The Real Ghostbusters
The Impala pulled up to the Pineview Hotel, Dean, Sam, and Michelle rushing out of it. Dean paused, seeing three sets of black Impalas parked a few feet away. He stared a moment, confused.
"Dean!" Michelle shouted, getting his attention.
"Come on!" Sam called.
They continued to run, breathing a sigh of relief at seeing Chuck pacing before the stairs that led to the front door.
"Chuck!" Sam shouted, Chuck turned, "There you are!"
"Guys?" Chuck frowned, staring at them, confused.
"What's going on?" Michelle asked.
"Uh…nothing," he shook his head, looking between them, "You know just uh…I was just kinda…hanging. What are you guys doing here?"
"You told us to come," Dean said.
"Uh, no I didn't," he shook his head.
"Yeah, you did," Sam argued, "You texted me. This address, uh life or death situation. Any of this ringing a bell?"
Chuck shook his head, "No I…I didn't send you a text."
"We drove all night!" Dean shouted.
"I'm sorry," Chuck stepped back, "Yeah, I…I don't…I don't understand what could…oh no…"
"What?" Michelle asked, frowning.
"Sam!" someone shouted. They looked over to see Sam's super-fan Becky running down the stairs towards them, "You made it!"
"Oh…um…" Sam stuttered, looking at Dean and Michelle before turning to the girl, "Becky right?"
The girl grinned widely, "Oh, you remembered! You've been thinking about me."
"I…" Sam trailed, not knowing what to say to that. He looked at Michelle, who just bit her lip to hold in her laughter.
"It's ok," Becky cut in, "I can't get you out of my head either."
"Did you take my phone?" Chuck asked her.
Becky grinned, turning to him, "I just borrowed it. From your pants."
Chuck shook his head, sighing, "Becky…"
"What? They're gonna wanna see it."
"See what?" Sam and Dean said at the same time.
"Oh my God!" Becky gasped, "I love it when they talk at the same time!"
"Really?" Michelle asked the girl, who nodded quickly, "Trust me, it gets old after a while."
"Hey!" they both turned to her.
Michelle just shook her head at them.
"Hey Chuck!" a voice called. They all looked over to see a plump man with a beard standing there, "Come on pal, it's show time."
Becky turned and ran up the stairs as Chuck turned back to the trio, "Guys I'm so sorry," they stared at him, not sure what he was talking about, "For everything," he added, before heading up the stairs after Becky.
The trio exchanged a look before following him into the hotel. They stopped short as they entered a reception area as another plump man, sans beard, but with a black leather jacket came up to them.
"Hey Dean!" the man laughed, "Looking good!"
"Who the hell are you?" Dean demanded.
The man turned and looked over at them, as though it should be obvious, "I'm Dean too. Duh," he commented before walking off.
Dean turned to look back at Sam and his eyes widened, seeing something past his shoulder. Sam and Michelle turned around to see a scarecrow enter the room. Sam and Dean tensed as Michelle just looked at it oddly.
"Uh oh, it's Sam and Dean," the scarecrow said as he walked up to them, holding up a soda as he looked at them, "I'm in trouble now," he laughed a bit, "Have fun you guys," he threatened them with a plastic scythe, "Argh…"
They just stared in confusion as the scarecrow walked off.
"What?" Dean demanded.
"Guys…" Michelle said, her gaze focused on something. The guys looked at her and then followed her gaze to see her staring at a room full of people dressed up as creatures from their previous hunts, even an Azazel. There were mugs being sold with the Impala on the front, various other merchandise, calendars, t-shirts that said 'Got Salt?'. There were fake Bobbys and fake Ashes, fake Jos and Ellens, and quite a few fake Sam, Deans, and Michelles walking around as well.
"Becky…" Sam began as the young woman walked over to them, "What is this?"
"It's awesome!" she breathed, "A 'Supernatural' convention. The first ever."
They could only look on in horror at the people standing there.
~8~
They were standing in a meeting room where people were sitting around on chairs, scores of men and women, creatures and monsters and all, staring at a stage with a mike in anticipation. Sam had tried to maneuver himself so that he was standing in between Dean and Michelle, however, it seemed like they were both conspiring against him. As a result, Michelle was in the middle, and Becky had planted herself next to him and was currently staring at him intently, making him very uncomfortable.
"Welcome to the first annual 'Supernatural' convention," the plump, bearded man from before said, walking onto the stage and over to the mike, "At 3:45 in the Magnolia Room we have the panel 'Frightened Little Boy, the Secret Life of Dean.' And at 4:30 there's the 'Homoerotic Subtext of Supernatural…'" Michelle snorted as Sam and Dean made a face at that, Sam gripping Michelle's hand tightly, "At 5:15 we have the lecture of 'Feminism in Relation to Hunters,' featuring discussions on Michelle, Jo, and Ellen," to Michelle's surprise, all the women in the crowd began to cheer, "Oh. And of course the big hunt starts at 7pm sharp," there were rounds of applause at that, "Right now…right now I'd like to introduce the man himself. The creator and the writer of the 'Supernatural' books, the one the only, Carver Edlund!"
Chuck walked onto the stage amidst cheers from the crowd, all of whom had jumped to their feet to give him a standing ovation. The trio almost felt bad when the people began to sit, revealing very nervous-looking Chuck. He reached for the mike, which back-fed. He jumped back, the cheers stopping as he looked out at the crowd.
"Ok, good, this isn't nearly as awkward as I…" he trailed off, clearing his throat, "Dry mouth…" he looked around for something to drink and spotted some water bottles a few feet away. He grabbed one and the crowd watched in rapt attention as he downed half the bottle, "Ok, um, so I guess uh, questions?" he asked and all the hands in the crowd shot up, excluding the trio and Becky, "Um…you?"
A thin man stood up, wearing clothing similar to Sam, "Hey, Mr. Edlund, uh, big fan, ok I was just wondering, where'd you come up with Sam and Dean and Michelle in the first place?"
Chuck's gaze flickered over to the trio, who were eyeing him, amused, waiting for his explanation, "Oh, uh, I uh, it just…came to me?" more hands shot up when the crowd realized that the question had been answered, "Ok, uh, yeah, the uh, hook man."
Another thin man stood, this one wearing a black trench coat, black hat that had long black curly hair attached to it, wearing a hook hand, of course, "Uh, yah. Vy in every fight scene Sam and Dean are having their gun or knife knocked avay by ze bad guy, especially ven Michelle doesn't zeem to ever lose her veapon? Vy don't they keep it on zome kind of bungee or let her handle ze veapons?"
Michelle rolled her eyes as Sam and Dean seemed to be considering this.
Of course, a man would suggest she do all the work.
"Um, yeah, yeah, I...I really don't know.." Chuck began.
"Yeah, to follow up…" hook-man continued, "Vy can't Sam and Dean be telling zat Ruby is evil? I mean, she is clearly manipulating Sam in zome kind of moral lapse…it's obvious. Even Michelle realizes zis, and she is a voman."
Dean and Sam glanced over at Michelle to see her mouth had dropped open at the sexist remark the man had made. Sam's grip on her hand tightened, trying to keep her from doing something.
"Hey!" Becky shouted, storming down the side of the crowd, "If you don't like the books, don't read 'em fritz!"
"Ok!" Chuck called, hoping to avoid a confrontation as well, "Ok! Just um…it's ok, it's ok. So um, next question…" more hands shot up, "Uh, yeah you…"
This time a woman stood up, bright red hair, dressed in jeans and a long jacket, something like what Michelle would have worn, "Hi, Mr. Edlund, big, big, very big fan. I just have to say…I love Michelle!"
Chuck nodded slowly, "Ok, great. That's…that's good…and your question?"
"No, I mean I LOVE her. Seriously, if she were real, I would chain her up in my basement and…"
"Your question!" Chuck called, eyes as wide as Michelle's, "Please, what's your question?"
"Right…" the woman had the decency to blush, "So…she's a great character, I mean really great and I just…she doesn't really think she's a better Hunter than Sam and Dean right?"
Sam and Dean looked at Michelle to see her frowning and looking confused.
"How...how do you mean?" Chuck asked, equally as confused.
"Well, sometimes her thoughts, they seem almost like she's annoyed with their methods, like she could do it better…or at least that's how I've heard people read them. Is that how it should be interpreted?"
"No!" Chuck shouted, shaking his head, "No, she doesn't think that at all, she definitely doesn't think she's a better Hunter than the guys. It's more…she thinks there's a better way to get information out of the witnesses and victims than how the brothers normally do it."
"Oh, good. So…because, Michelle totally doesn't seem like that sort of person."
"Yeah. So next ques…"
"So is she a better Hunter than the guys?" the woman cut in, still going.
"I'm sorry?"
"IS she a better Hunter than the guys?"
Sam and Dean looked over at Chuck, actually interested in the answer.
"I…I don't think I could answer…" Chuck began, "It's really up to the reader and…"
"Do YOU think she's a better Hunter?" the woman kept at it.
"Uh…" Chuck gaped, looking at the brothers, who raised an eyebrow at him, waiting. He sighed, "Yes?"
The crowd immediately burst out into a chatter, some arguments actually rising as the woman jumped up and down, excited.
"I…I just…" Chuck called, holding up a hand, trying to calm the crowd, soon enough they quieted enough for him to speak, "It's just…I know the history of the guys and Michelle, how they were raised and all. And yes, even though Sam and Dean were raised by their dad to be a Hunter, their dad really taught himself, so they're technically like second generation Hunters. Michelle, on the other hand, she's been raised since she was a kid by parents who both come from a very long line of Hunters, she's like a fourteenth generation Hunter or some other huge number. That just means that all the mistakes her ancestors made were taught through the years to the younger generations, so she's better prepared. Her parents both knew what to expect on hundreds of different hunts and prepared her much better than the boys were. So, in that sense, yes, I think she's a better Hunter, but only because of that. I mean, Sam and Dean are pretty awesome on their own, right?"
Sam and Dean considered Chuck's words and thought them over. They couldn't really disagree, Michelle had been more thoroughly trained to be a Hunter than they had. Their father hadn't actually let them participate in hunts for years while her parents actively did when she was still a kid. Hell, they both knew she was a better Hunter than they were combined.
"Other questions?" Chuck asked, feeling a little more confident after giving such a detailed answer, "You?"
Another fake Sam stood up, a bit shorter than the first one, more of a teenager this time, "Uh, yeah, at the end of the last book Dean goes to Hell and Michelle disappears, so…what happens next?"
"Oh, well, there lies an announcement, actually," Chuck chuckled nervously, "Uh, you're all gonna find out," he looked back at the trio, "Thanks to a wealthy Scandinavian investor, we're gonna start publishing again!"
The crowd went wild.
Sam and Dean were not happy, going so far as to make threatening motions, like running a finger across their neck and miming a gun to the head, at Chuck, who swallowed nervously at the action.
~8~
The trio headed into the reception area after the Q&A session with Chuck finally ended. They caught sight of him pretty quickly, sitting next to Becky, two yellowish drinks before them.
"Oh, hi Sam!" Becky shouted as soon as they were within sight.
Sam immediately grabbed Michelle's hand.
"Excuse us," Dean looked pointedly at Chuck, "In case you hadn't noticed, our plates are kinda full, ok? Finding the Colt, hunting the devil, we don't have time for this crap!"
"I didn't call you," Chuck sighed.
"I think he means the books Chuck," Michelle gave him a small smile.
"Why are you publishing more books?" Sam asked him.
"Um, for food and shelter?" Chuck tried.
"Who gave you the rights to our life's stories?" Dean glared.
"An archangel. And I didn't want it!"
"Well, deal's off," Sam said, "Ok? No more books. Our lives are not for public consumption."
"Um, Becky would you excuse us for just a second?" Chuck asked her, getting up.
"Uh huh," Becky nodded, taking a sip of her drink, watching as Chuck led them off.
"Do you guys know what I do for a living?" Chuck rounded on them as they entered another room.
"Yeah Chuck, we know," Sam rolled his eyes.
"Then could you tell me?" Chuck sighed, "Alright? 'Cause I don't. I'm not a good writer. I've got no marketable skills. I'm not some hero who can just hit the road and fight monsters. Ok? Until the world ends, I gotta live. Alright? And the 'Supernatural' books are all I've got. What else do you want me to do?" there was a scream from upstairs and the boys ran off, Sam pulling Michelle with him as he had yet to let go of her hand, "No guys, wait!"
They ran up the stairs and over to a maid, who was kneeling on the floor, startled.
"Hey, you ok?" Sam asked, helping her up.
"I think so," she breathed.
"What happened?" Michelle looked around.
"I saw a ghost."
"A ghost?" Dean gave her a look as they all turned to stare at her.
"Excuse me?" Sam frowned.
Just then the other LARPers ran up the stairs to join them.
"Ma'am could you tell us what it looked like?" one of the Fake Sams said, the first one who had asked where the characters came from.
"Why don't you leave this to the grownups pal," Dean turned to him.
"A woman, she was in an old-fashioned dress, really old, like a school mom or something," the maid began.
"Did she say something to you?" the second Fake Sam, the teenage one, continued.
"Ok, gather close everybody," the woman called, looking at the group, "For a terrifying tale of terror!" Sam turned to Dean and Michelle, realizing it was some sort of game, "I saw a ghost, none other than the ghost of Leticia Gore herself!" they walked off, "I was on the third floor, bringing ice to a guest…"
Becky ran over to them as they reached a doorway a few feet away from the group, "Oh, the LARPing's started!"
"What is that again?" Dean shook his head.
"Live action role playing," both Becky and Michelle answered as one.
Becky squealed and pulled Michelle into a one armed hug before breaking away to face the boys, "It's a game," she continued, handing them a flyer, "The convention puts it on."
"'Dad's Journal,'" Sam read, glancing at Dean before continuing, "'Dear Sam and Dean, this hotel is haunted. You must hunt down the ghost. Take Michelle if you want. Interview witnesses, discover clues, and find the bones. First team to do so wins a 50 dollar gift card to Sizzler. Love dad.'"
"I'm glad to know your dad approves of me?" Michelle said after reading that, not knowing what to think.
"What does that mean?" Sam frowned at a certain part, "'If we want?'"
Becky rolled her eyes, "Some of the people here are 'Pre-Mi's."
"Like the babies?" Dean shook his head, now very confused.
"No," Becky sighed, "Pre-Mi."
"Like Pre-Michelle?" Sam supplied.
"Exactly. Some of the guys think they can survive without Michelle helping out."
"Good luck with that," Michelle snorted, the boys nodding in agreement. They couldn't even begin to count the number of times she'd saved their asses.
"Either way," Becky smiled, "You guys are so gonna win!"
~8~
They stood in the reception area, watching as the LARPers, all dressed in suits, flashed their fake IDs at the plump man in charge, now dressed in a suit of his own with an ascot.
"Yes, Agents Lennon, Starr, and McCartney," the man began, "As manager of this fine establishment I can assure you that it is indeed haunted. This building was once an orphanage run by mean old Leticia Gore. 100 years ago, this very night, Miss Gore went insane and butchered four little boys, before killing herself. Now, lore says that the souls of those poor little boys are trapped here and that the evil spirit of Miss Gore punishes them to this very day."
"Well that's just about all the community theater I can take," Dean commented, looking at Sam and Michelle.
"Yeah, this cannot get any weirder," Sam replied.
"Don't say that…" Michelle began, as a pair of fake 'Pre-Mi's walked by.
"Dad said," the Fake Dean, the first one they had come across, said in a deep voice, "He said I may have to kill you."
"Kill me?" the Fake Sam, the first thin one, replied, his voice equally as deep, "What the hell does that mean?"
"I don't know," Fake Dean finished as they walked off.
"Told you so," Michelle shook her head at the Fakers.
Sam and Dean just turned to each other, "I need a drink."
~8~
They had now migrated to the bar, Sam and Dean having a drink, while Michelle sat, quietly talking with Sam, sipping a soda.
"How you doing?" Dean smirked, turning to a young woman dressed as the ghost of Leticia Gore.
"Busy," she replied, not looking up from where she was texting on her phone.
"Well, you sure look lovely tonight, especially for a dead chick."
"Buddy, I have heard that line 17 times tonight," she sighed, "Ok? And all from the dudes wearing the biker jackets," she looked up, eyeing him a moment before smiling, "But you seem different."
"How so?"
"Well, you don't seem scared of women."
Dean turned around at the sound of a snort to see Sam and Michelle had watched his little exchange, Michelle hiding her face in Sam's shoulder as she laughed, Sam just smiling.
Dean turned back, about to speak to the woman again, when another Fake Dean and the second Fake Sam, the teenagers, walked in, the Fake Sam bleeding from his ear and another cut on his forehead.
"For the last time," the second Fake Sam shouted, "I'm not making this up ok, she's upstairs. A real, live, dead ghost."
"Excuse me," Dean nodded at the woman before they got up and headed over to the LARPers.
"Look I'm sure it was just one of the actors," the second Fake Dean replied.
"Who beat the crap out of me and then vanished?" the second Fake Sam argued.
"You saw something?" Michelle asked as they came to the duo.
"Look, this isn't part of the game," the second Fake Sam said to her, before turning to his partner, "Tim I'm getting out of here and you should do the same."
"Alex wait!" Tim called, running after his friend as he stormed away, "Hey, come back."
"What do you think?" Sam sighed, turning to Michelle and Dean.
"I don't think that guy's a good enough actor to be acting," Dean commented.
~8~
"Why yes, Agents Jagger and Richards," the man in the ascot said to another group of LARPers, Pre-Mis, "As manager of this fine establishment I can assure you that it is indeed haunted. This building was once an orphanage…"
Sam, Dean, and Michelle rolled their eyes as they walked past the group and over to the main desk.
"Excuse me," Dean grinned at the desk man, "Mind if we ask you a few questions."
"Look, I don't have time to play 'Star Wars' guys," the manager said, "Go ask the guy in the ascot."
They shared a look before Dean moved to pull out some money, only for Michelle to slide a bill across the table towards the manager first, "Actually we really wanna talk to you," she told him.
The manager gave her a look before taking the money, "Ok, you guys are really into this."
"You have no idea," Sam muttered.
"What do you want to know?"
"All this stuff they're saying, place being haunted, Leticia Gore," Michelle began, "There any truth to it?"
"We generally don't like to publicize this to you know, normal people, but yeah. 1909 this place was called 'Gore Orphanage.' Miss Gore killed four boys with a butcher knife then offed herself."
"And is tonight really the anniversary?" Dean leaned forward so they could continue to speak quietly.
"Yup. Guess your convention folks wanted authenticity."
"There been any sightings?" Sam frowned.
"Uh, over the years, yeah, a few maids have quit, saying they heard the boys or saw them…" the manager continued, none of them noticing the first Fake Sam and Fake Dean walk up behind them, "Janitor even saw Miss Gore once."
"Where did Miss Gore carve up the kids?" Dean asked.
"Look," the manager gave them a pointed look, "I don't want you stomping all over this joint. A lot of this place is off limits to nerds…" Michelle slid him another fifty, "The attic."
~8~
They quickly made their way to the attic, crawling through a small doorway, their flashlights the only light in there. The EMF started going off the moment they stood up.
"EMF's going nuts," Sam commented.
"Great," Dean grumbled, "We got a real ghost and a bunch of dudes pretending to be us poking at it."
"No way this ends well," Michelle sighed.
"You know what? Serves them right."
"Dean…" Sam began.
"What? I'm just saying…"
He turned and headed in one direction, leaving Sam and Michelle to split up as well. It hadn't been even five minutes of looking around, before a Sam spun around to see a ghost sitting on the ground, his head in his hands.
"My mommy loves me," the little boy said, drawing the attention of Dean and Michelle, who quickly stepped over to Sam's side, "I said, my mommy loves me."
"I'm sure she does," Michelle nodded at him, not really sure what else to say.
"My mommy loves me this much!" the boy spread his arms to reveal a wound on his head, almost as though the skin had been removed, moments before he disappeared.
~8~
Back in the main reception area, Sam was on the phone, Becky watching him intently. Sam glanced over at her as she licked her hand and blew it at him, sufficiently creeping him out if his expression was anything to go by. Michelle felt a bit bad for Chuck, who seemed to be smitten with the girl and currently sitting right next to her.
"Alright so that was the guy with the county historical society," Sam said, moving to sit next to Michelle, across from Dean, at a small table.
"And?" Dean asked.
"Not only did Leticia Gore butcher four boys, one of them was her own son."
"Her son?" Michelle's eyes widened, unable to imagine a mother doing such a thing to her own flesh and blood.
"Yeah," Sam sighed, "According to the police at the time, she scalped the poor kid."
"Oh that is it, I'm gonna deep fry this bitch extra crispy," Dean threatened, "Dude say where she was buried?"
"Doesn't know," he shook his head.
"Check it out," a voice drifted over to them, they looked over to see the Fake Sam and Dean sitting a little ways away, looking at something on the table, "There's the orphanage, here's the carriage house. And right there…cemetery."
"You think that's where Leticia's planted?" Fake Dean asked.
The trio exchanged a look before getting up and heading to the Fakers' table.
"It's worth a shot," Fake Sam replied.
Sam reached out and grabbed the paper to see it was a map.
"Hey!" Fake Dean stood, taking the map back, "Hey! Do you mind?"
"That's real," Sam commented, glancing at Dean, "Century old at least. And it's right there, there's a cemetery on the grounds."
"Where'd you get that?" Dean turned to glare at the two men.
Fake Dean just folded the map up, "It's called a game pal, it ain't called charity."
"Yeah, right," Dean rolled his eyes, "Give me the map Chuckles."
"Yeah, well, you're the Chuckles, Chuckles. Sides, Dean don't listen to nobody," he opened his jacket to reveal a fake gun in his belt.
"Dean!" Fake Sam chastised, "Cool it."
"Is it bad that I want to smack them too?" Michelle asked randomly, eyeing the two men.
Dean just reached into his belt and pulled out his very real gun, "Dean!" Sam hissed.
"What?" Dean demanded, but put it away nonetheless, "They're freakin' annoying!"
"Look, guys, we all wanna find the bones right?" Michelle stepped in, seeing that both brothers, both sets of them, were starting to get annoyed with the other, "We just thought it would all go faster if we work together."
The two Fakers seemed to consider this a moment before Fake Sam spoke, "We uh…we get the Sizzler gift card."
"Fine," Dean replied quickly.
"We get to be Sam and Dean," Fake Dean added.
Dean and Sam shared a look.
"Fine," Dean repeated.
"Yes!" Fake Dean cheered.
~8~
The five of them were heading through the cemetery that night, Fake Sam and Fake Dean up ahead, Sam, Dean, and Michelle trailing behind, though Michelle was a bit ahead of the boys, standing in between the two groups.
"Hey, Ellen, Jo!" Fake Dean called back, "Would you and Michelle hurry it up!"
"You alright?" Sam asked Dean.
"Trying to be," Dean commented, before glaring at Michelle's back, "You couldn't just let them keep calling us Bobby and Rufus?"
"What, and be outnumbered?" Michelle glanced over her shoulder, smirking, "Four to one?"
"Like you couldn't take all of us," Dean rolled his eyes at her.
She just winked and turned back to walking.
"So where were we?" Fake Sam turned to his partner.
"Dr. Elecomby just nabbed your brain," Fake Dean replied.
"Right, got it," Fake Sam nodded, clearing his throat and deepening it, "Why are we even here Dean? Are you just following dad's footsteps like a good little soldier? Are you that desperate for approval?"
Sam and Dean shared a look at that, watching one of their experiences being repeated before them…and badly.
"This isn't you talking Sam," Fake Dean said.
"See, that's the difference between you and me, I got a mind of my own. I'm not pathetic."
"So what are you gonna do Sam? You gonna kill me?"
"Man, I am so sick of you telling me what to do…" Fake Sam began.
"Alright, you know what, that's…that's it!" Dean cut in. The Fake duo stopped and turned to face the trio, "That is it."
"What's wrong Jo?" Fake Dean asked.
"I'm not Jo, ok?" Dean glared at them, "You're not Sam, you're not Dean. What is wrong with you? Why in the hell would you choose to be these guys?"
"Because we're fans," Fake Sam replied, his voice not deep anymore, "Like you."
"You think they're fans?" Michelle asked, an eyebrow raised. This whole experience was very amusing. She actually felt like Sam and Dean should be more honored, imitation was the sincerest form of flattery after all.
"I am not a fan, ok," Dean ground out, "Not fans! In fact, I think that the Dean, Sam, and Michelle story sucks. It is not fun…"
"It's a little fun," Michelle shrugged.
"It's not entertaining…" Dean tried again.
"I think it is," Michelle countered.
Dean rolled his eyes at her and turned back to the Fakers, "It is a river of crap that would send most people howling to the nut house…"
"And we probably will end up there at some point," Michelle agreed to that part at least.
"So you listen to me," Dean pointed at them, "Their pain is not for your amusement. I mean, do you think they enjoy being treated like circus freaks?"
"Uh, I don't think they care," Fake Dean cut in, staring at Dean as though he were crazy, "Because they're fictional characters!"
"They care," Dean replied, "Believe me. They care a lot," he shoved his way through them to continue on, leaving the Fakers to turn and look to Sam and Michelle for some sort of explanation to his reaction.
"He, uh, he takes the story really seriously," Sam said.
"And therein lies the entertainment," Michelle smirked as she took Sam's hand and led him past the Fakers after Dean.
~8~
They stepped into the older part of the cemetery, their flashlights switching from gravestone to gravestone, looking for one in particular.
"Found the four boys," Michelle called.
"And here's Leticia Gore," Sam added, his light on one at the corner of the small area.
"Uh, what are you guys doing?" Michelle asked, looking up to see Fake Sam and Fake Dean still looking around.
"Uh, looking for bones," Fake Dean said as though it should be obvious, before deepening his voice, "Gotta be around here somewhere."
"Generally bones are in the ground," Dean told them.
"Yeah, I know that," Fake Dean rolled his eyes, "I'm just…" he turned to see Sam and Michelle pulling shovels out of a pack, "Wait, hold on. Are you guys serious?"
"Deathly," Dean replied as Michelle handed him a shovel.
"We're not really digging up graves," Fake Sam said, "You guys…we're just playing the games."
"Trust us," Dean smirked, "You wanna win the game right?"
The Fakers could only watch in horror as Dean started to dig.
~8~
Michelle was finishing up the digging in the grave, it being her turn to do so, while Sam and Dean held a light on her for her to see. Her shovel thumped, hitting the coffin. The wind started to pick up as Sam and the Fakers looked up, only one of the three knowing what that meant.
"Hurry up," Dean muttered, having felt the chill.
Michelle nodded and opened the coffin to reveal a skeleton.
"That's uh, not a plastic skeleton," Fake Dean said, starting to look ill, "That's a skeleton skeleton."
Michelle just looked up as Sam held out a hand to pull her up.
"You just dug up a real grave," Fake Sam gaped, looking pale.
"Yep," Michelle nodded, kneeling down by her bag to sort through their supplies.
"You guys are nuts," Fake Dean shook his head, taking a step back.
"I thought you guys said you wanted to be Hunters?" Sam asked them.
"Hunters aren't real man!" Fake Dean shouted as he and his partner backed away, "This isn't real!"
"My God, you guys have seriously lost your grip on this," Fake Sam began, turning to look back at them before slowly stopping, his partner stopping as well as they both looked past Sam.
"What?" Sam asked. He turned, only to see the ghost of Leticia Gore standing beside him.
"Naughty, naughty, naughty!" she screeched, pushing Sam, sending him flying.
Fake Sam and Fake Dean ran for it. Fake Sam stumbled and fell, Fake Dean running back for him and helping him up. They turned to run again, only for Leticia to appear before them.
"Naughty, naughty, naughty!" she cried.
"Oh my God!" Fake Sam shouted.
The ghost reached out for them, her arm reaching through their chests to squeeze their heats. A moment later she disappeared as a shot rang out. They fell to the ground, gasping, looking up to see Michelle with her shotgun aimed.
Dean quickly threw a match into the grave he'd just salted and poured gas on, effectively making sure Leticia wouldn't attack again.
"Real enough for you?" Dean asked the Fakers grimly as Michelle went to help Sam up.
They could only stare at the trio, stunned.
~8~
Back in the bar, Fake Sam and Fake Dean were sitting there, hunched over their drinks.
"That was…really…" Fake Sam began, unable to find the words.
"Awful, right?" Dean asked, making the Fakers jump, "Exactly," the two men turned in their seats to see Dean standing behind them, Sam and Michelle on either side of them. Dean pulled out a bill and slapped it on the table, "Round's on us guys."
"See you around," Michelle smiled, patting them on the back before they turned to leave.
"Hey!" Fake Sam called, they turned, "How did you know how to do all that?"
"We um…" Sam began, "We read the books."
They nodded their goodbyes and headed out, stopping by Chuck on the way.
"Hey Chuck!" Dean called, Chuck looked up, "Good luck with the uh, 'Supernatural' books. And screw you very much."
Michelle just shook her head at Dean, but could do little else than offer Chuck an apologetic smile as the boys turned to leave. Unfortunately, someone else seemed to have other ideas, the doors wouldn't open. Sam checked the lock, seeing it unlocked, but the doors remained stuck.
"That's weird," Dean commented.
"Definitely," Sam agreed.
"Unfortunately," Michelle sighed, she had a bad feeling about this.
They headed back into the hotel, trying different doors and windows that led outside, but none budged.
"Anything?" Dean asked, giving up on his window and turning to Sam and Michelle.
"Everything's locked," Michelle confirmed.
"Almost like…" Sam began.
"Something's keeping us in?" Dean supplied, trying the window once more, "Yeah."
"This is bad."
"You think Sammy?"
There was a scream and they were off, running through the hotel, to see the young woman who had portrayed Leticia Gore, backing out of a room.
"Don't go in there!" she shouted as they rushed up to her.
"Get downstairs, ok, go," Dean pushed her down the hall, "Go!"
They slowly walked into the room to see the ghost with the wounded head sitting in the corner, "Why'd you do that?" he asked them, "Why did you send my mommy away?"
"Uh, maybe 'cause of the high and tight she gave you?" Dean said, gesturing to his head, "Huh? How about some thanks?" Sam cleared his throat, Dean rolled his eyes, "What I'm just saying, a little gratitude might be nice once in a while."
"Oh no…" Michelle breathed, the boys looked at her but she was staring at the ghost, "Your mom didn't do that to you, did she?"
Sam and Dean's eyes widened as they turned back to the ghost, who shook his head.
"What?" Sam shook his head, "Then who did?"
The ghost just flashed out. They had just made it back to the hallway when they heard a shout. They ran down the hall but were too late, the hook-man was lying on the floor, bleeding from his head, dead.
~8~
Chuck was standing before the audience, the mike in his hands, "Well guys, I guess we're…we're out of time, so thank you for your incredibly probing and rigorous questions…and uh, have a good night. Hey!" Sam suddenly ran onto the stage and whispered in his ear about what had happened, "What?! Holy crap!"
Sam covered the mike, looking out at the audience, "Chuck!"
"Are you serious?" Chuck hissed. Sam just glanced over to the door, Chuck followed his gaze to see Michelle standing there…with a shotgun…not a good thing, "Yup, you're serious."
"You gotta keep everyone safe in here Chuck. This is life or death."
"For how long?"
"As long as it takes."
"Well, how the hell am I supposed to do that?"
Sam just looked back at the audience, "I don't know man. Just do it!"
He ran off the stage, leaving Chuck slightly flabbergasted as to what to do, a moment later he turned back to the audience, "Ok, so good news, I got…much more to tell you…I guess…awesome…"
The door to the room suddenly opened and Dean appeared, leading the manager and other staff members in.
"Buddy I got work to do," the manager complained as he entered.
"You're gonna wanna see this, trust me," Dean smiled, "It's gonna be a hell of a show. Alright?" he kept ushering the rest of the staff in, the Fake Leticia as well, "Here we go, here we go," as soon as they were all in, they shut the doors and drew a salt line across them.
"Uh, what does the future hold for Sam, Dean, and Michelle?" Chuck continued on in the background, "Well, uh, how do you feel about angels? Yeah, no, 'cause, let me tell you, they're not nearly as lame as you think."
"Ok," Dean straightened, heading back to Sam and Michelle.
"New theory?" Michelle asked.
"Well the legends about Leticia are ass backwards, obviously."
"Yeah," Sam agreed, "So, alright, let's say, those…those three orphans were playing 'Cowboys and Indians.'"
"LARPing," Michelle smirked, "As Cowboys and Indians."
"Whatever," Sam shook his head, "And let's say they scalped Leticia's son and killed him."
"Mom catches them in the act, flips out, slices them and dices herself," Dean finished.
"If that's true, then that means we've got three bloodthirsty brats in the building," Michelle reminded them.
"Yeah, Leticia was the only one keeping them under control."
"Until we took her out," Sam sighed.
"Smooth move on our part," Dean rolled his eyes, "Alright, well we've gotta get back to the cemetery and torch the kids' bones."
"How?" Michelle asked, "We're trapped and I'm the only one that has a gun."
"The ghosts are running this joint and they're only scared of one thing," Sam agreed.
"Exactly," Dean smirked, a light bulb going off in his head.
~8~
"You want me to do what?" the Fake Leticia demanded.
"You're an actress ok, we just want you to act," Dean replied.
"I work at Hooters in Toledo. No, you can forget it."
"You'll be safe," Michelle said, "We promise, this is really important."
Someone touched Dean's shoulder and he spun around to see Fake Sam and Fake Dean from before standing there.
"We want to help," Fake Dean told him.
"Just give her the puppy dog thing, ok?" Dean said to Sam, "And if that doesn't work, let Michelle work her hoodoo…" he turned to face the duo before Michelle could retort. He knew she hated it when he called her skill at playing people 'hoodoo,' but it was more of a sibling bickering thing than anything and, with the end of the world looming, he was not about to give that little bit of normalcy up, "Guys, no."
"Why not?" Fake Sam asked.
"Because this isn't make-believe."
"We know, we're not nuts, we're freakin' terrified," Fake Dean breathed.
"Yeah," Fake Sam agreed, "But, if all these people are seriously in trouble, we gotta do something."
"Why?" Dean frowned.
"Because that's what Sam and Dean would do," Fake Dean answered.
"And Michelle would kick their asses if they didn't," Fake Sam added.
"Ah, there's really no such thing as a Croatoan Virus for down there," Chuck continued, gesturing at his nether region, "Uh, you really should see a doctor."
~8~
The Fake Leticia walked into a study, looking around fearfully, "Uh…I really don't want to do this…"
Dean and Michelle leaned in from the doorway, "We're right here sweetheart," Dean reassured her.
"We've got your back," Michelle agreed. They had decided she should go with Dean and the actress as they were hoping to lure the ghosts there, and they would need the shotgun more than Sam and the Fakers would trying to get out one of the doors.
"Trust us, this is gonna work," Dean assured her, clutching an iron poker to his chest as they leaned back into the hallway.
"Boys!" Fake Leticia called, "Boys! Come here this instant! You come when I call you. Do you understand me?!"
"Miss Gore?" a voice said.
She turned to see the three ghost boys standing before her.
"You boys have been very naughty," she continued, "Now you open the doors. Open the doors right now!" they flickered back a step, scared, "Very naughty! You hear me? Naughty, naughty, naughty!"
It seemed like it was actually working…
When the woman's cell phone began to play its ringtone.
The ghosts looked at each other, confused for a moment, until Fake Leticia pulled out the cell. They turned to her, glaring, as they realized she wasn't really Miss Gore. Dean and Michelle exchanged a look, nodding, before stepping into the room.
"Run," Dean said, moving before her as she ran from the room, Michelle making sure she made it to the hall before joining Dean.
A moment later the ghosts blasted them against the walls. Dean dropped the poker, but Michelle managed to hang onto the gun and blasted the ghost that charged at her. She went to reload to fire at the ghost by Dean, when Sam ran into the room, picking up the fallen poker and swiping it through the two ghosts, vanishing them.
He reached out, helping Dean up as she stood herself, cocking the gun.
"Thanks," Dean breathed.
Sam went to wave it off, when he was knocked back by another ghost, dropping the poker.
"Sam!" Michelle shouted, blasting the ghost that had attacked him, only for another ghost to knock Dean back and land on top of him, "Dean!" she yelled, blasting that ghost as well.
The brothers jumped to their feet, ready for the next onslaught, as the three ghosts appeared, ready to attack…only to burst into flames.
They all let out a breath of relief, Dean bending down to scoop up the poker, "You know, maybe that guy was right," he commented as they looked at him, "Maybe we should put these things on a bungee."
"Well, you should," Michelle smirked, just waving the shotgun, which she'd held onto throughout, at them.
~8~
That morning, the police were there to collect the bodies from the attack. Dean walked down the drive with the Fakers, stopping to face them, "You know, I gotta hand it to you guys. You really saved our asses back there," and they had. When the ghosts had started to waver, the doors had opened enough for the Fakers to get out of the hotel, Sam getting trapped inside though. They'd made it to the cemetery, dug up the graves, salted and burned the remains, all on their own. They really did save the day, "You know, thanks. Guys, I don't even know your names."
"Oh, well, I'm Barnes," Fake Sam introduced, "This is Damien. What's yours?"
"Dean," he said, "The real Dean."
The duo looked at him a moment, before bursting out with laughter.
"Ha, yeah right," Damien laughed, "Me too."
"Get the hell outta here," Barnes agreed, "Dean."
Dean just nodded, "Well, anyway, thanks. Really."
He turned to head off, when Damien called him back, "You're wrong though."
Dean turned around, "Sorry?"
"About 'Supernatural,'" Damien continued, "No offense, but…I'm not sure you get what the story is about."
"Is that so?"
"Well, in real life, he sells stereo equipment," Damien nodded at Barnes, "I fix copiers. Our lives suck. But to be Sam and Dean, or even Michelle, to wake up every morning and save the world? To have a brother who would die for you? A friend like Michelle who would stick by you and protect you? Well, who wouldn't want that?"
Dean considered that a minute, "Maybe you got a point. Anyway, you two don't make a bad team yourselves. How do you know each other anyway?"
"Oh, well, we met online," Barnes smiled, "'Supernatural' chat room."
"Oh, oh, well must be nice to get out of your parents' basement and make some friends," Dean smiled.
"We're more than friends," Damien replied, taking Barnes's hand, "We're partners."
"Oh…" Dean's eyes widened at that bit of information, Barnes just leaned over to put his head on Damien's shoulder, "Well…howdy partners."
"Howdy," Barnes smiled.
"Right on!" a voice said from beside them. They looked over to see Michelle walking over, smiling, "Congrats!" she called, walking past them and over to Sam.
Dean watched her go before turning back to the duo, "You uh, you know what?" he began, smiling again, "Word of advice…find yourselves a Michelle…trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run," he shrugged, "Maybe that redhead, clearly she'd be more into Jo than you," he laughed, nodding at them and heading off to wait by the Impala, still mulling over their words.
~8~
"Look Sam," Becky was saying to Sam, "I'm not gonna lie, we had undeniable chemistry. But, like a monkey on the sun, it was too hot to live. It can't go on," she took Chuck's, who had been standing next to her, hand, "Chuck and I, we found each other, my yin to his proud yang, and well, the heart wants what the heart wants. I am so, so sorry."
"Yeah Sam," Chuck nodded, "You know, I'm sorry."
Sam nodded slowly.
"Will you be alright?" Becky asked, concerned. She couldn't help it though, the hotel manager had tried to leave the conference room, breaking the salt line, and nearly let a ghost in. Chuck had saved the day, swiping the ghost with am iron poker and ordering them to salt the door…he'd been so…amazing…
"I'll make sure of it," a voice said. They looked over to see Michelle walk over, wrapping an arm around Sam's waist as he placed an arm over her shoulders, smiling, much more comfortable now that he didn't have to handle Becky alone.
"Ok, oh, um hey, Chuck," Sam turned to Chuck, "Look, if you really wanna publish more books, I guess that's ok with us."
"Wow," Chuck's eyes widened, "Really?"
"No, not really," Sam replied seriously, "We have guns and we'll find you."
"Ok, ok," Chuck swallowed hard, "No more books."
Michelle rolled her eyes, "Don't worry about them, Chuck. You publish as many books as you want. I'll deal with the boys."
"Deal with us?" Sam asked.
Michelle just smirked and turned, pulling Sam into a deep, passionate kiss that left him breathless and gasping, and more than a little bit stunned when she pulled away.
"So the books…" she smiled at Sam.
"Books?" he asked, blinking rapidly though it did nothing to help his daze, "Books, right, yeah…books…"
"Chuck can publish them?" she asked, nearly laughing.
But all Sam could muster was another round of "Books, right, yeah…books…"
Michelle did laugh this time and turned to Chuck, "Take that as a yes," she gave him a wink and walked off, pulling Sam with her.
"Wait!" Becky called, rushing up to them, "One more thing!" they turned, Sam managing to shake himself out of his daze, "In Chapter 33 of 'Supernatural,' Time Is on My Side, there's that girl Bela, she's British and like a cat burglar…"
"Yeah, yeah we know," Sam nodded, finally coherent.
"She stole the Colt from you and then she said she gave it to Lilith, remember?" Becky began.
"Yeah…" Michelle said slowly.
"Well you know she lied right? She never really gave it to Lilith."
"Wait, what?" Sam's eyes widened.
"Didn't you read the book?"
Sam looked at Michelle, knowing she'd read quite a few of them, "I only read the ones before me," she replied, just as surprised.
"There's this one scene where Bela gives the Colt to a demon named Crowley," Becky explained, not noticing Michelle stiffen at the name, neither did Sam for that matter, far too shocked at what Becky was saying, "Lilith's right-hand man, I think her lover too."
"Crowley?" Sam turned to Chuck, "It didn't occur to you to tell us this before?"
"I'm sorry," Chuck shrugged, "I…I didn't remember, I'm not as big of a fan as she is."
"Becky, tell us everything," Sam turned back to the woman, who looked pleased to be able to help.
~8~
Dean was waiting by the Impala as Sam and Michelle walked up, a smile on his face.
"You ok?" Michelle asked.
"Yeah," he nodded, "You know, I think I'm good."
"Well, you're not gonna believe it but, we got a lead on the Colt," Sam told him.
"What?" Dean's eyes widened.
"Long story, tell you on the way?"
"What are we waiting for?"
They all piled in the Impala and drove off, their next hunt, the Colt.
A/N: Lol, Pre-Mi. So Chuck thinks she's a better Hunter, because of how she was raised. The boys tend to agree...but just how thoroughly was she trained? How far back does her family line, her Hunter line, actually go? We'll find out in four chapters :) But...did you love that red-head? I felt like, there were so many questions naturally asked about the boys that something had to be asked about Michelle. I really wanted to make her feel as uncomfortable as the boys were feeling, and that seemed like a good way to go :)
On a slightly sad note...next chapter...Jo, Ellen, hellhounds...fans of the show will know what's coming for them, but...will anything be different with Michelle there? Oh yes. Just remember, the boys know Michelle made a deal with the 'King of the Crossroad Demons' to take Dean's place in Hell and we all know who that is...how will they react? Especially when Sam remembers exactly how a deal with such a demon is sealed.
And...on an even sadder note...this story will be over in like 2 weeks! No! I hate it when they end. But still, we'll get a BBC's Sherlock story to follow :)