Author's Note: Hi everyone. Thanks so much to new21writer, becs, Julefor, emebalia, Eliza Ghost, snseriesfan, NewbieOnTheBlock, and Meggin Lane for their awesome reviews. I'm glad that you guys are interested in my story. And here's yet another chapter for your entertainment.

Chapter Four: There's Something About the Pumpkins

"I don't know, Dean." Sam responded after Dean told him Timmy's story. Dean cast a glance at his little brother just in time to see his disbelieving headshake. "It sounds more like the plot to a horror movie than an actual clue."

"Dude, our whole lives sound like the plot to a horror movie. Besides, didn't Crystal Dayton mention a pumpkin near her husband's body?"

"Yeah, but that was just a regular smashed pumpkin. Not a self-igniting, indestructible, evil jack o'lantern."

Dean let out an exasperated sigh. "It can't hurt to check out. Besides, I promised the kid I'd take care of it before he got home."

"Fine. You're right. Drop me off at the bank that the first victim, Wilcox, worked at. I'll ask around about him and then walk the two blocks to the motel and check us in. You go pick up the jack o'lantern and meet me there."

"Sounds like a plan." Dean agreed. After a moment, he spoke again. "So, what do you think about the coma patients? They gotta be connected, right?"

"Way too big a coincidence not to be."

"I guess we'll learn more when Jill calls."

"You know her name?" Sam asked.

"She wore a name tag." Dean explained.

"I just didn't think that's where your eyes were at." Sam replied.

"Well, her name tag was pinned to a great spot." Dean shrugged. He pulled the Impala over to let Sam get out in front of the bank. "See you in a bit, Sammy." He called as he drove off to the Norton's home.

…

…supernatural...supernatural…supernatural…supernatural…supernatural…

…

Sam watched his older brother drive off before turning to walk into the bank. He wasn't so sure about the story that the boy had told Dean, but he knew better than to argue with his brother when the elder Winchester had his mind set on something. And they couldn't afford to pass on any leads at this point in their case. Which is why Sam was going into the bank to see if the deceased bank manager had a dark side that hadn't made it into the official reports. If so, then all the victims had similar personalities and that was a good place to start with his research.

Sam walked up to the counter and flashed his badge.

"Hello, I'd like to speak with whoever's in charge here."

"Oh wow, FBI?" The young clerk seemed very impressed. "I guess you're here about Mr. Wilcox's death." Sam just nodded in response. "Okay well, Mr. Green is in his office right over there." The guy pointed to a glass office to the right. "You can go on in."

"Thank you." Sam walked across the worn gray carpet and over to the see-through door. He knocked on the glass. A middle aged man looked up and waved him in.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?"

"I'm with the FBI's profiling department. I just wanted to have a few words with you about your late boss, Mr. Eliot Wilcox."

"Yes, sure. Please, have a seat."

Sam settled into an office chair that was directly across the desk from the other man.

"Now what can I do for you?" The replacement manager asked.

"Do you know of anybody that may have held a grudge against Mr. Wilcox?"

"Everyone here loved him. He was very fair and gave frequent raises to the employees. He worked hard and demanded the same of everyone else but made the work place feel relaxed. Fun even. I don't think I've ever heard of any complaints about him."

"Really?" Sam put on his most skeptical look. "So this guy was perfect?"

"Well…"

"Please, sir. Anything you know may help catch the person responsible."

"Look, I don't want to speak ill of the dead, but Eliot stayed to finish up work in his office late many nights."

"So, he was a hard worker. Nothing wrong there."

"He would often ask one of the young female employees to stay late with him. And… they would often get raises shortly afterwards. He said it was for their exemplary work but I had my suspicions."

"You didn't mention this to the police." Sam made it a statement, not a question.

"Hell no. I couldn't let Sue find out that her newly departed husband was cheating on her with teenagers. She comes to all of the company parties and gatherings and she really is very nice. I don't want her to find out what a scumbag Eliot used to be to her behind her back. It would kill her."

"Are you certain she doesn't know already?"

"Positive. We see her here all the time and she was way too happy to be carrying around that information. You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"No, this stays between us."

"Thank you."

"Did anything strange happen the day he was killed?" Sam inquired.

"No. We had a little fall festival party in the afternoon. Sue stopped by with fresh homemade pumpkin pie. And then we all actually went home on time. The next day I got here and Eliot hadn't yet arrived, so I opened the bank myself. A few hours later the cops were here asking questions. At first they suspected me since I got a promotion out of the whole thing but as I'm sure you've seen in the reports, I have an alibi. Besides, I understand there've been more victims since."

"Where did you here that?"

"People talk." Was his short reply.

"Did you know any of the other victims?" Sam inquired.

"Not personally. But this is one of only two banks in town so most people come through here at some point."

It wasn't really a connection then. So, there was nothing helpful except the knowledge that all three victims had been a jerk in one way or another. But then something Mr. Green had said moments ago suddenly popped into his mind. Eliot's wife had made pumpkin pie. And Dean seemed convinced that there was something going on with the pumpkins. Oh great. If Dean was correct, Sam had a big 'I told you so' coming his way.

"Mr. Green, you said that Mr. Wilcox's wife was here the day he was killed. That she brought something to the party?"

"Yeah. Sue always goes to the local farm the first week of October to stock up on pumpkins. Her pumpkin pie is the best around. But I assure you that her attendance here that day had nothing to do with her husband's death."

"I'm sure it didn't. Thank you for your time." Sam stood to leave.

Mr. Green reached over the desk and shook his hand. "I hope you find the killer. If you need anything else, please stop on back."

Sam nodded and left the bank. On his walk to the motel, he thought about all he'd learned. They still didn't have much to go on. But he knew that Dean would want to try and figure out if the other victim had any pumpkins with her on the night of her death. But this was October, so most people would have at least one. Maybe a connection, maybe not. When Dean got back with the supposedly evil jack o'lantern they'd find out more.

…

…supernatural…supernatural…supernatural…supernatural…supernatural...

…

Dean pulled the Impala up to the curb next to the somewhat rundown apartment. He got out of the car and looked around to make sure that there wasn't anyone around that might be a threat to his baby. No one was lurking nearby, so it seemed that the Impala would be safe.

Dean walked up a set of wooden stairs that, while old, were pretty well maintained. When he reached the porch, the hunter produced a lock pick and within moments had the front door open. He entered the apartment and didn't have to look hard to see the jack o'lantern sitting on the coffee table. It was facing the door he'd just come through. It's eyes were mere slits in its wide face, two small holes made a nose, and a huge, sinister smile filled with sharp teeth took up almost the whole bottom half of the pumpkin. Timmy had been right. It was damned creepy looking.

Since he was in the apartment anyway, Dean decided to take a quick look around. He walked into the kitchen. Nothing strange there. A stroll down the hall revealed a bathroom and two bedrooms. One was obviously the parents' room. Most of the furniture was mismatched, probably secondhand, but well arranged. A peek into the other room revealed that the Nortons had given the larger of the two bedrooms to their son. It was decorated with car posters, glow-in-the-dark stars, and sports memorabilia. And on the small desk in the corner was a small uncarved pumpkin. Dean walked over and picked it up. Nothing out of the ordinary. Replacing the item, the hunter walked out of the room. As he went back down the hall towards the living room, Dean saw what seemed to be a flickering light emanating from his destination. He hurried into the room, drawing his gun as he entered, but the flickering had ceased. It was impossible for him to not notice that the jack o'lantern was now turned to stare directly at the doorway he'd just come through.

"What the hell?" The hunter walked towards the coffee table slowly, keeping an eye out for anything else that might be in the room. There was a chance that the jack o'lantern hadn't moved by itself.

When he reached the creepy gourd, Dean pocketed his weapon to pick it up. He turned it around in his hands but there was nothing unusual about it. The young man took the lid off of it and looked inside. There wasn't even a candle in there to be lit. Replacing the top, Dean raised it to his face to stare at it. Fugly as all hell, but still just a carved pumpkin. Then, using all his strength, the hunter hurled the jack o'lantern across the room. It smacked into the wall and fell to the ground undamaged. It rolled to a stop with its gruesome face staring at Dean. He stepped over to it and brought his foot down on it with as much force as possible. It didn't break like he'd anticipated but rolled out from under his foot, throwing him off balance. Dean fell back onto the floor.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean exclaimed, annoyed and embarrassed but not hurt. He was glad that Sam hadn't been there to see that. It certainly wouldn't be told when he related what had happened here.

Dean got back to his feet and picked up the jack o'lantern. He'd experiment with it more when he got to the motel.

He had just tucked it under his arm and was headed to the front door when he felt heat come from the pumpkin. Lifting it once more to eye level, Dean saw a flame burning inside of the evil looking decoration. He dropped the object and stepped back. Then he heard what sounded like someone right behind him. Dean went for his gun as he spun around to face whatever was in the room with him.

Author's Note Part Two: Yay! My first cliffhanger for this story! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please take just a moment to leave a review to let me know what you think. Thanks so much