A/N: Okay, so I wasn't thrilled with the last chapter. So here goes my attempt to get this story back where I want it to be. Happy reading!

The diner next door to their motel was really the only eating establishment in town, so it wasn't difficult to decide where to meet Spencer for coffee. Dean insisted that he and Sam were going to eat dinner there as well, of course at the same time. He tried to insist that she change from the sundress to pants, but she flat out refused, solely on principal. If she gave in to all of his ridiculous demands, he would never learn any boundaries.

MJ had mixed feelings about Dean's overprotectiveness. Sometimes it was nice to have him looking out for her. But she also resented the fact that she was suddenly being treated like a child. She had pretty much gone her whole life taking care of herself, and her mother, for that matter. She wasn't used to restrictions and rules. She really felt like she should be treated as an equal when she was with her brothers. Hadn't she demonstrated that she was independent and didn't need a parent figure? True, it was a relief not to have to worry about where her next meal was coming from, not to have to sleep all alone with a chair propped under the door knob. She liked having her brothers around, but she didn't like them treating her like a kid.

MJ put on some make up and braided her long, auburn hair. She stepped out of the bathroom to an appraising look from Dean. She walked past him, not sparing him a glance as she grabbed her purse and cell phone. She turned when she got to the door, facing her brothers.

"By the way, I'm going to a school dance on Friday night. With Spencer." She opened the door and stepped out. "See ya." She called, pulling the door closed behind her. There, she thought, Dean can get the worst of it out of his system before I get back.

She spotted Spencer pacing in the motel parking lot, near the entrance to the diner. He was totally focused on his cell phone, his eye brows knitted together and his expression frustrated.

"Hey." She said, approaching him.

He looked up quickly at her. "Oh, hey." He said distractedly before returning his attention to his phone.

"Is everything okay?"

He quickly typed a text before stuffing his phone in his jeans pocket.

"Yeah, sorry. Just some stuff with CJ. He's not doing so good."

"Is that your friend who had the accident?" MJ asked, feigning uncertainty.

Spencer nodded, leading the way toward the restaurant. "He had surgery and things just aren't going as well as they hoped."

Most of the tables in the diner were occupied, the dinner rush in full swing. MJ followed Spencer to one of the few vacant booths toward the back, taking a seat across from him. "I'm really sorry about your friend." MJ began, intent on keeping him talking about it. "What exactly happened to him?"

Spencer considered her carefully for several moments, before a smile graced his face. "Let's talk about something else, okay?"

MJ smiled back and nodded, trying not to look disappointed.

Dean immediately scanned the diner when they walked in, searching out MJ and Spencer. He had wanted to head to the diner the minute she headed out the door, but Sam had insisted they wait ten minutes before crashing her party. Dean lasted five.

Dean spotted MJ sitting at a booth, her back to them. Spencer sat across from her. He was smiling, but it seemed like it was an effort for him to keep it on his face. Dean followed Sam to an open table, a decent distance from their sister, but still close enough to keep an eye on her.

They ordered dinner and the waitress brought their drinks, the entire time Dean keeping his eyes trained on Spencer, still analyzing his posture and facial expressions, all the while keeping up a continuous tirade about the evils of high school dances.

Eventually, he took a breather, and Sam seized the opportunity. "So Bobby said that it's different from witchcraft. Gypsies don't have alters or hex bags. They have to speak the curse, but if they're strong enough, just focusing their energy on that one person while saying the words is enough of a connection to get the job done." Sam explained.

"Uh-huh." Dean nodded, but his attention was still on Spencer and MJ.

Sam shook his head, giving up. "Dean, really, don't you think this is a little over the top?"

"What?" Dean asked, finally looking at his brother.

"She's fifteen. They're in high school. They're interested in each other. It's not so strange and unusual, Dean." Sam grinned. "I think you of all people get that concept."

"Yeah, Sam, I get it, that's exactly the problem." He said, pointing a finger at Sam. "You know it goes from innocent to X-rated in a matter of seconds, and I'm not gonna give them the opportunity."

Sam shook his head. "She came from having no rules, Dean. No one telling her what to do. She was living on her own and had total freedom."

Sam paused as the waitress delivered their food. They ate in silence for a moment.

"You're trying to comtrol her completely, watch her around the clock." Sam continued.

"So what's your point, Sammy? I know what she came from. I saw it."

"I just think it's too much. We have to give her some freedom."

"Chicago, huh? Well, this must be a total culture shock for you, then." Spencer commented between bites of his pie.

"Mmm," MJ said with a shrug, "Big cities are kinda overrated."

Spencer nodded. "I know what you mean. CJ and I took a road trip to Columbus over spring break. It was fun, but I was definitely ready to come home at the end of the week. It's loud, busy and crowded all the time. I don't know how people live like that."

"It's what they're used to." MJ said, taking a sip of her coffee. She opened her mouth to continue when her phone began ringing loudly on the table.

I don't want anybody else

When I think about you

I touch myself

I don't want anybody else

Oh no, oh no, oh no

MJ snatched it up, her face burning crimson, fumbling it in her haste to silence it. The phone slipped from her hand and skittered across the floor. To her horror, the ringtone started over, and several patrons were staring at her, some appalled, some clearly amused.

Spencer retrieved it, as MJ sat horrorstruck, unable to move. He handed it to her, an awkward expression on his face. "That's an...interesting ringtone." He cleared his throat, holding the phone out to her.

"That," MJ responded, taking the phone from Spencer and quickly switching the ringer to vibrate, "is my idiot brother's attempt at being funny." MJ glanced at Sam and Dean. Both were bent over the table, shaking with silent laughter. She threw the phone in her purse. "So, anyway, you were saying that you and CJ took a trip to Columbus." MJ said, trying to get the focus off the mortifying situation.

Spencer nodded, a grin on his face. "Yeah. It was fun. CJ is always the life of the party, so I knew we'd have a good time." He said, a wistful expression on his face.

MJ decided it was time to step up her game. She leaned forward, placing her hand on his, where it rested on the table. "It's awful, what happened to him. Do they have any idea what caused it?' She asked, concern in her voice.

Spencer had been focused on their entwined hands, but when she finished speaking, his head shot up and he pulled his hand away from her. "What's with all the questions about CJ?" He asked, his eyes narrowed and his expression suspicious. "Why are you so interested?"

"I-" MJ sputtered, looking over to where her brothers were sitting. She didn't like the look on Spencer's face. She had a feeling she was definitely caught. She racked her brain for a logical excuse. "You just seem really upset. I'm concerned, that's all." She threw another glance in her brothers' direction, catching Dean's eye.

Spencer turned, following her gaze. His eyes grew wide when he caught sight of Sam and Dean.

"That's the FBI agent that was talking to my dad yesterday at the school." He turned back, facing her. "You're working with him." He accused, looking outraged.

"No. I mean, yes, but it's not what you think." MJ said, now panicking. If Spencer figured them out, the entire town would be on to them in a matter of hours, and a lot of them wouldn't take kindly to three nosy civilians, one of whom impersonated an FBI agent. "Please, let me explain."

Spencer stood, walking to her side of the booth, and leaning over her. His expression had gone from suspicious to furious. He pointed a finger down at her. "You broke into CJ's locker. What the hell were you looking for? All these question about him. He's not the bad guy. Somebody did this to him, and instead of finding out who, you and your partner are trying to dig up dirt on an innocent guy!"

"Spencer, listen, I'm not FBI and neither is Sam-"

"That's enough, pal." Dean was standing behind Spencer, his hand around Spencer's upper arm, pulling him back. "Let's take this outside."

Spencer turned, still livid, to face Dean, but didn't back away, standing his ground in front of MJ.

"Who the hell are you?" He spat.

"I'm her brother." Dean answered, tightening his grip on Spencer's arm and pulling him back. "And I'm gonna jack your ass if you don't back up off her." Dean's tone left no question about his willingness to follow through on his threat. Spencer allowed Dean to pull him to the front of the restaurant and outside to the parking lot, everyone in the diner staring after them as they went. Sam followed them out, MJ at his side.

Dean released his grip on Spencer once they were safely outside. MJ approached him, feeling compelled to explain herself to this guy she barely knew. He knew something was up and if she didn't make him understand, the jig was up. They would all be in trouble and even worse, more people were likely to be cursed.

Spencer turned his back to her, his arms crossed. "Spencer, please just listen -"

He turned quickly, closing the short distance between them in one stride.

"You are a liar!" He yelled, pointing a finger at her. "Who are you? And if you don't tell me the truth-"

Dean planted his hand firmly on Spencer's shoulder and shoved him back. Spencer stumbled, but steadied himself as Dean took up a defensive position in front of him.

"Care to finish that sentence?" Dean asked menacingly.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Sam squeezed between them, facing Dean. "Relax." He glanced to his left, at a group of teens entering the diner. They had stopped just outside the door to watch. Sam looked back at Dean who nodded his head and took a step back. Sam turned to Spencer. "I know you're upset, but you need to take it down a notch and let us explain." Sam looked over at the group of kids again. They seemed to sense that the excitement was over and were making their way inside. "Just not here."

Spencer didn't answer, but stood watching Sam, still looking indignant. MJ watched the internal struggle play across his face. He was mad, but he also wanted answers about his friend. He seemed to know that something strange was going on and that someone, or something, had intentionally targeted CJ. In the end, either his desire to help his friend or sheer curiosity won out over the anger, and he followed the siblings to their motel room.

Sam closed the door once they were all assembled inside. Dean pulled a chair away from the table in the kitchenette and motioned for Spencer to sit. Spencer walked toward the table, but remained standing, leaning against the wall, arms crossed firmly in front of him. All eyes were on Spencer, Sam and Dean standing around the table, MJ perched on the edge of the bed. Spencer glanced at her from time to time, but mostly seemed focused on Dean, shooting him death glares.

"So you and CJ were really good friends?" Sam asked calmly, trying to ease the tension in the room.

"We are good friends, he's not dead." Spencer said, clearly still irritated. "And teammates." He looked down, away from Sam. "Not that he'll be able to play ever again." he muttered.

"You said back at the diner that someone did this to him. Why do you think that?" MJ asked.

Spencer fixed her with an angry stare. "Because people's hands don't just fall off for no reason!" He shouted, stepping away from the wall and holding his own hands up in front of him.

Sam placed a hand on Spencer's chest, standing in front of him.

"Enough." He said evenly, the look he gave Spencer clearly conveying that Sam was as fed up as Dean with Spencer's lashing out at MJ. Keeping his eyes on Spencer, Sam reached down and turned one of the chairs. "Have a seat and let me finish."

Spencer's jaw was clenched and he looked like he had something to say to Sam, but he held his tongue and sat down.

Sam sat across from him at the table. Dean remained standing, impressed with Sammy for not putting up with this kid's shit.

"You're right." Sam started, his hands folded in front of him on the table. "Someone did do this to CJ. Intentionally. And those other two kids."

"Why?" Spencer asked, looking relieved to be getting some answers, but also frightened to have his suspicions confirmed.

"Revenge." Sam answered simply.

MJ watched Spencer's reaction. He tried to look surprised, but wasn't quite pulling it off. "Revenge? For what?"

"You tell me." Dean said. "Because it seems like you have a pretty good idea why someone would wanna hurt CJ."

Spencer looked down at the table. The silence dragged on as the siblings eagerly awaited his response. He looked up slowly, focusing his gaze on MJ when he answered. "CJ's made a lot of enemies. He likes to...pick on...geeks. Ya know, small, dorky guys."

"And by pick on you mean beat the crap out of." Dean clarified.

Spencer just nodded.

"How many?" Sam asked.

Spencer scoffed. "More than I could count."

Sam looked down, shaking his head, before looking back at Spencer. "Okay, so who was his most recent victim, then?"

Spencer sat up straighter, fixing Sam with a disbelieving look. "Wait. What are you saying? None of those dweebs could have done this. I was in that locker room when...it happened. There was nobody else around."

"We think that someone cursed your friend and the others." Sam answered slowly.

Spencer's eyes grew wide. "Cursed? What the hell?" He looked around the room at each of them. "Who are you people?"

"We're-" Sam paused, not sure what to tell him. "Specialists. Consultants hired by the school district." Spencer's expression didn't change. "We've seen this kind of thing before. We need this information so we can keep anyone else from getting hurt."

Spencer still didn't look completely convinced. He looked down at his hands as he spoke. "The last one I know about was a couple weeks ago. We were in the locker room after gym class. This freshman, Simon something was in there changing, too. CJ was sayin' some stuff to him."

"What kind of stuff?" Dean asked.

Spencer loked up at him. "The usual." He said testily. A look from Dean made him change his tone. "He was making fun of him. The kid made a comment back and CJ went after him."

"He creamed the kid?" Sam questioned.

Spencer shook his head. "Didn't even get a punch in before this other guy, Warren, jumped in. He got CJ pretty good in the jaw, but CJ's a lot bigger, so it went south from there. CJ pummeled him. Broke his nose. Guy needed stitches."

"Revenge of the nerds, huh?" Dean said, earning himself disapproving looks from Sam and MJ.

"No, that's just it. Warren isn't a...nerd, or whatever. He's on the football team, too. And he's a good size guy, just... not as big as CJ."

"Did Simon or Warren have any connection with the other victims? Tressa or Paul?"

"I don't think so. Warren is dating a cheerleader, but she's JV, not varsity like Tressa." He made a disgusted face. "Paul is just a scumbag. I don't think even the geeks with no friends would give him the time of day."

"Warren and Simon got last names?" Dean asked.

"Warren Timmons. The other kid, I don't know." He shrugged. "Gotta be the only Simon in the school, though."

Sam stood. "Well, if you hear anything that might be of use let us know."

"Wait, that's it? You're gonna drop this crazy shit on me then kick me out?" He asked, looking from Sam to Dean and finally settling on MJ.

"What were you expecting? Your buddy acted like a dick and somebody called him on it. We're gonna try and find out who. That's that." Dean said. He was clearly annoyed with Spencer and what little patience he had was wearing thin.

"I don't know, but-what if they go after someone else?" He now looked panicked, and no one missed what he was really asking: What if they went after him?

"We're going to figure this out as quickly as we can. That's why it's so important you don't tell anyone who we really are. If you blow our cover, we're not going to be able to help anybody." Sam told him.

"In the meantime," Dean said, hand on the door knob, "I'd recommend not treating people like dirt. Should keep you safe from the vengeful gypsy." He pulled the door open and stood to the side. "Oh, and stay the hell away from my sister."

Spencer stood, but didn't move toward the open door. "CJ's not a bad guy. Really."

None of them answered. Spencer looked to MJ, who was looking back at him uncertainly.

He looked at her for a while, as if he was trying to figure out what to say to her. Finally, he walked swiftly from the room, without another word.

Dean shut the door behind him and turned to MJ. "So," He said, clapping his hands together. "I guess no dance after all." He tried to look sympathetic, but was unable to keep the satisfaction from his voice. Sam just rolled his eyes, wasting no time in pulling out his lap top to do some research on Warren and Simon.

MJ looked up at Dean. She had absolutely no desire to go to the dance now. Hell, she never really wanted to go in the first place, but she was annoyed with Dean. Spencer calling her out had driven the cell phone debacle from her mind, but looking up at Dean now, she was reminded of her utter humiliation. She stood and approached him. "Oh, no, I think I'll still go. I'm sure I can find someone else to take me." She smiled sweetly and headed into the bathroom to shower, leaving Dean stuttering stupidly behind her.

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