A Chance Meeting

Chapter 6

Investigation

Hazel was able to talk Max into joining them for lunch but only after he found out they were planning to head into town for it. Guess he doesn't want me alone with these two, she thought to herself, as they climbed into their dad's truck. Sam and Dean were in the truck bed and Max and Hazel were in the cab. It seemed Max wanted to continue their earlier discussion.

" I still don't see how you can trust those two? Hazel you are the most realistic person I know."

"That doesn't mean much Max. Most the people you know are whishy-washy."

Max glared at her, "You know what I mean Hazel. You just meet these two and already you are believing the cock and bull story about a monster living in the woods."

Hazel looked at her brother, "Max, you weren't there. You didn't see this thing. It nearly killed me and would have to if it weren't for Annie. Those two might be crazy they might not be, but I do know what I saw."

Max was silent for a moment, "Is that the only reason you believe them?"

Hazel returned her gaze to the front window. She knew he was referring to Sam. "Yes Max, that is the only reason."

They pulled into Hanna's Dinner parking lot and Sam and Dean hoped out of the truck. "So long as that's all," Max told his sister as he got out. She shook her head and got out as well.

Jamie, Hazel's best friend was working and showed them to a quiet table in the back, "If you give me a moment I'll be back to get your orders. Hey Hazel can I talk to you for a second?" Hazel excused herself and followed Jamie to the servers' station.

"Who are the hotties?" She asked as she filled their drink orders.

Hazel smiled, "The tall one is Sam and the other is his brother Dean. And no Jamie they aren't from here."

Jamie set the drinks on the tray and nodded, "Well that much is obvious. Trust me two hotties like that and I would know all about them. So how did you meet them?"

Hazel leaned against the server counter, "Sam fell in the river and Max and I helped him out."

Jamie snorted, "You mean Sam fell in the river and YOU pulled him out. You forget I dated your brother, his swimming skills leave something to be desired." She had finished the drinks but still wanted more info in the two handsome strangers. "And they what, stayed over night?"

"As a matter of fact yes. Their car broke down and Max and Dean are in the process of fixing it." Hazel went to pick up the tray with the drinks but Jamie stopped her.

"Alright, one more question. Can I have Sam?"

"No!"

Jamie smirked at Hazel's too quick reply, "Fine I get Dean." She picked up the tray and headed back to the table, Hazel followed blushing.

Lunch was enjoyable, and Jamie made every excuse to stay at the table. She flirted shamelessly with Dean, but Dean was flirting just as badly back. By the time they left, Dean had Jamie's number and Jamie had Dean's cell number.

"Dose your brother always work that fast?" Hazel asked Sam as they walked out to the truck, Sam carrying a doggie bag for Annie.

"Yea, he does."

Hazel smiled, "Then he and Jamie should get along perfectly." He helped her into the cab and he and Dean climbed into the back. Once they reached the house Dean and Max headed to work on the car while Sam and Hazel went back to looking for more information on the Wampus Cat.

Annie sat at Sam's feet munching on the leftovers they had brought her; Sam was again on the computer and Hazel sat next to him re-reading the newspaper. She was hoping something would pop out at her. Something they had missed, something that would explain why this thing was killing. She re read the names of the first two victims and it clicked. "Sam! I got it! The connection between the victims."

She spread the newspaper in front of him and pointed to the article she had been reading. "Each of them was bidding on land not far from here. Todd Maculae, Diana Black, Josh Hoston, and David Packard, were all bidding on the same piece of land."

Sam read the article but shook his head, "But that doesn't explain why the thing would kill them or why it tried to kill you."

"Well I'm not sure about why it's killing but as for me," she turned the page and showed him the last article complete with picture. "This is Susan Miller. I have run into her while jogging a few times. Guess what she's bidding on as well." She let Sam look over the paper as she stood. "I don't think the Wampus Cat was after me. It says in that article that Miller broke her leg yesterday tripping over cats or something. If she hadn't she would have been jogging this morning, like always. My guess is the Wampus Cat mistook me for her."

Sam closed the newspaper, "That still doesn't explain why it would target these people. I mean why would it care who gets that land? It's not Indian ground and it has nothing to do with the Wampus Cat."

Hazel crossed her arms and Sam could tell she was thinking hard. Her eyebrows were crinkled and her head was cocked to one side, as if listening to something. But her eyes didn't leave him. He started to fidget under her gaze.

"So lets presume that Miller had been killed," she said still gazing at him intently. "Who's the next highest bidder?"

The light clicked on in Sam's head, "You're thinking someone else is pulling the strings."

"It would make sense. We need to go back out and take a look around were Annie and I were attacked."

Annie perked her ears at her name. "Sorry girl, not this time." Hazel grabbed Sam's arm and pulled him up. "Come on."

"Wait, right now?" He looked at her, "What about Dean and Max?"

"It won't take all four of us to just look around, and besides if I am right, we won't have to worry about the Wampus Cat."

Sam hesitated, "I still think we should tell Dean and Max?"

Hazel rolled her eyes at him, "Fine." She headed out of the study and down the hall. Dean and Max were working on the Impala, "Hey Max. Sam and I are going for a walk. I have the cell if you need anything. Alright?" Max gave an impatient wave.

"Dean have you finished installing the fuel line yet?" Max asked Dean from under the hood. Dean was under the car. "Yea, yea, yea. I'm working on it," was the response.

Hazel turned back to the house and Sam was right there. "There now. I told them."

Sam grinned at her, "Yea but did they hear you."

"Doesn't matter. Besides I'll leave them a note on the fridge." She hastily scribbled a note, stuck it on the fridge and took Sam's hand leading him out the door to the dirt bikes. "These will be faster the walking." She tossed him Max's helmet and started to slip hers' on.

"Umm. I've never ridden bikes before," Sam told her while looking at the bikes as if they were a five headed monster.

Hazel slipped the helmet on to hid the grin, "Then you'll have to ride with me, cause I am not walking." She hopped on her bike, started it up and looked back at Sam. He was still holding the helmet. "Well?" She asked over the roar of her bike.

Sam gave in, slipped on the helmet and climbed on the back of Hazel's bike. She smiled again as he slipped his arms around her waist. She gunned the bike and her smiled widened as Sam's grip tightened. I could get use to this, she thought.

It was a relatively short ride. Hazel stopped the bike and took a little pleasure in the fact that Sam didn't immediately release his grip on her. She removed her helmet and Sam did the same. "So this is were Annie and I ran into our little fur ball."

Sam swung his leg off the bike and Hazel kicked out the stand, setting her helmet on the bar. Sam had gone over to where the Wampus Cat had stood when Hazel first saw it.

"So it was here and you and Annie were about where you are now?" He walked on a little farther and Hazel followed. They came to a fork in the road. "What's down that way?"

"That is where Susan Miller lives. This is about where I would always run into her. Usually as she is finishing up and headed home."

Sam didn't say anything and Hazel stepped up beside him, "So you think I'm right? I mean about Susan being the target, not me."

Sam looked down at her and she felt that familiar shiver. God, she thought, with just one look this guy makes me go weak in the knees. He smiled at her, seeing her cheeks flush.

"Yea, I think your right about Susan being the target." He took her hand and led her back to the bikes. "If were lucky, who ever is pulling the Wampus strings has to be in close proximity."

Hazel's hand felt really warm all of a sudden, "How is that a good thing?" she asked, her voice catching. Sam released her hand and took his helmet where he had left it.

"That means they'll have to be in the area when it attacks. It didn't get the intended target and I am willing to bet they'll try again tomorrow."

Hazel's face fell, "Which means they might kill the wrong person this time." She took her helmet and hoped on in front of Sam. "So are you thinking a trap?"

Sam looped his arms around her waist and nodded. They rode back towards the house but Hazel took the bike trail. There was something she had wanted to show Sam. The trial dipped and curved, Sam's grip tightened and Hazel felt warm. She headed up the last hill. They came to the top and she stopped the bike, shut it off and removed her helmet. They had arrived right when she had wanted to.

She looked over her shoulder to Sam, who had removed his helmet. She could read his face perfectly. They were sitting on the up most hill over looking Crystal Lake, the sun was setting and the hues of red and gold were bouncing off the lake. It looked as if the whole lake was on fire.

She kicked the stand and got off. Sam followed. "Just wanted to show you this." She sat down on the edge of the cliff and let her legs dangle over it. Sam sat down beside her.

"This is amazing."

She smiled over the landscape and looked over at Sam. He was gazing out over the landscape, taking it all in. "I sometimes come up here. Usually just to think or if Max and I are having issues." She looked back out just as Sam turned his head towards her.

"Yea it's beautiful."

She felt him brush her hair back and looked over at him. She could tell he wasn't talking about the sunset. She smiled into the hand that rested on her cheek. He started to lean into her.

Her cell phone started ringing. Sam smiled and pulled back. "That's probable Dean and Max."

Hazel pulled out the phone and saw HOME on it. Damn it to hell.

"Hello Max."

"Where the hell are you?" Max seemed a little ticked off, but then again Hazel wasn't too happy herself.

"Sam and I are at Crystal lookout. Why did you need something?"

Sam stood up and helped Hazel to her feet. "What the hell are you doing there?" She knew why he was getting ticked now. Crystal lookout was a known make out point. She would run into couples up here all the time. She grinned wickedly, even though Max couldn't see her.

"What do you think we're doing here Max?" She asked as she took the helmet Sam offered her.

"You had better not be doing what I think you're doing." Hazel got onto her bike and let Sam wrap his arms around her. Her grin widened at it.

"I'm hanging up now Max, see you in a little bit." She snapped her phone shut, pulled on her helmet and started back to the house. By the time they got there it was dark and Max and Dean were sitting on the porch waiting. They both climbed off the bike and up the few steps leading to the porch. "So what's for dinner? Sam and I are starving."

Hazel noticed the look of concern pass between Max and Dean, she grinned wider. "Oh come on you two. We haven't eaten since lunch and ridding bikes makes one hungry." She took Sam's hand and left the Max and Dean on the porch.

Annie was sitting on the couch and perked up when Hazel and Sam entered. She didn't get off the couch but looked at the two of them as if asking for one of them to love on her. Sam sat on next to her and petted her head, while Hazel went into the kitchen to start something for dinner.

"How does pasta sound, Sam?" She asked pulling out the noodles.

"Good to me," Max said coming in and opening the cupboard with the pots. He pulled one out and started to fill it with water. Hazel smirked. The only time Max would ever help with dinner was if he wanted something.

"So where's Dean?" She asked setting the noodles next to the stove and grabbing the cutting board.

Max set the water on the stove and went to the fridge, "He's in the living room with Sam and Annie. I think they are talking about hunting that thing in the morning." He pulled out some left over sausage and set it next to the cutting board. Hazel peeled the lid back and dumped it on the cutting board.

"And I suppose the only reason you are helping me with dinner is cause you want to know what I was doing at Crystal lookout?"Max was pulling out the tomato paste and sauce. He grabbed for another pot and set it next to the water. "I was going to, but then Dean told me it was none of my business."

Hazel stopped chopping up the meat and looked at her brother, "Since when do you agree with a complete stranger?"

Max had opened the cans and was dumping them into the empty pot, "Since I realized that your instincts about people have never been wrong." He faced his sister. "Look Hazel, I should have believed you about that thing. All right. You have never been the kind of person to exaggerate something. And if you say that thing wasn't normal, then I need to believe you." He turned back to the sauce. "Not really sure why I didn't in the first place."

Hazel came up behind him and dumped the meat into the sauce, then hugged him from behind. "Does this mean you like Dean and Sam now?"

He patted his sister's arm, "Dean, yes. Sam, I'm not sure but there is just something about him I don't like." Hazel pulled away from him and slugged him in the shoulder blade. He didn't even turn around. "Must be the fact that he's macking on my sister."

Hazle got out the Burgundy and dumped about a cups worth in the sauce. "Just for the record, I let you date my best friend. You owe me one."

"Fine but after him I get to dislike all the rest of the guys you chose to mack with."

Hazel grinned at him, then kissed him on the cheek, "I haven't macked on him Max. You keep interrupting." She pulled out the bread and started to slice it. But she heard Max mutter under his breath.

"Good."