Disclaimer: I do not own them.
Warning: The usual.
A/N: I have decided to update again tonight because of those lovely people who've left me reviews! Speaking of reviews, I'd just like to say thank you to kim winchester who left me an anonymous review (and, again, thank you to those who left me signed reviews). Is this soon enough for you, my dear?
This is a short chapter, but, honestly, it has to end there. Creates suspense, you know? (evil grin)
Chapter Three: Only Fools Rush In
Dean listened intently as Jennifer told him what she knew about the fires. They always happened in the same circumstances. The family always had a baby, less than a year old, the fire always happened at night, and the baby's mother always died. Other than that, each fire was completely different. In some, just the mother died. In others, other family members would die. Once, a whole family burned to death. And the weirdest thing was, nobody could figure out why they were happening.
"And I'm pretty on edge right now," Jennifer confided, "Because my youngest son is just under a year old."
"Why didn't you move when these fires started happening?" Dean asked.
"My younger brother has Down Syndrome," she explained with a soft smile, "And, if I don't take care of him, no one will. It would be cruel to move him away from the only home he's ever known. He's safe and happy here. I put his wellbeing over my silly fears. I'm just jumping at shadows, really."
Dean opened his mouth to reply, to tell her that her fears weren't silly. That they were all too real. That she should move her family to a safe place as soon as possible.
He opened his mouth to say these things, but he never got the chance.
"Hey! I need some help over here!"
Dean turned to see a perfect stranger supporting the limp form of his little brother.
"Sammy!"
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The young woman sang softly for both the baby and herself.
"Wise men say...only fools rush in..."
The baby cooed happily, kicking his little legs and clutching at the air with his chubby fingers. The young woman smiled down at him, "But I...can't help...falling in love...with you..."
She stopped for a minute, "Now where did I put that blanket?"
She bent over the baby's crib; "I'll be right back, okay sweet pea?"
She left the room. As she did, the atmosphere changed. The room became sweltering hot. The little baby made small whimpering sounds.
The young woman came back in; "Boy is it ever warm in here. Guess I won't be needing this blanket after all."
She opened the nursery window a little and then kissed her baby boy goodnight, "See you in the morning, honey."
A few minutes later, a hand reached in and pushed the window all the way open.
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Dean gently set Sam down on the floor.
"Is he all right?" someone asked.
"Should I call an ambulance?" asked another.
"He's fine!" Dean muttered curtly. Although, judging from Sam's pained expression and the way his breaths were coming out in sharp gasps, he was anything but. Wonderful timing, Little Brother.
"Dean, what's going on?" asked the man who had been holding Sam.
Dean ignored him, although he couldn't help but wonder how this jackass knew his name.
"Does this happen often?" the guy asked, undaunted by Dean's silence thus far.
"Yeah," Dean relented, annoyed. He wanted to give his little brother his undivided attention.
Come on, Sam. Snap out of it!
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The young woman awoke upon hearing her baby boy's crying. Sighing, she headed to the nursery. She'd had many sleepless nights since his birth but she'd thought they were over that stage. He'd been sleeping well just lately.
"Hey, sweet pea," she said with a yawn as she opened the door. What she saw made her heart stop. Inside the room, his face shrouded in darkness, was a strange man. And he was holding her baby.
"Hey!" she yelled.
The man didn't turn, but, suddenly, the room became unnaturally hot. Too hot. It was becoming hard to breathe. The young woman screamed in pain. It felt like her blood was boiling inside of her veins. The fine hairs of her body became singed and then disappeared as they were burnt to nothing. Her baby and the stranger shimmered like a mirage in front of her.
Then, Jennifer Thomas, single mother of two, burst into flames.
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"Sammy?" Dean asked, feeling relieved when his brother opened his eyes.
"Dean," Sam gasped, "The barmaid. I saw her. She's going to die!"
Dean turned to look at the young man who had been cleaning the bar and had stopped to join the gathering of onlookers, "Where is she?"
"Who?" the man asked, confused.
"Jennifer," Dean said impatiently, "The barmaid."
"You just missed her," the guy told him, "Her shift just ended and she went home."
"Shit!"
A/N: Uh oh! Hurry boys, hurry!
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