Chapter Nine

After dinner, Sam settled into the tub, relaxing in his mer form in the water. "You know, this telepathic talk thing is getting easier."

"Hey, Sam," said Lizzie. "You stopping by tonight?"

"Definitely," said Sam. "Probably around midnight."

"That sounds great," said Lizzie. "I'll be there waiting for you."

"How has today been for you?" asked Sam.

"Good," said Lizzie. "Went swimming with dolphins."

Sam chuckled. "That sounds like fun."

"It is," said Lizzie. "I'll take you tonight."

"Sounds great," said Sam. He hesitated, wanting to ask her what he'd been wondering all day. "Hey, Lizzie, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," said Lizzie.

"Have you ever come back on land since you got turned?" asked Sam.

Lizzie hesitated. "Twice…Back when I first got turned. I haven't been back since."

"Would you like to come with me after tonight?" asked Sam. "Just for a little while?" He didn't want to push her too much.

Lizzie was quiet for so long, Sam thought she had left.

"Sure," replied Lizzie.

"Really?" asked Sam.

"Yeah," said Lizzie. "Sounds like fun. But, um…I'm gonna need some clothes or something."

"Yeah, sure thing," Sam assured her. "I'll bring some."

"Thank you," said Lizzie.

"No problem," said Sam.

"Sam!" Dean called from outside the door, knocking on it.

Crap! Sam thought. "Hang on, Dean!"

"I gotta go, Lizzie," said Sam. "See you tonight."

"See ya," said Lizzie.

"Sam, you better be having some private man time in there," called Dean through the door. "If you are talking to that girl again…"

"You'll, what?" Sam called as he pulled himself out of the tub and onto the floor. "You'll ground me?"

"I'll do the next best thing," called Dean. "I'll take away your laptop."

Sam mentally dried himself off. "Aren't I supposed to be getting close to this colony so they can cure me?"

"Yes, but that doesn't require this much fraternizing."

Sam stood up, pulling the plug on the drain. "Fraternizing? We're just talking."

"Yeah," said Dean. "All the time."

Sam pulled his shirt and pants on. "She's a nice person, Dean. I'm just trying to be friendly."

"No, this is more than friendly," said Dean. He paused for a moment. "You're sweet on her, aren't you?"

Sam opened the bathroom door to see Dean with a slight smile on his face. "No, I'm not."

Dean laughed out loud, smiling triumphantly. "You are! I knew it! That's the look you get when you're talking about a girl you like! You're so into her!"

Sam rolled his eyes, walking past Dean. "That's not what this is about."

"Yeah, right," said Dean. "Hey, man, to each his own. If mermaids and werewolves turn you on, then…" He broke off right there, realizing what he was saying, just as Sam glanced up sadly at him. "Oh, man, I'm sorry, Sammy. I didn't mean it."

"It's okay," said Sam shortly.

Even though it had been a year since Madison, Sam was still not completely over it. And he might never be. How many of his girlfriends had to keep dying?

"No, really," apologized Dean. "That was stupid of me."

"Really," said Sam, smiling at him in reassurance. "It's fine."

"So, anyway, what's the story?" asked Dean.

"We're meeting her around midnight," Sam told him. "And we need to bring some clothes for her. She's gonna come with us tomorrow."

"Really?" asked Dean, frowning.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" asked Sam. "She's showing me her world, I'm showing her mine."

"Alright, but you get the clothes," said Dean. "I'm not really tuned into my feminine side."

"And I am?" asked Sam.

"Damn right," said Dean with a smile.

********************************************************************SPN*****************************************************************************

"I promise we won't take as long this time," Sam told Dean as they approached the dock.

"You better not," muttered Dean.

They heard a splash and saw Lizzie propping her elbows up on the dock, smiling at Sam. Sam smiled, his face lighting up as he stared at her.

Dean chuckled a little. "Yeah, you're not into her at all."

Sam shoved an elbow into Dean's ribs, walking over to the edge of the dock. "Just wait here, Dean."

"Where else am I gonna go?" asked Dean, plopping the duffel full of Lizzie's clothes next to a bench and sitting down.

Sam shed his outer clothing and boots, dumping them next to the bench. Lizzie shot away from the edge of the dock with a giggle. Sam smiled as he dove straight in, making a big splash. Dean waited for him to resurface as Lizzie did also. Lizzie looked around in confusion. Lizzie suddenly gasped as she got pulled under. Lizzie came bobbing up a few seconds later, splashing at Sam, who was laughing and splashing back.

Dean smiled and shook his head in fondness. You're so naïve, Sammy. You are so into her.

He watched as Sam dodged a splash and darted over the wall into the ocean, his tail shining in the moonlight. Lizzie quickly followed him. Dean leaned back on the bench, waiting for their little adventure to end.

*************************************************************************SPN**************************************************************************************

Sam glanced over at Lizzie, smiling. Lizzie had her eyes closed, reveling in the feel of the current in her hair.

Oh, man, Sam thought. She is so beautiful. And her smile…and her laugh…

Sam came to a sudden realization that Dean was right: he liked Lizzie.

"Here they come!" cried Lizzie in excitement.

Sam looked up to see a small school of dolphins—about six, or so—heading their way. He and Lizzie pulled up short as the dolphins approached them. The dolphins spun around them, clicking away with their echolocation sounds. A dolphin brushed up under Sam's arm, rubbing against his torso—much like a cat trying to get your attention. He laughed and looked up at Lizzie to see her petting two of the dolphins.

The dolphin came back, rubbing up against Sam's arm again. Sam started petting the dolphin, and another one came up to be petted. Another dolphin was still circling them, darting back and forth between Sam and Lizzie. Sam gave Lizzie a questioning look.

"He wants to play," Lizzie giggled.

Sam smiled. "Then let's play." He darted away, speeding off up to the surface.

Lizzie giggled and took off after him. The dolphins weren't far behind. Sam zoomed toward the surface, breaking through the barrier and soaring into the air. He dived back under, building up speed before heading up again. This time, two dolphins jumped with him. Lizzie was about ten feet off, with her own dolphin jumpers. They spent a while trying to see who could jump the highest and what crazy tricks they could do before Lizzie started leading him down to the ocean floor.

"I want you to meet everyone," Lizzie told him.

Sam edged a little closer to her. "I'd love to."

They swam along the ocean floor for a while before it dropped off, and they were swimming over a cavern. In that cavern was what looked like a primitive version of the lost city of Atlantis. Little clay-stone dwellings were scattered all over the cavern floor.

"This is amazing," said Sam.

Lizzie smiled and led him down into the heart of the city. She led him to a small hut and told him to wait outside. As she went inside to get her sister, Sam watched mermaids and mermen swim by, staring at him. Sam waved awkwardly, feeling like the new kid at school.

"Sam," said Lizzie.

Sam turned to see Lizzie next to a green-scaled mermaid with hazel eyes and brown hair.

"This is my sister Lori," Lizzie introduced. "Lori, this is Sam."

"Hi, Sam," said Lori, shaking his hand. "It's good to finally meet you. Lizzie hasn't shut up about you."

"Lori!" hissed Lizzie.

"She hasn't?" said Sam, smiling at Lizzie.

Lizzie blushed and looked away from him. "Um, Sam, I'll go introduce you to the Elders."

"Okay," said Sam.

Lizzie rushed off in embarrassment, but Lori's hand on Sam's arm stopped him before he could follow.

"Thank you," said Lori.

Sam frowned. "For what?"

"For caring for Lizzie," said Lori.

"Well, I—I don't—" stammered Sam.

Lori laughed a little. "It's okay. I see the way you look at her. You have been so good for Lizzie. I don't know how much she told you, but she was hurt pretty bad. She hasn't allowed herself to get close to anyone in a long time. I hope she finds what she's looking for in you."

Sam smiled. "Thank you."

Lori looked hard into his eyes. "But if you hurt her…I will hunt you down and do the same. You got me?"

Sam smiled fondly, recognizing the elder sibling in her. "Yes, ma'am."

Lizzie swam back to them. "What's going on?"

"Oh, Lori's been telling me embarrassing sister stories, that's all," Sam replied.

Lori gave him a grateful look.

Lizzie shoved her sister. "Lori!"

Lori laughed. "Hey, the boy has a right to know what he's getting into."

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Sam. Let's leave Lori to her fantasies." She swam off.

Sam smiled and nodded at Lori before following Lizzie. She led him to a larger "building." They swam inside, where five older merpeople were waiting.

"Hello, Elizabeth," said one of the mermen. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"I wanted you to meet Sam," said Lizzie. "He's the novice."

A mermaid nodded. "Ah, yes, Samuel. We've been waiting for you."

"You know of us, don't you?" asked a merman.

Sam frowned, confused as to what he meant.

"You are a hunter, no?" asked a mermaid. "You knew of our existence before you were turned."

Sam hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

"See?" said a merman. "This is a trap! He is here to kill us all!"

"No!" said Lizzie. "He is a good man! He did kill Amanda, but he saved me from a mortal with a camera!"

They murmured at that.

The first merman to speak approached Sam and raised one hand. "With your permission?"

Sam nodded. The merman placed a palm against the side of Sam's head and closed his eyes. Sam felt an electric hum inside his head. They stayed that way for a moment.

The merman opened his eyes. "She is right. He is a pure soul. He means no harm." He held his hand out. "I am William."

"Hi," said Sam, shaking his hand in relief.

"This is Victoria," said William, introducing the Elders. "James, Debra, and the rude one is Brett."

"Nice to meet you," said Sam.

"And you," said William. "We hope to see you soon. Have a good day."

"You, too," said Sam.

"Come on," said Lizzie. "I wanna see your world."

Sam smiled as he led her towards shore.

**************************************************************************SPN*******************************************************************

"Hey, kid."

Dean looked up to see Bobby come sit next to him. "How'd you find us?"

"I'm just that good," said Bobby with a smile.

They looked back out towards the water.

"How long since Sam left?" asked Bobby.

Dean glanced at his watch. "About three hours now."

"So, how's it going?" asked Bobby. "He found the colony yet?"

"Not yet," said Dean. "He's still trying to befriend his mermaid girlfriend."

Bobby looked at him. "Girlfriend?"

"Well, he denies it, but I see the way he looks at her," said Dean. "And you should see how much he talks to her. It's kind of annoying, actually."

"Well, maybe that's the best way into the colony," said Bobby, shrugging.

"Yeah, maybe," said Dean. He narrowed his eyes, staring into the harbor. "Here they come now."

Bobby watched as two figures splashed through the water towards the dock area. Lizzie leaped over the wall first, closely followed by Sam. The two of them surfaced, laughing.

"I totally beat you," Lizzie giggled.

"Yeah, 'cause you're used to this," said Sam. "Race me on land, and we'll see who wins."

Lizzie turned towards the dock to greet Dean, and her laughter and smile froze, disappearing. She eyed Bobby fearfully before diving back under. Sam quickly went under after her.

"She's kinda jumpy," Dean told Bobby. "We didn't know you'd be here."

Lizzie and Sam resurfaced, and Lizzie looked apologetically at Bobby. She and Sam swam to the dock's edge.

"Hi," said Lizzie.

"Hi," said Bobby, waving. "I'm Bobby."

"Lizzie," she said.

Sam turned to her. "You ready?"

"Yeah…I think…" said Lizzie.

Sam grabbed onto the dock and hoisted himself up onto it. Bobby stared in amazement at Sam's mer form. Sam flopped his tail up on the dock and proceeded to concentrate. The water flowed off of him in tiny rivers and onto the dock, running off into the water. His scales slowly disappeared, and his legs grew back. Sam grabbed his jeans and slipped them on quickly. Dean held his hand out to Lizzie, and she grabbed it. Together, they hoisted her up onto the dock. Lizzie looked up at them, blushing.

"What is it?" asked Sam.

"Um…you've managed to change with clothes on, but…I don't have any on," Lizzie explained.

Sam nodded in understanding and knelt down next to her. He grabbed her up in his arms, using his hydrokinesis to keep himself dry, and headed towards the abandoned building. He set her in one of the rooms.

"I'll go get your clothes," Sam told her.

"Got 'em," said Dean from behind Sam. He put the bag beside Lizzie and headed out.

Sam followed him, and they all waited outside. Sam put the rest of his clothes on. Five minutes later, Lizzie walked out of the building, wearing jeans, a black V-neck short-sleeve shirt, a brown cargo jacket, and black boots. She stood leaning against the doorway.

"Does everything fit?" Sam asked her.

Lizzie nodded. "Yeah, it's just—" She took a step forward and collapsed onto the ground.

Sam rushed forward. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," said Lizzie. "It's just been a while."

"Here," said Sam, holding his hands out.

Lizzie grabbed onto his arms, and he helped her to stand. She looked down at her legs as she took a few small, tentative steps.

"Good," coached Sam. "That's good."

"Sammy…" said Dean.

"Yeah?" asked Sam, helping Lizzie take a couple more steps towards the Impala.

"You might want to get her to move faster," said Dean.

Sam froze, looking up at him. "Why?"

Dean was staring off into the distance. "We got company."

Sam followed his gaze towards the entrance to the dock. A pick-up truck as entering the parking lot, heading straight for them.

"Move!" hissed Sam, moving a little faster.

Lizzie stumbled on her feet, grasping at him. "Sam!"

Sam scooped her up, running towards the Impala, as Dean and Bobby ducked down behind it. Sam darted behind the Impala, holding Lizzie close. Dean peeked up over the hood of the car. The pick-up truck came to a stop. There was a huge cage in the bed of the truck. Two men jumped out, holding jars of salt and what looked like iron crowbars.

Dean looked down at Sam and Lizzie. "Bounty hunters."