Chapter 6. Surprises
A surreal feeling came over John as he drove into the familiar town of Lawrence, Kansas. It had been a terribly long time since he had been in this town but strangely enough it felt like only yesterday. Driving down Massachusetts Street John came to a stop at a red light and looked around seeing a lot of familiar stores that he was surprised to remember after all these years and some not so old.
It was only about 9am but John watched from his window as people buzzed around in and out of shops and went about their daily business. It brought back memories of happier days when Mary had dragged him shopping or meeting Mary and Dean for lunch during his break from the auto repair shop.
John was brought back to the present when the car behind him beeped, signaling to him that the red light had changed to green. John shook his head and took off again, willing himself not to get caught up in long dead memories.
Although it had been a long time since he had actually visited his psychic friend John remembered where she lived without really thinking too hard. Missouri didn't live too far from the main street considering her job as a palm reader/psychic relied on people being able to find her home.
John pulled up at the curb in front of the white two story house that belonged to Missouri Mosley. The oldest Winchester looked up at the house before opening the truck door and stepping onto the footpath.
Shutting the door behind him, John made his way to the front gate. It was made of wood and came to just below John's waist. The path leading to the porch steps wasn't very long and before he knew it John was standing at the front door, his hand raised to knock.
Before he got the chance the white door swung open revealing a worried looking Missouri. "Missouri, perceptive as ever," John greeted with a smile on his handsome face.
Missouri hadn't changed much since the last time he had seen the psychic at Jim's a little over a year ago. Despite her obvious worried countenance a smile graced her dark features at John's greeting.
"It kind of comes with the job description John." Missouri stepped aside and gestured for John to enter.
John stepped through the doorway and into the foyer of the house and took a look around. The house looked just like he remembered it from all those years ago when he had first met Missouri.
"I'm really glad you could make it John." John turned at the sound of Missouri's voice. "Pass me your jacket."
"What's going on Missouri?" John shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to the psychic's waiting arm.
Missouri hung the brown jacket on the coat stand and then turned back to John with a knowing smile. "Straight to business?"
"It's not like I'm here on vacation."
"Sarcasm does nothing for you John Winchester." Missouri walked past the hunter and pointed towards her living room. "Come on into the lounge room and I'll get you a coffee and then I will explain what I asked you here for."
"Yes Ma'am." John followed the woman through to the lounge. One of the things he liked about Missouri was her take charge, take no nonsense attitude. He'd seen her put a few hunters back into their place. She didn't take any of his crap that was for sure.
Once John was seated on the couch in the lounge room Missouri disappeared into the kitchen to get the promised coffee. John leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together.
He couldn't help but wonder what Missouri was going to tell him and how Mike was connected. His thoughts suddenly strayed to his boys and he wondered whether Dean had gotten them to school on time, although Dean was always extremely reliable with getting Sam to school. It was attending school himself that John had to keep an eye on.
He was also hoping that Sam hadn't given Dean too much trouble after he had left. He doubted that the boy would take out his frustrations for his father on Dean. The kid revered Dean. If he was honest he was sometimes a little bit jealous. When ever Sam had a problem it wasn't his father that he came to, it was his brother. John wasn't totally blind. He realized it was his fault that Sam was that way because he had encouraged and let Dean take care of both Sam and himself.
"I'm sure the boys are fine John." The oldest Winchester looked up startled.
"Reading without permission? Does anyone take Jim's rules seriously?"
"Of course they do," Missouri stated sweetly as she placed John's coffee mug in his hands.
"Wouldn't know it by you and Caleb," John grumbled as he lowered his cup to the table only to be halted when Missouri made a disapproving noise.
John looked back up at the black woman. "What?"
"John Winchester, you put that mug down without a coaster under it and you'll know about it."
John raised his eyebrows but reached over to the end of the table and picked up a coaster and placed it on the table in front of him. He placed his coffee mug on top of the coaster and then looked up at Missouri expectantly.
"That's better." Missouri sat down across from the hunter. "Now do you want to hear what I have to tell you?"
"Of course," John replied.
Missouri sat forward, wrapping her hands around her mug. "I had a dream … yesterday morning."
"A dream?"
"I think it was a vision of some sort. Not a premonition but …"
"What did you see in your dream?"
Missouri took a sip of the hot liquid in her mug. "David Biggs, a friend of mine. He was a lawyer in town," She explained. "He was alone in his office late at night when a man appeared."
John's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean appeared?"
"He just appeared … all of a sudden. He kept saying that David had treated him awful when they were kids and that he needed to pay for it. Then … then he just killed him, stabbed him in the stomach." Missouri looked like she was feeling sick.
The psychic took another sip of her coffee before continuing. "When I woke up I rang David's house and his wife answered. She told me that David had been killed in his office, stabbed in the stomach. The killer left a message written in David's blood … 'Paid'"
"Paid?"
"That's it. Just 'Paid'"
"Sounds like the guy wanted payback for being picked on as a kid. What makes you think that he will hit again … he has had his revenge."
"For one I don't think it was a guy per se. I think it was a spirit or something."
John nodded. "That's right you said he just appeared … still it could all be over now."
Missouri stood up and walked over to a small table that sat next to the television. She picked up something and then returned to stand in front of John. John accepted the newspaper clipping from his friend. "This is one of the reasons I don't think this is over."
John spread the newspaper clippings out on the coffee table in front of him. Skimming the three different reports John found that the details were identical. A banker, a Gym owner and a single mom that had left 2 young sons behind, they had all been murdered, stabbed in the stomach. The same message had been written in the victim's blood. John was actually surprised that the reporters had managed to get that much information on the case.
"So you think all of these were attacked by the same thing or person." John clarified.
"Yes … the police think that they have a serial killer on their hands but have no witnesses and no evidence to connect anyone to the case, another reason that leads me to believe that we a dealing with a supernatural force of some kind."
"You said Mike was in danger."
Missouri placed her mug on a coaster. "The thing in my dream … it said that David was going to pay just like Mike was going to pay for opening that garage without him. I checked all the garages in Lawrence considering all the victims have been from here and he is the only Mike to own a garage."
"Mike Guenther."
"That's him."
Missouri studied her friend as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Something happened between you and Mike didn't it?"
John sighed. "He called social services on me when I started coming to you and decking the Impala out with weapons. I found out and left."
"John if you didn't know what you know now would you have understood your actions?" Missouri asked. "A lot of people fear the unknown … its human nature."
"The point is Missouri that he was my friend and if I hadn't of gotten the boys out of here when I did they would have definitely been taken off me. He knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't have endangered the boys. They're all I have left."
Missouri raised her eyebrows at that. John really was blind to some of the things he put his boys through sometimes. In John's case she was glad that he had the steady friendship and influence of Pastor Jim Murphy and Dr. Mackland Ames to keep him somewhat grounded. At least to remind the driven man that his sons were still children.
"So are you going to look into this John?" she asked.
"You know I will," John replied, rolling his eyes.
"Good … thank you."
"You're welcome. Now explain to me what this guy looks like and then we'll go from there."
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Sam was up to something. Dean could feel it. Not to mention that stupid smile that had been plastered on the kids face ever since he had returned from his Pizza run the night before. It looked like Sam was very pleased with himself about something that Dean had yet to figure out.
No goading or bribing on Dean's part had made the younger brother fess up. Dean had thought about wrestling and tickling him with no mercy until he spilt. That usually did the trick but Dean didn't want to take the chance that he might hit his head again. With his luck that is exactly what would happen. No, twice in a couple of days was enough for him.
His headache had thankfully disappeared for the most part but every once and a while he got this feeling in the back of his mind that something was wrong or that something bad was going to happen. He wasn't sure and attributed it to a double head injury and the fact that his father had left on a hunt by himself.
It wasn't unusual for John to hunt alone but since Dean had turned sixteen it had been unusual if John didn't automatically include him in on it. Then there was also Caleb Reaves who more often than not ended up joining them. His dad could handle himself though. He was John freakin Winchester. Best kick ass hunter out there.
Dean shifted in the stiff plastic chair that his current school deemed suitable for long tedious classes. He was still tossing up which was worse, the school chairs or hospital chairs. He had spent enough time in both.
"... The bells going to go any minute now guys." His teachers voice faded in. "Pack up your things and don't worry about homework tonight. I've got some things being put together for you to work on over the weekend."
"Fat chance of that lady …" Dean muttered to himself as his placed his notebook in his back pack.
A few seconds later the bell did go and all the students stood and rushed out like most students do at the end of the day. Dean had learnt from most schools that it was better off to wait till most kids had left if you couldn't be first out the door.
"Dean." Dean turned when he heard his name being called and saw it was Jack Hamilton.
"Yeah?"
"How's ya head?" Jack asked pointing to the general direction of Dean's head.
Dean shrugged his shoulders. "It's fine. Besides I have my little white friends to help if a headache rears its head." He patted the jacket pocket which he knew housed his aspirin. They didn't really have much of an effect on him anymore. It was like eating lollies.
Jack laughed. "How'd you screw up your head the first time?"
"I … um … someone tried to mug me. I fought back until they cracked my head open."
"Damn, dude that sucks."
"Yeah well my brother is always saying that I have a hard head." Dean and Jack both started walking towards the classroom door as they spoke.
"Lucky for you I guess."
"Yeah, apparently," Dean agreed.
Both boys came to halt outside the door. "Alright well catch ya dude." Jack waved as he walked down the corridor away from Dean. Dean waved back and then turned in the opposite direction.
He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck as he dodged other students walking down the corridor. "Hey Dean!" Dean looked beside him to where the voice had come from and wasn't surprised to see a chipper looking Sam walking next to him.
"Hey Sammy," Dean replied. He looked down at his brother suspiciously again. The kid was just way to happy and it was starting to get disturbing.
Sam was excited. He knew that more than likely Caleb would be waiting for them back at the motel. He knew that although Dean would probably act otherwise, he would be happy to see a familiar face besides his little brother. His older brother was very close to the older boy and the two young hunters were more alike than either of them liked to admit. Sam knew that Caleb was most likely Dean's best friend despite the eight year age gap between them. But Sam would never say that to Dean.
"What's up Sammy?" Sam smirked at his brother. Dean hated it when Sam had a secret. It drove him buts and usually resulted in torture for Sam until he gave up and told Dean what he wanted to know.
"Nothing, I'm just glad it's the end of the day."
Dean looked at the younger Winchester skeptically and snorted. "Since when? You know I can make you talk Sammy."
Sam rolled his eyes at Dean's threat, like he hadn't seen that coming. The brothers exited the building and headed for the car park in silence. Once they reached the Impala and started back to the Motel Dean turned to his brother. "You know you are in danger as soon as we get back."
"Whatever."
"I'll get it out of you," Dean warned.
"Okay Dean."
"I'm serious."
"Sure Dean."
"That's annoying."
"You're annoying." Sam counted.
"That's mature."
Sam shrugged. "I'm thirteen; I'm not supposed to be mature."
Dean snorted again. "Yeah, I'll remember that Mr. High and Mighty."
"High and Mighty?" Sam questions indignantly.
"We're home," Dean told him, ignoring his brothers questioning glance. Dean parked the car in front of their room. "Yeah home," Sam drawled out sarcastically.
"Oh I am so not in the mood for that conversation Sammy," Dean groaned before exiting the Impala.
Sam followed Dean out of the car and to the Motel room; the fact that Caleb was nowhere to be seen didn't go unnoticed to the younger boy. Dean stopped and looked at the door. It was slightly ajar. "What is it?" Sam asked.
Dean dragged Sam back to the car and reached into the glove box, retrieving the 9mm berretta he kept in there. "Stay back here Sammy," he whispered.
"Dean …"
"Shh." Dean ignored Sam and walked back over to the door. He didn't waste any time and slammed his way into the room, gun at ready, automatically finding his target.
"Hey Honey, how was school?" Caleb Reaves joked before taking a swig of the beer that had been in front of him, totally unfazed with the gun pointed at his head. The dark haired psychic was definitely not what Dean had been expecting. "Caleb?"
Caleb smirked. "In the flesh."
Dean lowered his gun a little. "How do I know it's really you?"
Caleb considered this. In their line of work it made sense that if you came home to find someone had broken in you would be in the right to be suspicious, although that hadn't really occurred to the psychic until now. It was good to know that Dean was always prepared.
"Well I walked past the salt lines and I can hear the word 'Christo' without flinching and well …" That was all he had at the moment.
"Okay … so you're not a demon. You could be a shape shifter."
"Well I would offer to let you test that theory but … well you know …"
Dean stood his ground. "Deuce, if I was a shape shifter would I supply you with food?" Caleb gestured to the brown grocery bags on the table between them.
Dean walked further into the room. "Dude, you went grocery shopping, maybe you aren't Caleb." Dean joked. He didn't know what it is was but he knew that it was definitely Caleb Reaves standing before him. "Funny smartass, If I'm staying for a couple of days I need food," Caleb replied
Sam walked into the room, sick of waiting by the car. Upon entering he saw Caleb Reaves standing behind their small table which had been loaded with brown paper bags. "Dean, I called him and asked him to stop by," Sam explained. He should have known that Caleb wouldn't simply wait for them to get back before making himself at home.
"What? Why?" Dean asked surprised. "And when?"
"I came bearing gifts." Caleb sat back down in his chair, leaning back and placing his legs on the table.
Sam walked over to the table and searched through the bags containing food. Sam looked across at Caleb. "Man, have you ever heard of healthy food?"
"Sure." Caleb nodded. "That's what Dad's place is for." He answered seriously. "Besides we have a birthday to celebrate. No healthy food. It's a rule."
"Right … I'd really like you to pull that rule book out one time." Sam rolled his eyes.
Dean sat down on the chair on the other side of the table and accepted the beer that Caleb presented him. "Beer?" Dean asked. "Why not?" was Caleb's only response.
Caleb turned back to Sam who was still going through the bag. "You know runt most kids your age would love to life on this stuff."
"In case you haven't noticed Damien, Sam's not most kids." Dean laughed at his own joke.
"Hilarious." Sam should have known that his own sanity would become a problem once he got the two older hunters together.
Sam snagged a packet of potato chips out of one of the bags and walked over to his bed and plopped down and let the conversation between his brother and Caleb drown out as he relaxed on the bed. This was bound to be an interesting few days.
Hope ya'll liked that and i really do hope to post a bit sooner next time :-) see ya soon and i hope everyone has a really good weekend :-)