Chapter 5: Shake It Out
Every demon wants his pound of flesh,
But I like to keep some things to myself.
I like to keep my issues drawn.
It's always darkest before the dawn.
- Florence + The Machine
"Are you sure this is our kind of gig Sam?" Shelby asked nervously from the back seat. She had let Sam sit in front, she wasn't feeling too hot about this hunt. Sam didn't understand, but judging from the looks that Dean kept sending her way, he wasn't sure she should accompany them.
"Yeah, I mean, there has been somewhat of a pattern with these drownings. This most recent drowning victim, uh -" He opened the notebook in his lap again,
"Sophie Carlton, she was a great swimmer. Grew up on the lake. Suddenly she drowns? That's weird."
"Yeah, I guess." Shelby all but whispered.
"Babe, why don't we drop you off at Bobby's? I'm sure he could use some help in the shop." Shelby smiled at Dean appreciatively, she loved him so much. She shook her head. She would rather stay with Dean. Besides, she had to get over her fear of water sometime right?
"It's okay. I'll be fine." She said with a small smile. Dean glared at her for a second longer before turning his eyes back on the tarmac in front of him. Sam looked between the two for a minute before realization hit his features.
"Oh, God, Shelby... I'm sorry. I completely forgot about how you are around water. I'm so-"
"It's fine Sam. Really. I need to get over it sometime right?" Dean was proud of her. Since the river incident a month or two back she had insisted on them staying in hotels that had pools. Dean had been teaching her how to swim. She was very strong already, so learning to stay afloat and do some basic swim maneuvers for rescuing was pretty easy for her to learn. Just in case. In this life you can never be too sure. Dean would even go as far as saying she seemed confident in a pool setting. She had even looked forward to their swim lessons. But a pool and lake were very different things.
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"Well, thank you for your time Sheriff Devins-"
"Jake, please."
"Jake. Anyway, if you think of anything else, please let us know." Shelby smiled sweetly before shuffling Dean and Sam towards the office doors. She had been quietly observing in the background while the boys talked with the older Sheriff. She stepped in when things started getting heated. She smirked at Dean. He rolled his eyes. Such a hot head!
"I can't help it if I have a way with the law." Shelby said sweetly. Dean rolled his eyes.
"Do I need to remind you of your twentieth birthday?" Shelby averted her emerald eyes to the window and rubbed her garnet heart ring. It was Dean's turn to smirk.
"Hush, you know it was your favorite." Dean's smirk widened into a smile and opened the door for Shelby. As she stepped out, a little boy about nine or ten years of age went to run through the door and smacked right into her thighs. She stepped back a few feet and regained her balance, helping the boy up off the ground.
"I'm so sorry officers, Lucas, honey, you need to watch where you're going; now please, say you're sorry." The pretty mother scolded her child lightly, waiting for an apology.
"It's okay, really. He is too adorable." Shelby responded lightly. She smiled down at the boy for a moment before he smiled up at her, unsure of himself. His mouth moved as if saying sorry, but no sound came out as he touched his hand to her arm gently. It lasted only a split second before he took off towards Sheriff Devins' office. Shelby watched the boy quizzically.
"Wow. That, was. Wow." The mother stuttered.
"It's okay. Seriously. I sometimes have that effect on children. They usually don't like me."
"No, I mean. Ever since the accident, Lucas hasn't shown anyone any kind of emotion aside from my father or myself. He hasn't even mouthed anything. That was incredible. Hmm." She finished her sentence and looked at Shelby with a slight frown marring her otherwise smooth face.
"Oh." Was all Shelby could get out. Dean took charge at that point. Not really being a kid person himself, and being tired, he was ready to find a place to crash.
"Well ma'am, we were wondering if you might know where a decent motel might be?" Dean smiled politely towards the woman, who shook herself from the daze she was in.
"Yes, just two blocks up the road and swing a right. It's small, but they have the best bacon cheeseburgers around." She said with a smile. Shelby and Sam smiled back at her as Dean rudely bolted out the door. Did he mention how hungry he was?
Shelby followed him out while Sam hung back a bit, explaining to the woman why they were there and handed her his card if she had anymore questions.
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Once settled in, Sam went to research on the disappearances at Lake Manitoc. Shelby dropped her duffel bag onto the bed before stepping back outside to get some fresh air. Dean dropped his things as well and gave Sam a hard look before following his girlfriend. He walked under the gazebo where she was, looking over the lake. She was looking out over the peaceful lake. Children were swimming near the shoreline, dogs were fetching sticks off of docks, and a few people were fishing in the middle of the dark green water. Sweat started trickling down Shelby's back. Could she do this? She stiffened when she heard the heavy footfalls of Dean's boots. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Shelby, baby, are you positive that you're gonna be okay doing this? Sam and I can handle it." Dean's breath tickled her ear. She sighed. She moved her eyes over to a brother and sister. The brother was dunking his little sister under the water every few moments, then letting her back up. She was laughing along with him. No fear of being pushed under with no way back up. They were so comfortable in there.
"Dean, I have to get over this irrational fear of water. There's gonna come a time when I need to be able to swim to save someone. There's gonna be a time where you and Sam won't be there to help me, or save me. I don't wanna admit it but I need to be realistic." If Dean was any farther away he wouldn't have been able to hear her.
"Hey, it's not irrational. Don't say that." Shelby scoffed a bit in Dean's arms.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I just hate seeing you like this." Dean paused…
"I love you, Princess." Shelby smiled and leaned back into Dean. She knows he loves her, but he has this problem with emotions sometimes. She's pretty sure she is the only one who he has ever said that out-loud to. She knows he loves his father and Sam, but he saved those three words just for her. She got all giddy when he said them out loud.
"I love you too, Hot-Shot." Shelby turned around while saying this. She buried her face into Dean's chest and took a deep breath. She loved the way he smelled. Leather, oil, just Dean. He leaned his head back and tilted her head up with his thumb and forefinger gently. She looked so frightened. It killed him. He wanted to just take it all away from her. Hah, fat chance. He thought. Shelby was just as stubborn and hard-headed as he was. She wouldn't let him deal with her pain even if he could take it away.
"Shelby, I promise, I won't let anything happen to you. I will be here for you. Forever. No matter what it takes." Shelby searched Dean's face. His bright green eyes were set in a slight frown, and his freckles popped with the sweat trickling down his face. She heard the truth behind his words, the love behind them. His eyes didn't deceive either. She smiled again.
"It's always darkest before the dawn. It's just over the horizon, Dean; I can feel it." Dean smiled down at his girl. He slowly put his lips onto hers. Heat flushed through them like a flame in the dead of winter. They held onto each other as if they'd never see one another again. Shelby pulled away after a minute.
"Okay, I saw a sign for a swimming pool inside. I'll go change." Dean smiled.
"Damn straight, can you wear the little black one?" Shelby smiled back playfully as he turned away, yelping when Dean smacked her ass as she passed him.
Sam opened the door right as a red-faced Shelby grabbed the handle. She slid by him and went into the dark motel room. Sam closed the door gently before heading over to Dean, who was adjusting his pants. Sam rolled his eyes.
"So get this, Lucas, the boy that ran into Shelby earlier, was there when his dad drowned. He's our only witness." Sam gave a hard look at Dean, waiting for him to connect the dots. It took a second.
"But he doesn't talk. Well, just our luck. Why would it be any other way?" He said with a small laugh. Sam rolled his eyes. Always the humorist.
"Yeah, but did you not hear what his mother said, Lucas hadn't shown any emotion or anything until he ran into Shelby, it's like he got a boost of confidence from her. He didn't quite talk per say, but he did show signs of wanting to communicate." Dean nodded in understanding. Shelby had that effect on people. It was like she encouraged them to be brave in whatever battle they might be fighting, whether with someone, or something in their case; or with themselves. Like a great War General. She didn't even try to a lot of the time. When Dean was scared or nervous going into a hunt, all he had to do was look at Shelby, and she would smile at him, say 'Buck up, buttercup' and he felt his chest swell with courage.
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Dean and Shelby met Sam a few hours later. Dean had caught the brunette up on his brothers findings during her swim lesson, which she did excellent on; Dean had only reminded her a million times. Shelby pulled her hair into a semi-professional bun at the base of her neck before shrugging on her black jacket. She pulled on her heels and grabbed her 9 mil off the bed, checking to make sure it was fully loaded and the safety was on. Dean handed her the slim inner pants holster he had gotten her last year. He admired the way she slid it on. Sam cleared his throat, putting his suit jacket on as well. Shelby encouraged the boys to look the part of investigators. They usually tried to slam the fancy suits as often as they could.
Driving through town, planning on questioning some family friends of the victims, Shelby put a hand on Dean's shoulder, signaling for him to stop. They were just outside of the town's park. She got out without a word to the brothers. Dean and Sam exited the Impala and followed her over to the woman from that morning. What was her name again? Dean was too occupied by food and sleep earlier to pay attention.
"Gentlemen, you remember Andrea, Lucas' mother." Shelby smiled softly as she spoke. She turned back around to speak with the mother, back to ignoring the boys.
"May I go speak with him?" Shelby asked tentatively, not expecting the protective mothers answer.
"Of course, although, I'm not sure you'll get anything out of him." She sighed out the last bit. Shelby stood up and walked over to the young boy drawing on the bench in the center of the playground. Sam sat down to chat with the mother. Dean admired Shelby walking away. Those heels did wonder for her body.
"You know, when I was a bit younger than you, I saw something bad happen. To my mom. She drowned too. Something pulled her down. I'm positive of it; and if there was anything I could do or say to help someone figure out what got her, I would tell someone. I'm a good someone to tell that to Lucas. My friends and I can help you and your momma find out what took your dad. We can save anyone else from getting hurt too."
All the while Shelby had been talking, she had been drawing. A little rusty, she hadn't drawn anything in a while, but Lucas could make it out. It was a little girl, sitting on the edge of a dock, with her mom and dad on either side of her, with fishing poles in the water. A black blob was below them, lurking... Waiting. He blinked at her as she set the paper and few crayons down next to his other drawing supplies. Figuring that was all she had to say, she sniffled a bit and blinked away the tears that had formed.
Shelby shook herself off and joined the brothers and Andrea just as she was explaining what she was dealing with regarding Lucas.
"Kids are strong," Dean started, looking at Shelby.
"You'll be surprised what they can deal with." Shelby smiled softly at his words. She turned away from the man as Andrea started talking again. Lucas walked up a few minutes later and pushed a piece of construction paper into Shelby's hands. It was a drawing of a cabin, with a red roof and second story window sticking out.
"Thank you Lucas, it's beautiful." Shelby said, Lucas ran clumsily back to his spot on the bench.
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The trio and Andrea followed Lucas out of the house and across the street, into the woods. He stopped and looked up at Shelby.
"Why don't you take your momma back into the house. I'll come back in and get you in a few minutes." Shelby leaned down and spoke to the boy. He nodded and grabbed his moms hand before leading her back into the house. Shelby looked at Dean and Sam after the boy and woman were out of earshot.
"Better get some shovels." After about ten minutes of digging, Sam hit something hard. Dean and Shelby threw their shovels down and helped Sam pull out a red bicycle. Peter Sweeney's bike from so many years ago.
Click.
Shelby looked up, a pissed off look in her jade eyes. Sam and Dean both turned around and dropped the bike.
"Who are you? I thought I told you to scram. You should have stayed away. Then none of this would be happening." Jake Devins stood in front of them, his sleek, black gun aimed and ready to put a bullet into Shelby's chest.
"Easy now, just put the gun down. Let's talk about this." Sam said calmly. Dean was too furious at the direction the gun was pointed to talk. Shelby knew when to keep her mouth shut.
Dean accused Jake of killing Peter. At that point Andrea ran up to the group. Shelby mentally smacked the woman. The huntress decided to explain what they were really dealing with. An angry spirit. Jake finally put his arm down and explained to his daughter what happened thirty-five years ago.
Shelby shook her head sadly. She turned away, just in time to see Lucas sneaking off towards the lake. She yelled to get everyone's attention and they all ran towards the lake shore.
Shelby saw him leaning over the dock as she ran closer. She stumbled and fell to the ground, grabbing her head.
It was like watching from someone else's point of view. She saw herself leaning over the dock when she was five. Her mother and father were up at the truck messing with their fishing gear. She saw the black shadow coming towards her underwater. She wanted to yell at herself. Dean skidded to a halt next to her to help her up.
"No! Dean go! Save him!" She yelled as she heard splashing.
She pulled herself up as she heard Sam and Dean dive into the water. Taking a deep breath, she ran towards the dock. Before hitting the wood planks, she paused, she needed to rethink what she was running into. This was a battlefield. She took a deep breath and jumped in the water, diving down. Deeper and deeper, searching for the boy. She looked around quickly, seeing the sheriff being pulled down by something, no, someone. She pushed back the vision of her mother being dragged down. Battlefield. She saw Dean and Sam heading up for air, Dean's eyes widened when he saw her. She gave him a thumbs up.
She dived down further. Her lungs were starting to burn now. Just when she started to see black around the corners of her sight, she noticed a small figure floating downwards, almost serenely. She pumped her arms and legs towards him. Once she grabbed him she fought her way to the surface, letting the air bubbles escaping her lungs be her guide to which way was up. Almost there. Almost... there, just a little bit... longer.. Battlefield. She kept pumping her burning limbs, ignoring the fire in her lungs.
Breathe, Just breathe.
"Damn it, Shelby. Wake up. I can't lose you." Shelby choked up the water that was drowning her lungs. She opened her eyes to Dean's beautiful pale green ones. He leaned back and smiled. She returned it softly. Her eyes opened further in realization as to where she was. She bolted upright and looked around. Happiness found it's way to her face when she spotted a wet Lucas wrapped in his mother's arms. She looked back at Dean and threw her arms around him.
"You did it Princess. You saved him." He whispered in her ear.
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What'd you guys think? Not one of my favorite episodes but I thought it was perfect for Shelby to overcome her fear! As always reviews furl my writing fire! Thanks home slices, Gooseygirl