Disclaimer: You know the drill. Supernatural isn't mine (sadness).
I'm so sorry for the really long wait. School is really busting my butt. I won't post for at least the next two weeks due to finals, but don't worry because I will post another chapter during the winter break.
Big thanks to one of my guest readers, Tya, for reviewing; I'm glad you are enjoying the story thus far!
The Impala slows down in front of an abandoned asylum. Dean steps out slowly, taking the place in. It wasn't hard to figure out where Sam was once they got to Fall River, Massachusetts. Asking directly about Sam had been a bust, but once he started to ask about a creepy, secluded place, this was the one that everyone mentioned. Some people even dropped the word 'haunted.'
Bushes and vines and other green plants covered the place. The building looked like it was being swallowed up by the earth. Dean pulled out a flask of holy water from his jacket pocket as Gordon joined him in front of the asylum.
"Might as well just walk up to the front and see if it's unlocked." Gordon casually walks past the startled Winchester and tries the vine-covered door.
"Gordon! You can't just go in through the front door!" Dean hissed. "Are you trying to get us killed?"
Gordon rolled his eyes. "Relax, Dean. No one's here. Look."
The door swings open to reveal a dimly lit waiting room. Just as Gordon predicted, there was no on in sight.
Dean grit his teeth, trying not to murder the man next to him. If only he could knock him off his high horse...
A sound off to Dean's right made him whirl, holy water at the ready. As the startled rat scampered away, Gordon laughed. "Are you going to be flinching at every sound you hear? I've already told you: there is no one here."
Dean glared at the smug hunter. "And how the hell do you know that?!"
"Dean, your brother is working with demons, remember? I did a little research, and all signs of demonic activity in this area stopped a day ago. The demons left this place yesterday, and, if I had to guess, your brother left with them."
Dean glared at Gordon. Ugh, why did the guy have to be so damn cocky? "Sam could still be here, and I am gonna search every last inch of this place if I have to." Dean growled.
Gordon shrugged. "Lead the way."
Sam looked back at Emily as she lets out a small gasp. He didn't see anything disturbing outside the car. They were passing by small white houses, a church, the town bar...
"Stop the car!" Emily all but shouted. Sam stepped on the brakes and parked the car next to the bar.
He turned in his seat. "Emily, what's the matter?"
Emily looked close to tears. "Th-the town..." As she looked out the window, her eyes got even bigger. "Daniel?!"
She shot out of the car, Sam and Ruby close behind.
"DANIEL!" As a small Asian man turned around, Emily ran up to him and hugged him.
He pulled out of the hug and looked up at the red head in front of him. "Emily? Where have you been?"
Emily looked back at Sam and Ruby. "It's, uh, well... Daniel, what happened to our town?!"
Daniel looked around and smiled. "It got fun! We got booze, hookers, anything you desire." He smirked. "You missed out on a lot of fun."
Emily frowned. "This isn't right, Daniel. Where's Andy? I want to talk to my brother."
The smile fell from Daniel's face. He looked uncomfortable. "Emily..." He whispered in her ear, quiet enough so Sam couldn't hear what he was saying. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Emily's eyes filled with tears and she cried into the shorter man's shoulder.
Daniel pulled away Emily, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, man, but you can't live in the past. The whole town's moved on. You should, too."
Emily pushed Daniel. "Move on?! He died two days ago, and you're telling me no one cares? That I should move on?! What happened to our town?" With that, Emily stomped over to Sam and Ruby.
"Emily, I'm so sorry for your loss." Sam consoled.
Emily sniffed angrily. "Yeah, well you seem to be the only one sorry." She turned her pleading eyes up to him. "He committed suicide. Suicide! I know my brother. He wouldn't do that. Please, please help me figure out what happened to my town. This used to be a town you could be proud of. People cared about each other. This," she motioned to the rowdy mass inside the bar, "is not normal."
Sam looked at Ruby. She shrugged, telling him to do whatever he wanted. Sam looked back at Emily and smiled. "You've been gone for quite some time, Emily. Things change. I'll be glad to drive you home, but I have no idea what you want me to look for. Do you think the town is cursed?"
Emily looked down at her feet. "I... I guess not."
After Sam dropped Emily off, he and Ruby checked into a local motel. Once there, they started researching the town. Emily was telling the truth. The town had no major crimes, no demonic omens of any kind, no unnatural deaths at all until after the devil's gate was opened.
Sam shut his computer with a sigh. "Looks like this town was ruined because of me."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Sam, don't be so dramatic. This town isn't ruined. They are only as bad as your brother."
Sam tensed up. "What?"
Ruby suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Just when she thought she was making progress with Sam, she had to say the taboo word. If she wasn't careful, Sam would turn back into Mr. Morals and run off to his brother. Sigh.
Ruby walked behind Sam and started to rub the tension out of his shoulders. Time do what demons do best: manipulate. "Sam, you can't get all riled up anytime someone mentions your brother. If anyone finds out he's your weakness, they'll use it against you. Not every demon is okay with following you, Sam. You can't show any weakness or a wayward demon will use that to his advantage. I only meant the town isn't doing anything worse than drinking and having sex, qualities your brother enjoys quite frequently. One suicide isn't out of the norm."
The tension slowly left Sam's shoulders. Success. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just... I feel like I'm letting my brother down, you know? He only sees things in black and white; he wouldn't understand why I'm working with you."
Ruby walked around to look Sam in his soft, hazel eyes. Time to send him back on track. "He'll understand in the end. Until then, let's find the demons responsible for this town."