Disclaimer- I do not own Supernatural or any of its characters.
So here it is! Chapter 18 is up!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! :D
I think everyone knows from where I borrowed this chapter's name. ;)
No prizes for guessing exactly which presence (or person, hint hint) Odette senses in this chapter. :P
On with it, shall we?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS
"So, Sherriff Devins, isn't Sophie Carlton the third drowning victim whose body hasn't been recovered?"
I could hear Dean's smooth voice as he posed as a federal wildlife officer.
I didn't think I'd ever be able to lie with such ease. Or conviction.
I could hear Jake Devin's voice clearly drifting out into the hallway where I sat.
"It's a tragedy, believe me, I know, but we haven't found anything in the lake. I did a sonar sweep myself. Besides, it will drain away soon enough, the local dam is leaking."
"All right, then. Thank you for your time." Sam seemed slightly impatient.
They came out in a hurry. I stood up at once, legs tingling from sitting still so long.
We, or rather Sam and Dean, were working a case in Wisconsin.
Three people had disappeared in Lake Manitoc, and none of their bodies had ever been found.
Dean was sure it was something paranormal.
We were almost out of the Sherriff's office when we came across a petite, brown-haired woman, and a chubby-faced boy with ginger-blond hair.
Her son, I presumed.
I smiled at the boy.
He did not return it.
I recognized the haunted look in his eyes.
It was much too familiar.
Dean stopped and grinned widely at the woman, who was quite pretty.
Behind me, Sam gave a long-suffering sigh.
Sherriff Devins himself came out right that moment.
"Ah, I see you've met my daughter and grandson."
"This is Andrea, and Lucas."
"Pleasure," Dean said.
Andrea glanced at us curiously. "Dad, what's going on?"
"We're investigating the death of Sophie Carlton at Lake Manitoc," Sam supplied.
Lucas started at the mention of the lake, but stayed quiet.
Andrea blanched. "That's where my husband died," she whispered.
Devins' face changed. "You should go, Andrea, and take Lucas with you. This is serious business"
"But-"
"Go!" His voice was sharper now.
Andrea glared at him, picked up her son and promptly left.
"Odd," Sam remarked as we got into the Impala.
"Ya think?" Dean asked sarcastically.
We made it to the hotel in ten minutes, thanks to Dean's reckless driving.
Sam pulled out his laptop at once. "Hey, Odette, want to help me with the research?"
Dean stiffened, but said nothing.
I looked at him apprehensively.
"Sure," I sat next to him, and we started work.
Dean walked out of the room, shutting the door with a bang.
I cringed at the loud noise.
Three hours later, we had all the information we needed.
It was also the time Dean decided to return.
"So, what's the scoop?" he asked, crashing onto his bed.
"Well, six people have disappeared over the past thirty-five years, so something's definitely up, and Odette figured something out, too."
Sam looked at me expectantly.
I shifted, uncomfortable under Dean's gaze.
"Uh, the kid, Lucas, he apparently saw his father drown, in the lake."
Dean's eyebrow rose.
"Guess he'd be interesting to talk to, wouldn't he?" he mused.
"Let's go find him, then."
Dean snatched up his keys, while I hesitantly followed him.
~Supernatural~
We found Lucas at the park with Andrea, sitting quietly on a bench, sketching diligently.
Sam and Dean walked up to his mother, politely asking permission to speak to him.
She eyed us suspiciously.
"He doesn't talk anymore. He stopped after my husband died. All he does is draw all day. You're welcome to try, though."
Dean moved forward, but I stopped him.
"Wait."
"What?" He demanded irritably.
"You heard Andrea. He doesn't talk anymore. If you try, he'll probably get scared. Why don't you let me have a go?"
Dean's eyes narrowed to slits.
"She's got a point," Sam said helpfully.
He crossed his arms. "It better work."
I let go of a breath I didn't realize I was holding, and walked over to Lucas.
Something in the way he chewed his pencil, lower lip jutting out just a little, the way he rubbed his hair absent-mindedly reminded me of another little boy.
I froze.
Thinking about it wouldn't help me, and neither would it help Lucas.
I crouched down so he was up to my level, conscious of Sam and Dean's presence.
"Hi, Lucas. I'm Odette." I kept my voice low and soothing.
He gave no sign that he had heard me.
I suddenly had an idea.
"Can I borrow that?" I asked, pointing at his sheet and crayons.
He looked at me blankly, but let me tug it away from him.
I picked up a pencil, and with a few strokes here and there, drew three people.
My pencil faltered across the page as I thought of the fourth, then stopped altogether.
I handed it back to him. "Look. This is my family."
He took it, staring expressionlessly.
"I get it. I saw some stuff that can't be explained, too, and it sort of messes with your head, doesn't it? But you have to remember that there are people here to help you, and if you know something we don't, we'd really appreciate it if you could tell us. I'm not forcing you. I know how hard it can be."
I patted his shoulder and stood up.
Andrea was there in a trice.
"I think we should be going now, if you're done."
I nodded and moved away.
Andrea squeaked in surprise as Lucas ran after me.
He handed me his own drawing.
I blinked at the boy. "Thanks, Lucas."
He trotted away, grabbing a stunned Andrea's hand.
It was a picture of a house.
~Supernatural~
Sam burst into our hotel room.
"Will Carlton's dead."
Dean and I were on our feet at once.
"I think it knows the lake is draining. Whatever's hunting these people, it knows it doesn't have much time left." Sam continued.
Dean grunted in acknowledgement. "Bill Carlton must be mixed up in it somehow. Both his children were targeted, and even his godson, Lucas' dad."
"Probably," Sam agreed.
We reached Bill Carlton's house as fast as we could.
The old man was sitting in front of the lake, his leathery face weary and crinkled.
"Mr. Carlton," Dean flipped out his badge.
"We'd like to ask you a few questions."
Bill turned his face towards us then.
"I just lost my daughter. Now something has killed my son. I've already talked to the authorities. I'd like to be alone."
We had no choice but to return to the hotel.
I started as I saw Lucas' picture once again.
"Look," I brought the sheet under Sam's nose.
"He drew Bill Carlton's house."
~Supernatural~
The next morning saw us at Andrea Barr's house.
She tensed the instant she saw us.
"We'd like to see Lucas again." I told her.
She scowled. "I don't think you can. He's been drawing all night since you talked to him."
Dean and Sam exchanged looks.
"Please. If you want to stop the deaths around here, please let us talk to him," Dean added.
She stomped upstairs, which contrasted sharply when she softly opened Lucas' door.
"Luke, honey, somebody's here to see you."
He did not turn his head.
I stepped into his room slowly, sinking down onto the floor.
Dean and Sam stood at the doorjamb.
I handed his drawing back to him. "Can you tell us why you drew this, Lucas?"
I received no answer.
I cleared my throat.
"You're scared, I know. I understand. When I was younger, I watched some pretty bad stuff happen to some people I care about, and it really, really scared me, too."
I could hear the twin inhalations of surprise from Sam and Dean.
"I didn't want to talk about it, either. I still don't want to talk about it. But I know my family would want me to be strong. I think about that a lot, when I'm afraid. Maybe your dad would have wanted you to be brave, too."
He raised his head and stared at me, and the resemblance to the other little boy was so strong in his pained, confused eyes that it cut me to the quick.
I glanced around the room jerkily. It was strange; I could sense something in the room. A presence that was somehow familiar. Perhaps even a person.
Lucas snapped me out of my reverie by slipping another sheet of paper into my hand.
I looked at it, and then at him, the echoes of my little boystill etched on his face.
"Thank you, " I whispered.