Chapter Ten: Undercover
I looked at myself in the mirror. I can't believe I'm doing this, was all I could think. I had been out of the hospital for a few weeks and was already in the thick of it. I wasn't much for sitting on the sidelines and even though I was still healing I felt good enough to get what needed to be done, done. I turned and walked from the dressing room, ready to play my role.
24 Hours Earlier
I sat with Sam at the Roadhouse, talking quietly about our latest hunt. Dean sat next to me and put a beer in front of us. I took a swig from mine and smiled at him, winking. I turned back to Sam and kept talking.
"Why don't you two let me in?" He said gently playing with my hair.
"We've got this one." I told him.
"Evy." He frowned.
"Baby, listen to me." I said turning and facing him. "Sam and I have this one. You're always taking care of us. You need to let us do this one on our own. We can handle it and you know it." I said and kissed him. "Can you trust us?"
He frowned but nodded. "Of course I can. Like you have to ask."
"I know." I smiled and kissed him deeply. "Now go keep your other girlfriend company." I told him with a raised brow.
"That's not even funny." He told me seriously.
"You know she wants you." I told him.
"She's like a sister to me." He replied frowning.
"Yeah, well it makes me jealous." I said frowning.
He just looked at me before his face broke out in a grin. "Really?"
I sighed and rested my chin in my hand. I just raised my brow and looked at him. His grin widened and he leaned forward. He put his hand on my neck and kissed me passionately.
"There is only one girl for me." He said softly.
"I know. But I still get jealous." I told him. "Past history and all."
"What can I do to reassure you?" He asked gently.
"Kiss me again?" I grinned at him.
He gave a short laugh and kissed me again. Our tongues tangoing momentarily before he pulled away again.
"Now I'll go mind my own business." He said and kissed me once more before he left.
I watched him go before turning to Sam, frowning. "This doesn't feel right." I told him. "I don't like leaving him out of the loop."
"Yeah, but he won't let you do it. He'll get all protective. We have a plan. Let's just do it and get it over with."
"What if it goes south?" I asked him.
"It's not going to." Sam said taking my hand. "Let's just do this."
I nodded, "Okay." He nodded and squeezed my hand.
The plan was for me to do what I could to get on the inside. A group had come to town in San Francisco who were spending quite a bit of time practicing their skills at summoning demons, releasing them on the city. The casualty numbers were rising and we needed to do something about it. We were heading out in the morning. Rumors about the group had filtered into the Roadhouse but we wanted to make sure before we made any drastic actions. But we were nearly one hundred percent sure. We were going to have to infiltrate their group in some way. One of them who was responsible for getting the needed sacrifices spent a lot of his time in a strip club. Girls coming and going so fast that no one would miss them if they just happened to disappear. We were going to save the girls and get the bad guy. Or at least try.
The streets were cramped and I was becoming even more nervous by the minute. The plan was looking more and more flawed even though it was rather well thought out. I no longer wanted to be the one counted on for this. Not only that but we hadn't told Dean what was going on and I hated leaving him out of the loop. I wanted to tell him but Sam was right when he said Dean would overreact. He'd been doing a lot of that lately.
"You okay?" Dean asked when we were in the hotel room.
"Not really." I told him with a small smile.
He frowned and ran his hands up and down my arms. "What's wrong?"
"I can't tell you right now." I told him sadly.
"So it's about whatever you and Sam have going on?" He asked. I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Then just tell me."
"I can't." I told him, stepped away from him. "I have to do something that I'm just really nervous about." I told him.
"So don't do it and just tell me what's going on." He said sitting on the bed.
I looked at him and smiled. I walked up to him and kissed him deeply, putting my fingers through his hair. "I'll be fine. Just a little bit of stage fright." I grinned and kissed him again. There was a knock on the door. I groaned and kissed Dean once more before going to the door. I looked through the peephole to see Sam. I opened the door and smiled at him.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
I sighed and nodded. I turned and grabbed my jacket from the chair. I went to Dean and kissed him deeply. "We'll be back by dawn." I told him.
"I don't like this." He told me.
"I know." I smiled and kissed his forehead. "But believe it or not you don't have to always be the strong one who leads us in and out. We've got this and then I'll fill you in." I said kissing his hair as I walked away.
I took a deep breath as I walked down the hall with Sam. He put his arm across my shoulders and kissed my hair. "We'll be done in no time." He said reassuringly.
I nodded and took his hand, hugging his arm with the other. We hailed a cab and then, before I was ready, we were at the club. Sam led me to the back and sweet talked our way in. I was the replacement for Anita Mills who was the latest victim. I played the cocky role as best I could. Being charming and seductive to get myself in place. Sam followed me in and to the dressing rooms. I changed into my skimpy outfit.
"I feel ridiculous." I told him as I looked at myself in the mirror.
"You look hot." Sam grinned at me.
"Shut up!" I said shoving him. I could feel my face start to burn as I blushed.
"Evy, you could be wearing sweats and a baggy t-shirt and you'd still be hot." Sam said and he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.
"That's sweet but you're slightly biased." I told him.
"Yeah, and I should probably be beat. I'm practically your brother-in-law." He said and let me go.
I smiled but then my stomach fell and I looked at him. "What?" I said slightly breathlessly.
"You two are made for each other. It may not be official but it's close enough." He replied.
I smiled and looked at myself in the mirror again. It was basically a bra and underwear. It was sequenced and red. Someone could get lost in the cleavage I was showing off. The bottom wasn't as revealing, thank God, but showed off my lines. I pulled my hair out and it fell over my shoulder. It was nicely waved but it didn't really matter what it looked like. They wouldn't be paying attention to my face. I applied more makeup then I usually did but it looked all right. Or at least I hoped it did. I wasn't trusting Sam's opinion on any of this. Soon the manager came back and told me I was on. Sam kissed my cheek and left to find a seat. I groaned as I looked at myself in the mirror. I can't believe I'm doing this. I thought before turning and leaving the dressing room. My panic grew as I was put behind the curtain. My pole firmly in the stage. My stomach dropped again and I tried to picture Dean. He was the only one out there. I was dancing for him and for him alone. Or was I supposed to try that whole picture-the-audience-naked thing? My mind was doing far too much thinking and not focusing on the real issue. How the hell was I supposed to pull this off? I've never pole danced before. I've seen it done but to mimic that now was like asking water to become rum. I was screwed. I was really, really screwed. Then the music started. The curtain began to rise and I tried to focus. I put on my best serious face and strutted out onto the stage. The light was blinding and I thanked my lucky stars that I could barely see the audience in front of me. I went to the pole and gripped it, giving the best seductive stare I could. The music picked up and I gripped the pole bending back as I pressed my lower body against it. I pulled myself forward quickly letting my hair fly over my shoulder. The three minutes I was on stage were the longest three minutes of my life. I toyed with the pole. I swung around on it and jiggled things I never knew I could. Though while I danced I was also working. I looked around the audience, looking for anyone suspicious. Anyone who was watching me with a longingly I-want-to-kill-you-and-spill-your-blood sort of way. There was only one who really stood out to me. He was young, didn't look thirty yet. He was leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. When the song was done I made my way down from the stage and walked over to the suspicious man. I swung my leg around him, pressing myself against him. His hands moved to my thighs and he gripped them roughly.
"Do you like what you see?" I grinned down at him. He brought up his hand and dipped into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small wad of money and slipped it into my top. His thumb brushed against my breast as he did it and it took all of me not to rip his hand off. "How kind of you." I grinned.
"I'll be seeing you." He said and stood with me in his arms. I dropped down from his arms and trailed my fingers across his chest as I moved on to the next man. I watched him leave and after letting a few others drool on me I returned to the back. "Thank God." I said when I saw Sam in the dressing room. "I'm so ready to go." I told him.
"You were a hit!" The manager told me coming in.
"I was?" I said shockingly. He gave me a confused look. "I mean, of course I was." I said putting on my cocky face.
The manager smiled and handed me a wad of money. "You're in." He told me. "The man you went to usually looks longer before he picks a girl. It seems like you may have gotten him on the first dance. If you want you can do another one."
I grinned at him before walking up, leaning my breasts against him. "Now, now, can't have too much a good thing. Wouldn't want them to get bored." I told him.
He grinned and slapped my ass before walking out. I took a deep breath and turned to Sam. He was laughing at me. I smacked him and quickly changed into my street clothes. The evening hadn't lasted very long but I was eager to get back to Dean. I would be back tomorrow night anyway.
It had been nearly a week since my first appearance on stage. Dean was still in the dark and I was once again in a skimpy outfit ready to go out on stage. I heard my stage name being called and soon I took the stage as the beautiful Gabrielle. Sam was in the audience, always on the lookout for anything that might do harm. The man that I had seen the first night was known as Ben Jefferson and had been there every night since then. I always went to him first after my dance and he always tipped well for any little favor I was willing to give him. I never gave him much, just left him wanting more. Only tonight I was in for a surprise.
"Can you sing?" The manager asked me. He was a big black man but decent. I learned to like him a lot.
"What?" I asked nervously. "Please don't tell me your going to make me do what I think you are?" I told him.
"Daisy is sick and they need someone to do a musical number." Dawson told me.
"Dawson, I can't sing." I told him.
"Try it. Sing for me right now." He told me.
I looked at him and groaned. He raised a brow at me. I thought a moment before clearing my throat. I didn't know what to sing. I'm not a singer. But I had to think of something and something fast. "Oh mama I'm afraid for my life from the long arm of the law. Law man had put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home. Oh mama I can hear you a crying you're so scared and so alone. Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don't have very long." I played the beat in my head before continuing. "The jig is up the news is out they finally found me –" I stopped when he put up his hand. I lowered my chin and just looked up at him with a pouty expression. I couldn't help but smile as I thought of Dean and I singing that song. Loudly and more then likely very off key.
"Good enough. Now change into a dress." He told me.
I groaned and returned to the dressing room. I found a black dress that was floor length but had a large enough slit in the side that my full leg showed when I walked. I changed into a skimpy bra and undies before going to the stage.
"You're on in five." Dawson said bumping me.
"What am I supposed to sing?" I asked him.
"Whatever you just sang to me." He replied.
"That's not the kind of song to sing to these guys." I told him, freaking out.
"Sing whatever the hell you want. Just don't make it a really sappy one." He said looking down at me.
"Help me?" I said pleadingly. "What kinds of songs do these men like?" I asked.
"Figure it out." He told me and walked away.
"I hate you!" I yelled after him. I could hear him laughing. I tried to think of a song but the only songs I really knew were classic rock songs. "I am so screwed."
I took a series of deep breaths, trying to think but nothing was coming to mind. I could hear my name being announced and now was the time to figure it out or I was so, so very screwed. One came to mind but I wasn't sure of the words but I thought I might be able to make it up. Katy liked it and I'd heard it enough to be relatively sure I could come up with the words. There was a DJ that played the music and I told him what to play. He grinned and nodded at me before I turned away from him. I went back to the stage and waited for the music to start. The curtain stayed closed and I knew that I would have to make an entrance. I thought I was going to die when the music started and I threw open the curtain and strutted out. I played with the pole as I sang to The Hollies Long Cool Woman. It was dirty enough and I hoped the men would find it at least a little entertaining. I got a standing ovation when it was over and I readily accepted it. Instead of going down the front of the stage I slipped back through the curtain and to the dressing room. I went in and started to change. I heard the door and thought it was Sam. I heard the click of the door lock and turned to see Ben Jefferson standing with his hand still on the door.
"Mr. Jefferson…" I said looking at him as I pulled a robe on.
"Please, call me Ben." He smiled.
"Ben." I smiled.
"I loved the song. Didn't think you'd be able to sing but you surprised me." He grinned as he stepped toward me.
"I'm glad you liked it. But I was about to change and leave for the night." I told him.
"I don't think so." He told me. "I was wondering if you'd do just one more dance tonight. I'd pay you for your trouble." He grinned.
"Are you talking about a stage dance or a personal one?" I asked him.
"How about both? I'd make it worth your while."
I looked at him and, for the mission's sake, I agreed. An hour later I was dressed and on my way toward the stage. Only I didn't get the usual entrance. Instead they were going to lower me down from a swing and they were going to make me sing again. I wanted to fight them on it but a large wad of money was put into my hands and I couldn't say 'no' to that. The outfit was very stylish with a halter top that had strings of beads that covered my abdomen but left my back basically naked other then the string of fabric that was holding the top on. This time I sang To Be With You by Mr. Big. I managed to make most of the corrections needed to make it girl friendly. I was fond of the song and it was upbeat enough for me to get away with it. It was horrible but I was actually having fun. Singing and dancing wasn't as hard as it seemed and the crowd was easy to please. It was an exhilarating experience. One that I would be ready to give up though. It was fun for a while but as soon as this thing was done the better. The lights dimmed and I looked out at the crowd. I walked off the stage on my way to flatter Ben. I straddled his lap and put my arms around his neck. I was about to reel him in when my stomach fell. My eyes were locked on the man who was the one person I didn't want to see here. He was looking at me with that face that made me want to get up and run. He shook his head and moved toward me. I tried to silently plead with him to stay back but it wasn't working. Dean was headed straight for me and was going to blow my cover. I had to do something and I had to do it fast.
"Come on, handsome." I whispered in Ben's ear. "Let's get out of here."
"Anything you want gorgeous." He said wrapping his arm around my waist as he led me from the main room.
He followed me to the dressing room. I changed as fast as possible and then took his hand as I rushed us from the club. His car was waiting when we walked out the door and I quickly slid into it. I had a skimpy black dress on and it rose up when I slid in. I caught Ben's eyes on my thigh and for a moment he gripped it but I quickly took his hand in mine, playing with his fingers. He seemed pleased enough with that. I tried to keep my head in the game but my mind kept going back to Dean. I wouldn't let anything happen. Nothing but the smallest amount of foreplay that I could get away with. This had the potential to spin wildly out of control but I would do everything possible to make sure that didn't happen.