otherwise, Mara will have to sit on your bed." Sam emphasized to his brother referencing verbally in a louder tone of Mara sitting on Dean's bed.

Dean gave Sam a fierce look and sighed in irritation. "Let's get the tabled moved ok?"

Sam and Dean pulled the table out further enough so all three can sit together. Afterwards, the brothers changed into t-shirt and jeans to be more comfortable and waited for pretty woman to return.

Mara was in the room changing into a t-shirt and sweatpants. She scanned the guy's thoughts next door and burst out laughing from the mental verbiage that was exchanged between them. She also sense Dean's angry embarrassment and could not help but chuckle at knowing his brother is picking on the tough looking guy. Mara slung her laptop bag over her shoulder and grabbed the wooden chair on the way out of the door. She knocked on the door just in case they are in a state of undress.

Sam opened the door with good cheer and Mara walked past him toward the table. She set the chair down on the side there was no chair. Dean walked out of the bathroom and noticed Mara placing the chair at the small table. She noticed the inquisitive look on his face.

"Thanks for letting her know she needed to grab her chair." He patted Sam on the shoulder before he sat on the left side of the table with his laptop.

Sam looked at Dean bewildered. "I did not have a chance to tell her that she needed a chair."

Dean stood there listening to Sam's admission. He forced a smile and angled his head in peering at his younger brother. "Yeah right, quit joking man. You've done enough jokes for tonight."

Sam gave Dean a fixed look. "I did not tell her to bring a chair. She had one in her hands when I opened the door. No joke bro."

Mara spoke before Dean started to get fussy. "Hey I brought a chair. Is it a crime? I figured I need to grab one when I told you I was coming back. Otherwise I have to sit on the bed." She pointed at Dean's bed not thinking about her last comment.

Dean responded by looking at her with a slight confused expression on his face. It felt as if she was in on the joke that Sam made earlier and she did the finishing line. "Um never mind. Let's get started on the search." He dismissively turned his face towards the laptop screen.

Sam glanced at Mara shaking his head in quiet resignation as he sat down across from Dean. He looked over and saw his brother feigning concentration of what was on the computer screen ignoring everyone in the room.

Mara pulled out her laptop and placed it on the table. She completed getting everything set up for use. Her laptop booted up as she took a seat and got started on her research.

To Be Continued... on Chapter 15

THIS WEEK