Chapter 36

"Wha..?" Was all Sam could manage as he looked at Amelia.

"I couldn't stand being cooped up inside. So, I reached into Amelia Stone's mind and asked permission to change her hair." She said as she tussled her hair. "She said 'she appreciated the thought but it's only hair, it will grow back'." She noticed Sam was still staring at her opened mouth. "Sam? Are you alright?"

"How?" Sam said, finally able to get out a full word.

"Well, I found the peroxide in the first aid kit and used that to lighten her hair; then I used the scissors from the kit." She sat on the end of her bed and started putting on her sneakers. "I know I should have asked your permission to go through Dean's stuff; but I knew none of your clothes would fit." She stood up and adjusted the shirt and jeans she taken from Dean's bag. "I guess I don't remember you telling me your brother was almost as big as you are. But I was able to roll up the cuffs and with a belt; they almost look like they fit."

"Why now?" He said as he sat down.

Amelia looked at him again and noticed he was still just staring. She knew she shouldn't pry into his thoughts; but, he wasn't having much luck verbalizing his thoughts. His mind was filled with an amazingly jumbled set of emotions; the fear he'd had when he thought someone else was here, the shock of seeing his brother's clothes on someone else, the amazement at her transformation, and finally a trace of disappointment because he liked the way she had looked.

She smiled at him as she walked over to the table. "Sam, I have to be able to go outside. Not just to help get Dean back; I'm Mother Nature, not Mother inside a motel room." She laughed at her own joke. She sat down at the table with him. "Was there a letter from Jody?"

Hearing Jody's name brought Sam out of his shock. "Better. She was at the Post Office. We talked over a pay phone." He shook his head to get rid of the last of the confusion. "Actually, I want to call her again, with you. If we know it's really her, then we don't have to go through any testing." He realized she was right, she had to be able to go outside and move freely if she was going to help him.

He dialed the number Jody had given him. She answered on the second ring. "Sam? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Jody. I'm with Amelia. We discovered she's a great lie detector." Amelia elbowed him in his ribs, for the lie detector comment, but nodded her head as she moved her ear away from the phone. "Look, we don't have to risk breaking into that empty house." He had taken so long, making sure he wasn't followed, getting back to the motel; he hoped she hadn't already gone all the way across town. "Where are you?"

"I think I'm near the Hall of Fame. At least I keep seeing signs for it."

"That's a perfect place." His mind started racing on where to agree to meet. "Meet us at the Roger Staubach display."

"What?"

"We grew up watching the Dallas Cowboys. It was the first name I could think of." When she didn't reply, he asked. "Jody?"

"Yeah. It's just Sean and Owen loved football."

It had been over two years since Sam had had to shoot Jody's zombie son, but he knew that kind of pain never went away. "I'm sorry Jody." He paused, at a loss for what to say. "We'll be there as soon as we can."

X

An hour later, Sam and Amelia could see Jody standing near the Cowboy's display. Amelia's transformation was so complete; they had walked into the museum without having to 'look over their shoulders'. They walked over and stood next to Jody. Jody gave Sam a concerned look, wondering about the stranger standing next to him. Amelia beamed a huge smile at Jody. "Amelia?"

"Yes." Amelia answered proudly. "I so glad to see you again. Are you okay?"

Jody looked at Sam very puzzled. "Don't look at me. She did it all herself." He said, and smiled at both of them.

"I just couldn't stay out of sight anymore." She whispered to Jody.

The three of them pretended to look at the displays and slowly walked through the museum. Sam brought Jody up to speed on everything that had happened in the last three days. Well, not everything. There were parts of his and Amelia's relationship that would stay just between them. They had been at the museum for hours; and Sam figured they needed to find another place to talk before they started drawing attention to their lengthy presence. As they headed for the door, Amelia's stomach let out a loud rumble.

"Well, I guess that helps us decide where to go next." Jody said. She looked at Amelia and then at Sam. "You sound like you're starving; doesn't he feed you?"

Sam and Amelia exchanged knowing looks; Jody wasn't completely sure what they meant, but had a pretty good idea. The way they looked so comfortable standing next to each other, and the sly little smiles she had seen them sharing all day. She thought he deserved some happiness, but 'I hope he knows what he's doing'.

X

Even though it was probably safe for Amelia to go into the diner they found, they got the food "to go" and found a park to sit and eat. Jody told them she had told her Deputies she was taking a 'Leave of Absence' while she was under investigation, to 'protect the reputation of the department'. The men and women under her had been supportive. She hoped she had a career to go back to, but whatever happened she was helping Sam get Dean back.

Amelia had been able to confirm there were no bugs in any of her things or car. Jody hadn't asked why she was asked to share tears as her donation. She had lost her entire family two years ago; and she still fought back tears on a regular basis. But she was alive as were most members of her community, thanks to the Winchesters. There was almost nothing she wouldn't do for these men.

Sam said he wanted to go to Wisconsin, to contact the two boys they had saved. Jody had suggested they separate, and Jody heading to Mississippi and making contact with Evan Hudson. Sam told her it wouldn't work because Amelia had to be there to make sure he was acceptable to the talisman. They settled on Jody heading to St. Louis to get Missouri and going back to Lawrence, if it was safe.

They all went back to the motel, and Sam gave Jody a copy of the information they had. He called Missouri. She was still in St. Louis. She and her friends hadn't heard anything from Lawrence and she had planned on heading back tomorrow. She said she's wait until Jody got there, and would head back with her. After they were done exchanging information, Missouri had asked to talk to Amelia, alone.

Sam gave Amelia the phone and she had excused herself to the bathroom. "You haven't told him, have you?" Missouri asked.

Amelia had guessed what the powerful psychic was going to ask. "No, not everything; not that."

"Good. Don't." Missouri paused. "That boy has had his future shown to him way too many times. And he's got enough to think about right now."

"I know. I just hate keeping things from him." Amelia said, but knowing Missouri was right, for now. "I will tell him before I leave, though."

"Why? " And Missouri saw Amelia's reason as images flooded her mind. She didn't know if they were from the goddess' future or Amelia Stone's, the lines between the two were so blurred.

Amelia didn't answer; she knew Missouri had seen why, even if she didn't agree.

"I'll see you in a few days. You and Sam be careful." Missouri said as she hung up the phone.

Amelia took a minute to dry her eyes; surprised because she hadn't felt the tears forming. She stepped out of the bathroom and handed Sam the phone. He looked at her puzzled. Amelia put on the best smile she could muster before saying, "Women's stuff." Neither Sam nor Jody believed her.

X

By the time they had formalized all their plans, it was late afternoon. Both Jody, and Sam and Amelia had long drives to get to their destinations. Jody decided she'd go back to her motel and get an early start in the morning. Sam wanted to get out of Ohio as soon as possible.

Jody suggested she make her donation before they separated, "just in case". After a quick shower, it only took her a few minutes of thinking about the family she had lost to produce the tears they collected in another of the Thermos bottles. As Sam was packing up the SUV, Jody pulled Amelia aside. "I want to believe that you really care for him. But if you're just using him for some selfish reason, or hurt him; I don't know how, but I will make you sorry."

Amelia smiled at woman she already considered a friend; admiring the courage she had just displayed by threatening a powerful goddess. "Jody, I love him as much as you do. Promise me you'll look out for him after I go." Both women nodded. As Sam walked back into the room, Amelia pulled Jody into a hug. As she let go of Jody, she added. "We'll see you in Lawrence." And Amelia went to get in the car.

"What was all that?" Sam asked.

"Women's stuff." Jody replied and pulled Sam into a hug. Sam didn't believe her any more than he had Amelia after talking to Missouri. But he was out-numbered and knew when to not ask questions.

"We'll see you and Missouri soon. I'll call after we talk to the boys." Sam made a final sweep to make sure they left nothing behind. He spotted a button that must have come off of Crowley's suit. He picked it up and tossed it in the bushes as he and Jody left the room.

Sam and Amelia watched as Jody pulled her car out of the motel parking lot. "You ready?" Sam asked as he turned to Amelia. She nodded, and then a huge smile crossed her face. "What?" He asked

"I was just thinking what gift I could bestow on Jody, for being such a good friend." Amelia replied.

He knew he shouldn't ask, but couldn't help himself. "What did you come up with?"

She just grinned at him and said, "Oh, just women's stuff."

Sam stared for a second but there was no way he was going to ask her what that meant. It dawned on him; so far, all of the people he had involved in the plan to save Dean were women. While Dean would probably like the idea of a small army of women coming to his rescue; he seriously hoped Mike and Lucas would help. He was feeling seriously overwhelmed by all the estrogen.

Amelia reached across the car and punched him in the arm. He turned to her, as she gave him her now familiar, glare. That confirmed she was now routinely reading his thoughts. He thought he should be pissed, but instead found it kind of reassuring. 'Tell me I'm wrong' he thought, knowing she'd hear him.

"Shut up and drive." She said with a grin replacing the glare.