-Memphis, Tennessee, Twin Heights Motel, 12:35am-
Dean plopped back on the bed. Sam took a chair by the table while Audrey went straight for the shower. The adrenaline was still pumping through the three hunters. They'd just gotten back from the cemetery after the salt and burn. The case was over. And they had no new ones yet. Sam let out a long sigh and ran a hand over his head. Dean was watching the bathroom, steam coming out from under the door.
"Don't even think about it." Sam said looking at his older brother.
"Think about what?" Dean asked trying to play innocent, but failed miserably. Sam rolled his eyes and rubbed his temples.
Audrey stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. Wet hair dripping down her back and little beads of water clinging to her. She made her way to one of the beds where her bag was sitting. Digging out some pajamas then walking back into the bathroom without saying a thing.
Sam's eyes were wide. Dean looked at his brother and laughed. Picking up a pillow Sam chucked it at his brother's head. Dean let the pillow hit him, still laughing. When Audrey reemerged from the bathroom, this time fully dressed she looked at Dean then Sam.
"Look…" she started, both boys brought their attention to her. "I've got this case that I've been wanting to work…it's be a long job." She sat on the open bed.
"How long?" Sam asked interested.
"Two…maybe three months." She shrugged. "There's this cult out in Iowa." Audrey pulled a stack of clippings from her bag and handed them to Dean. "They've been linked to some murders, but it hasn't been proven because of the odd ways the people died." She'd done her research on this one. "The victims all seemed to die of natural causes…all different…from heart attacks to terrible seizers."
"Okay…it's odd but why do you think it needs to be investigated?" Sam asked leaning forward in his seat.
"Well…" she let out a sigh and rubbed her face. "This is the case my father died on." Audrey admitted. "I need to solve it. It's been nagging at me and I know he'd want me to."
Dean and Sam exchanged a look. Those two could speak volumes with a simple nod.
"We'll help." Dean said with a nod, Sam smiled softly.
"Thank you." Her smile was wide and a grateful look passed over her soft features. "I've already got a plan." Audrey's voice was confident and strong, but still the usual soft tone that came with it.
Dean and Sam shared another look then turned their attention back to Audrey.
-Springfield, Iowa, 8:30am-
"Dean wake up!" Sam yelled from the bathroom. Audrey shook him lightly.
"That's it…you're not going out and drinking anymore." She let out an annoyed huff then knocked on the bathroom door of the motel. "Sam…looks like you're gonna have to play the hubby."
"I figured." Sam opened the door. He was in a nice outfit, something presentable to a real estate dealer. Nice collared white shirt, gray slacks and nice shoes. Audrey smiled at him, and then walked over to the mirror along the wall, looking herself over in the blue blouse and black pencil skirt. The black heels were already starting to hurt.
"Come on Mr. Chapman." She said with a laugh and grabbed her purse before heading out. They were going to meet the relater about the nice two-story house they were planning on renting. They couldn't bounce around from motel to motel for this case. It was too lengthy for that.
By the time they got back to the motel Dean was up and watching TV. He looked over when the two walked in.
"Hey sleeping beauty." Sam teased.
"You stole my woman." Dean said flatly.
"That's it…I'm getting out of these fucking heels and this skirt." Audrey grabbed a t-shirt, jeans and her usual tennis shoes from the duffle bag on the bed and headed into the bathroom to change.
"You were sleeping." Sam shrugged and quickly changed into jeans and a comfortable shirt.
"You could have woken me up." Dean was being stubborn.
"We tried." Audrey commented, sitting the clothes in her bag. "It doesn't matter…we got the house." She smiled. Dean nodded and flipped through the channels.
"We can move in tomorrow." Sam continued what Audrey was saying.
"Hey Dean…you wanna come furniture shopping with me?" Audrey said pouting out her bottom lip. Dean shook his head, then looked at her and sighed.
"Fine." He got up and pulled on his leather jacket. Audrey smiled and headed out to the Impala. "Sam why don't you do some more research." Dean said before shutting the door.
Audrey looked around the store and let out an annoyed huff. "None of this stuff is right."
"What's wrong with this?" Dean asked pointing at a chair.
"For one…its lime green and pink tweed." She really didn't see any need for further explanation but went on anyways. "It's small and way to pricey for what it is." Dean shrugged and looked around. They'd gotten three beds, a couch, a dinning room set and a TV and a stand to put it on. He didn't see why they needed more.
"Come on…we've got stuff for now…we can come back and do this junk later…I'm starving." Dean complained and looked at Audrey who was looking at a black recliner.
"Fine." Audrey said giving up and walked over to Dean. "They're having the stuff delivered tomorrow at three…someone's gotta be there. Probably me or Sam."
"Mr. and Mrs. Chapman." Dean scoffed. Audrey gave him an odd look.
"What's your problem?" She asked but walked off before he could give an answer. Dean rolled his eyes and followed after her, enjoying the view while he went.
Sam had fallen asleep and was curled up on the bed with Dean and Audrey walked in arguing about something. She stopped when she saw Sam sleeping. Dean continued the argument talking loudly. Audrey slapped him in the arm and pointed to Sam, bringing a finger to her lips and shushing Dean.
"Did you just hit me?" he ignored her shushing.
"Yes and I'll do it again if you wake up Sam. Now shut up." Audrey kept her voice to a loud whisper.
"To late…" Sam said from the bed, laying face down.
"Sorry." Audrey sighed. "We've got Chinese though…" She offered with a smile. Sam smiled back and nodded. Audrey sat the bag down and pushed Dean out of her way as she walked to the other bed, grabbed something out of the nightstand and walked back.
Dean gave her a look and huffed. They'd acted like that towards each other since the first day of the hunt. Dean pushed her buttons and she pushed his back, while Sam sat back and enjoyed the show. Audrey acted completely different to each of the boys.
With Dean she was stubborn and hard headed. Picking little fights and doing whatever she could to tick him off. But with Sam she was soft and gentle. Always making sure he was okay. Letting him take the back seat of the Impala so he could stretch out his legs if he complained about leg cramps. Both the boys had noticed and talked about it to each other, but hadn't said anything to Audrey.
"What the hell Dean? Why'd you get the mushroom and beef?" She turned to look at him.
"Uh…'cuz I like mushrooms?" He explained like it was obvious.
"You're the only one." She huffed and shoved the carton at him. "It's a good thing I got the sweet and sour."
"That's my favorite." Sam said with a smile.
"I know." She smiled back at him before handing him the little to go box and a paper plate. "Take what you want."
"Thanks Audrey." Sam had a big grin on his face, and scooped some of the chicken and sauce out on the plate; he opened his mouth about to ask for the rice when she handed it to him. "I swear you're reading my mind." Sam laughed.
Audrey laughed with him and Dean did a mock laugh and ate his beef and mushroom out of the carton. Audrey shot Dean a deadly look before sitting on the bed and grabbed the remoter, flipping through the channels.
"Oh this is a good show." Dean said with a mouthful of food and pointed at the screen with his chopsticks.
"You're disgusting." Audrey said scrunching her face up at him and setting the remote down, leaving it on the channel. They ate in silence.
The next morning Audrey and Sam got ready to go to the house. Some things needed to be set up before the movers got there. Dean decided to hang back and get some sleep. Letting the two take the Impala only after Sam had to leave his laptop as collateral and Audrey had to promise she wouldn't drive it.
"Sam…you muscle man you." Audrey said with a laugh and a smile as he pushed the old door open to the basement. The thing had been stuck and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get it. Sam blushed bashfully and shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down and away.
"Uh…should we go see what's down there?" He asked, finally composing himself and looking at her. Audrey gave a nod and headed down first. Sam felt the wall for a switch but felt nothing. He let out a low sigh. Sam really didn't like the dark.
"Oooo it's kinda spooky in here isn't it?" Audrey said with a laugh as she looked around the bare basement. Stonewalls, concrete floor. Nothing was down there, except a washer and a dryer. She could see a light hanging overhead. "Hmm where's the switch?" Her emerald eyes strained to look.
Sam had to duck slightly as he came off the stairs and looked around, returning to full height once he got past the beam. It was almost completely dark, if it wasn't for the fact the door was still open it would be pitch black.
Audrey looked around for the switch but found nothing. She gave a huff of frustration and turned to look at Sam when she saw the door starting to close.
"Sam!" she yelled out and pointed as it shut and a loud click of an old and rusted lock was heard.