Chapter Fourteen: Not A Lake Monster

Present day…

Main POV

Will Carlton was holding a box of something, reading the ingredients label in the aisle he was standing in. With a basket resting in the crook of his other arm, he was pretty preoccupied with his grocery shopping. Sidling up beside him, I stretched up on my toes with my arms in the air, one gripping the shelf, and the other desperately trying to reach for something I already knew I could not. Letting out a whine, I hopped up and down, unnecessarily jiggling parts of my anatomy as I did. He glanced up as I tried and failed, biting my lip and reaching farther. He put his basket down on the ground and moved in closer, so in my personal space I could feel his breath fanning the hair on top of my head.

''Here, I got it,'' he said and I leaned back on my heels, getting out of his way so he could grab the box of what I now learned was cereal. He extended his arm out to me and I gratefully accepted it.

''Wow, thanks,'' I said sweetly, hugging the box close to my middle. ''You're so tall.''

''I play Varsity Football on the local team, so you'd hope so,'' he said and I nodded, reaching up to tuck a lock of my loose blonde hair behind my ear.

''Yeah, I bet you have to be pretty strong to play football, and smart to be in college,'' I said and he smiled, nodding enthusiastically at me. Man, this was too easy. ''So you go here?''

''Yeah, born and raised. It's just me, my dad and my younger sister…'' he said, faltering in his words and looking down. ''Actually, it's just me and my dad now.'' Stepping forwards, I put a hand empathetically on his chest, ducking my head under his chin so I could look up into his downcast eyes.

''Oh no, did something happen?'' I asked and he looked up, almost surprised.

''You didn't see in the paper?'' he asked and I shook my head, doing my best clueless look. ''She was on scholarship with the Swim Team at the same college I go to. There was an accident, she drowned in the lake.''

''Oh god, that's awful, I'm so sorry. But wait, she's on the swim team. That must have caught you all by surprise,'' I said and he agreed, sighing as he leaned back against the cereal shelves.

''Yeah, she was the strongest swimmer I know. It really was weird, she wouldn't just drown. I swear something happened, but nobody believes me,'' he said and I cocked my head to the side. Really? He was just going to be out with it? Man, Dean had really lost his touch. Either that or he was right about it needing to be asked by a chick. I sure hope he wasn't right.

''What do you mean? You think something's down there?'' I asked and he tilted his head from side to side as he considered. Then he shook his head, thinking better of it.

''You know what, nevermind. The cops were probably right, it's not everyday you see your sister drown, I probably just imagined it,'' he said, stepping back and around me. He picked up his basket, intent on going away and I internally groaned. Knew it wouldn't be that easy. ''Anyway, I should be going. I'm picking up some groceries for dinner tonight, dad's not really been eating or sleeping much, I gotta pick up the slack.''

''Wow, you can cook too? You're really the whole package, aren't you?'' I said and he laughed awkwardly. Closing the distance between us, I put my hand on his wrist, trying to appear comforting. ''Listen, uh…''

''Will, I'm Will Carlton,'' he said when I pretended I didn't know.

''Katie,'' I told him and he smiled, rocking on his heels like a lovesick schoolboy straight out of a cartoon. ''So listen, Will, sometimes, in times of grief, we see things, trick of the light, maybe what we wanna see when what we do see is so hard to believe it seems impossible, like your highly capable sister drowning.''

''I know,'' he said with a sigh, looking down again. He'd interrupted me. Giving his wrist a gentle squeeze I directed his attention back to me.

''But, maybe what you're saying isn't so improbable. Will, it's easy to dismiss it, say you imagined it because it's hard to admit your sister went out there someplace dangerous in your own backyard, but maybe you didn't. Maybe there is something out there, why don't we talk about it, tell me what you saw,'' I suggested, trying to secure him onside. He looked up, slightly confused. To be fair, I was a complete stranger he only knew the first name of. Why would he discuss his grief with me?

''Why would I…?'' he started, shaking his head at me and taking a step back. He pulled his arm from my hand and I stayed back. If I stepped forwards, I might scare him off.

''I believe talking things through, it's important. If you don't, you'll never really know, you'll never properly put it to bed. I'm sorry Will, I didn't mean to intrude it's just, I thought it might be easier to do with a stranger. I mean, who cares what I think? Who am I going to tell?'' I asked and he nodded.

''I suppose you're right, but I don't really wanna talk about it,'' he said, putting the box he'd been reading into his basket, seemingly deciding on keeping it. ''Listen, this has been nice n' all, but I really should get going. I'll uh, see you around.'' He turned and quickly headed for the end of the aisle, going to his next I presumed. If I had any hope of getting what he saw out of him, I had to keep him here with me.

''Actually Will,'' I called and he turned, standing by the packet oatmeal. ''You won't… I'm uh..'' I said, starting to walk closer so I wasn't yelling across the store as we spoke. ''I'm only passing through town. I was uh, grabbing breakfast for tomorrow. I'm headed out soon.''

''Oh, that's a shame,'' he said and I tilted my head to the side.

''Oh? Why?'' I asked, giving him my best coy smile.

''Well uh, I think you're really cute. I would have liked it if you weren't a stranger,'' he told me honestly and I smiled up at him with big eyes, leaning forwards and up as I rested my hand on his chest again.

''I'd like that too,'' I told him and he closed his free hand over the top of mine, basket hanging loosely by his side. ''Maybe we… maybe we could do something about that. Do you have to rush off to make dinner straight away? Can we… maybe talk a little longer?''

''I could uh, I could do coffee, if you want? There's a diner across the street,'' he said and I nodded with a sweet smile.

''Sounds like a date,'' I assured him and he smiled giddily at me. Damn, Dean, I hated when he was right, especially like this. I mean, what did I want with a college age kid anyway? Who cared if they were legal, they'd not seen and done shit, I wanted someone with more experience, especially when it came to a quickie. Not that I was actually going to go there.

''Okay, I just gotta finish up here, but I'll meet you there, five minutes, okay?'' he asked, holding my wrist a little tighter, excited about his prospects. I nodded and he let go, walking away again to finish up his shop. Exiting the store without buying anything, I headed to the diner and ordered two coffees, sitting in a booth in the back, just by the restroom.

In the five minutes I sat waiting, I'd drank my coffee, and ordered another. Beginning to wonder if it was a gentle brush off, suggesting we meet here, I looked out the window to find Will Carlton all but running with his grocery bags across the street towards the diner. Smiling to myself, I felt my ego inflate. Katie Shepherd, you've still got it. He walked into the diner and looked around before he saw me, smiled, and strode over with all the confidence of a man who hadn't just run across the street. Waving, I welcomed him over to the table and pushed his coffee over towards him. He accepted it greatly and I watched as he poured a small mountain of sugar into the black, drip coffee, and added three packets of creamer. Pussy. Sure I liked sugar, but I didn't put that much in, and I certainly didn't need creamer.

''So, you were born and bred here, right?'' I asked and he nodded, stirring his coffee, metal spoon clinking against the side of the mug with every turn.

''Lived here all my life,'' he said and I smiled, trying to appear genuine in my appreciation of small townsfolk that'd never travelled. ''You're just passing through, right? So where are you from?''

''Kansas,'' I said, unconsciously remembering where Dean's family originally hailed from. If I was being perfectly honest, we'd never had a house, ever. And I didn't really know where we were from, or where I was born. I'd ask someone, but everyone who knew, was dead now. ''Been travelling most of my life though.''

''I see, I've always wondered what that would be like, but I can't imagine not having a place to be tethered to, a home. I'm really more of a simple guy, I like it here on the lake,'' he said and I nodded. Yep, called it.

''How close are you to the lake? Seems almost everybody's lakefront, that thing's huge,'' I commented and he laughed, shaking his head at me.

''My house is lakefront, backyard is maybe two, three hundred yards from the shore,'' he explained and I screwed up my face. ''What, you don't like the lake?'' I shook my head.

''It's not so much the lake, it's just that not being able to see the bottom of a body of water kinda freaks me out, it's kinda spooky, don't you think?'' I asked. Hunters knew what could lurk around every corner, and lakes were no different. They were full of monsters, or worse, sharp things that might poke you in the foot if you stood in the wrong place.

''Honestly, that's kinda why I can't be sure of what I saw that day, that…Sophie died…'' he said sadly and I reached across the table. Putting my palm down onto one of his arms that he laid across the table, I gave his wrist a squeeze.

''Well, what did you see? What could be so bad you don't wanna talk about it?'' I asked and he shook his head. ''Come on, Will, it's alright.''

''It looked like a hand grabbing her,'' he said and I nodded. Oddly, that hadn't been what I was expecting. My money actually was on lake monster. ''It was small, dirty like it was covered in mud and algae, but definitely a human hand. It was almost like a kid's hand. But that's crazy, with Sophie's swimming ability, there's no way a kid could pull her under. And where was the kid after she drowned? They didn't find anyone.''

''You're right,'' I said with a sigh. ''Look, it more than likely was your mind playing tricks on you, but at least you got to talk to someone about it. Someone who'd hear you out and not immediately shut you down like the cops did.''

''Yeah,'' he said with a small, bittersweet smile. He reached up and across the small table, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear. ''But really, between the Sheriff and the Wildlife guys, I'm kinda sick of talking about it. Sick of talking.''

He put a hand down on my bare knee and slid his hand up my inner thigh. I was instantly regretting wearing a denim skirt today, more so when he leaned forwards for a kiss and pressed his lips to mine too hard and too quick for me to dodge. Grabbing his wrist to stop his fingers from getting to my panties, I pulled his hand away. He pulled back breathlessly, smiling at me with wide eyes. Jesus Christ, how had Dean pegged this guy as being desperate and horny from a five minute conversation? Mind you, he'd done the same to me on that Goatman hunt. Bastard. Did he have a secret superpower for sensing horny people?

''We should uh… you know we should take this somewhere else. I'd invite you over, but now's not really the right time, you know?'' he said and I shook my head in horror. ''Come to the restroom with me, it's just Barb working, and she doesn't mind. We won't get caught.''

''No,'' I said plainly. ''No, Will, I'm good. I know I said I wanted to talk a little longer, but that wasn't girl code for please fuck me in the mensroom, I'm not interested in that.''

''Oh come on, you know you want to,'' he said and I rolled my eyes. He acted like every guy in high school I'd ever met. It didn't matter the town, didn't matter the school, there was always someone like him just wanting to get a piece of the easy girl who got knocked up young. How they always found out, I had no idea.

''No, Will, I said I'm not interested,'' I said again and he stood, standing on my side of the booth.

''That's a shame, because I just remembered something else about that day, you know,'' he said, sticking his hands casually in his pockets. ''And since that's all you seem to be interested in, I figured it'd be worth your while.''

''Are you trying to extort sex out of me with information?'' I scoffed, shaking my head. He pulled a condom out of his pocket enough for me to see a flash of foil before he nodded suggestively at me. Narrowing my eyes at him, I willed myself to stay seated and not knock his lights out.

''Extortion is such a dirty word, Katie. I'm just saying, you want answers and I've got a way you can get them. Come on, what's it worth to you?'' he asked and I thought about it seriously for a moment. Dean had pretty much thrown me this way, had he known Will would be like this? Had he set this up? Did he have to do stuff like this and therefore thought it was no big deal? We didn't have any leads, we were going off a lake monster theory, and if it was actually a ghost of some kind, we had a whole town of people it could possibly be.

''Will,'' I said with a sigh, leaning back in my seat. He'd lived here all his life, it was possible he'd recognised the ghost. Damn it. He pulled a tin of altoids out of his pocket, popping the cap.

''Breath mint?'' he asked and I glared at him, making a move to stand.

''No,'' I waved him off. ''You're extorting me for your own gain, you can deal with coffee breath.''

''That's not very nice,'' he said and turned on his heel towards the mensroom. I huffed as I ducked in after him, not bothering to check if anyone was watching. The stupid situations I get myself into. Next time Sam or Dean calls, I'm not coming. Hell, I'm not even answering. The Winchesters were more trouble than they were worth.

''I'm not very nice,'' I said, hopping up on the countertop. I watched him kick the doorstop under the door, preventing anyone from opening it from the outside and I hiked my skirt up my legs to sit just over my thighs.

Standing between my knees, he ducked forwards, connecting our lips again as I did the bare minimum of reciprocation. His hands slid up my legs, fingers hooking into the waistband of my panties and pulling them down. My back hit the cold, very dirty bathroom mirror and one of his hands returned to stroke my rather dry folds. He gave me a semi rough rubbing up and down, you know the way that men who didn't really care but knew they needed to do something did to get you going do. His bare minimum fingering did eventually stir up a response, and he panted, head resting against my forehead, lips resting just beside mine. Excited I was finally somewhat wet, he reached for the button and fly of his jeans, hastily unfastening them.

''You like that, sweetheart?'' he asked and I rolled my eyes at the nickname.

Palming himself through his boxers, he pulled out the condom from his pocket and handed it to me. Tearing the foil open, I tossed the packaging into the paper towel bin below the dispenser that was right by my head. He pulled down the waistband of his boxers, exposing a rather unimpressive dick, and I wondered briefly if this was why he had so much trouble with girls his own age. It wasn't the size, yaddah yaddah, but those with smaller dicks honestly seemed so psyched to actually be getting laid, they forgot to care about the other person. I've had my fair share of rides on the cockosaurus, and the attitudes of the guys with small dicks were arguably worse than those with big dicks. They were the human embodiment of those little yappy dogs with a much bigger bark than bite, always acting like they needed to prove something in the worst way.

''Fuck, I know you do,'' he said, taking the condom from me and rolling it over his "length". Rubbing the sheathed cock up and down my pathetically stimulated pussy, he guided himself in and groaned when he got in all the way. ''Fuck, feel that? You feel so fucking good, tight, wet. This is worth it, isn't it?''

''That remains to be decided,'' I replied bitterly and he pulled out, thrusting rather roughly. He was quick, and each hit was awkward, unmeasured and different from the last. He didn't seem to have the ability to get into a good rhythm, but he seemed pretty happy with himself. He kissed me again, groaning into my mouth as he kept up his efforts.

He was done in under five minutes, which was good, because I was going to need the time we saved to shower off the dirty feeling I had. And I sincerely hoped this information was worth it. Grabbing a length of paper towel, I wiped myself off and pulled my panties up my legs. I watched him slide the spent condom off and drop it in the bin beside me, tucking himself away neatly. Hopping off the counter, I pulled my skirt down and shrugged my jacket awkwardly. He reached for the door handle, one foot on the doorstep to pull it back out. Grabbing his wrist, I pulled him back and turned, putting my back against the door.

''Where do you think you're going?'' I said and he laughed, shaking his head at me. ''This was strictly business, remember?''

''Yeah, about that,'' he said and I groaned, slumping my shoulders as I leaned back against the door. ''I fucking knew you were a tragedy bunny the minute you asked about talking some more. Who does that? No way a girl like you would be interested in me for me. Well, was it worth it?''

''You idiot!'' I yelled, my hand shooting out and colliding with his cheek before I could really stop it. I was furious with both him and Dean. ''People's lives are at stake, and you're wasting my time!''

''So that's a no then,'' he said, still kinda laughing. Crying out in frustration, I yanked the door stop out from under the door and practically threw myself out into the restaurant. I threw some bills on the table we'd been sitting at, and stormed my way back out onto the street. Dean Winchester, you are going to die.

There was some jogging behind me, and I turned around, ready to clock whoever was behind me. Will caught my fist as I threw it and he laughed breathily. Practically hissing at him, I bore my teeth and shot him a look, that if I had the power, would definitely have struck him down where he stood.

''My dad, he mumbles in his sleep when he actually gets it, says the name Peter a lot. So either he's a repressed gay, or it's something important,'' he said and I recoiled, shaking my head at him.

''What?'' I asked and he shrugged.

''Lives are at stake, right?'' he said, turning around just as quickly as he'd approached, and took his groceries to a car across the street. Damn him. I hope he died too.

Dean POV

Looking up from my spot on the bed, I watched the motel door get thrown inwards and Katie stormed in. She was slightly sweaty, and I could fucking smell her from here. Smirking, I watched her slam the door behind her and I made an exaggerated sniffing noise. She shot me the sharpest glare in her arsenal, looking like she wanted to kill me.

''So, did you get anything?'' I asked and she practically screamed in anger. It was almost cute. She sighed, unclenching her fists and throwing her hands down at her sides. Standing up from the bed, I walked over to her and she looked like she wanted to punch me more, if that was possible.

''Nothing much, his dad doesn't sleep much, hasn't since the accident, understandably so, I can't say I'd be much better if I was in his position. Doesn't eat, just stares out at the lake all day and all night. He told me a little about what he saw,'' she said and I nodded, actually interested now the initial urge to tease her had worn off. Still, you had to admire her dedication to the job. ''Says he saw a hand, small, like a kid's pulling his sister under. And he said something else. Apparently his dad mumbles the name Peter in his sleep. Oh, and he thinks I'm a tragedy bunny, and extorted me for said information. I hate this town.''

''Tragedy bunny?'' I asked, eyebrows raised. She nodded, looking almost like she wanted to cry, and so I backed off a little. Walking away, I sat down on the bed again, cheap mattress giving a squeak as it dipped under my weight, and waited for her to continue.

''Chicks who want to sleep with guys that have recently had a tragedy happen, you know, manipulating men into sleeping with them because they're vulnerable or sleeping with them to make them feel better for like, not survivor's guilt but like as a…'' she explained and I scoffed.

''Public service? Pity sex? Does that actually work?'' I asked, suddenly very intrigued.

''Why, thinking of expanding your repertoire from talent scout, and soldier about to ship out? You're pathetic,'' she snapped.

''Man, I thought you were cool, there's nothing wrong with getting laid where and when you can,'' I argued and she folded her arms across her chest.

''Yeah, through honest means. We lie professionally, do you really wanna add that to your personal life?'' she asked, actually looking at me like she thought I was pathetic. She wasn't just hurling insults because she was pissed, she actually meant it this time. ''Dean, for years I was rolling around with my little brother, I was always upfront about having somewhere to be later, always clear there was no after.''

''That may work for you, sweetheart, but I'm a guy. Chicks don't want someone who's gonna be in town for a day and leave the next, not if they think they can't get anything out of it,'' I replied, laying back against the headboard. I was not pathetic.

''I do, there are others,'' she argued and I found myself wanting to shake my head at her.

''Katie, you are so far from the normal girl it's ridiculous. I go for the dime a dozen, because there are dozens, what am I supposed to strike out a thousand times just waiting for the one other single mom I find?'' I asked her genuinely and she threw her arms out at her sides. Walking towards me, she stood at the foot of the bed, glaring over me. Was this an opening for angry sex? God she smells so good right now.

''So first I'm a hoe, and now I'm not even normal?'' she demanded. Okay, no sex. ''Fuck you, Dean!''

The door opened again, this time a lot less violently and Sam stepped inside, closing the door behind him with some attitude. Damn, both of them were huffy? Great. He walked over, sitting beside me on the bed, seemingly ignoring Katie's menacing stare. Well, I couldn't blame him for that one, it wasn't directed at him.

''So, I think it's safe to say we can rule out Nessie,'' I said and I turned to look away from the raging bull beside me and over to look at Sam.

''What do you mean?'' I asked and Sam shrugged.

''I just drove past the Carlton house. There was an ambulance there. Will Carlton is dead,'' he explained and Katie cried out in frustration.

''What? I was just with him? In the time it took me to walk home he died?'' she barked, walking a few feet away and kicking the leg of the table. It shook as she did, so she went at it again, seeming to get some satisfaction out of it.

''He drown?'' I asked and Sam gave a single nod.

''Yep. In the sink,'' he said and I cocked my head to the side.

''Well, at least he died happy,'' I said, sending a vindictive grin at Katie, who cried out again and stormed off out of the room. Slamming the door harder than before, behind her. Chuckling to myself as I watched her walk past the motel room window, I glanced back at Sam when she was out of sight. ''So you're right, this isn't a creature. We're dealing with something else.''

''Yeah, but what?'' Sam said, looking a little frustrated himself. Not quite homicidal chick level, but definitely more than normal. The door next door slammed as well, and there was some more crying out and stomping, making a small smirk slide up my face. Sam eyed me, shaking his head in disapproval.

''I don't know. Water wraith, maybe? Some kind of demon? I mean, something that controls water...water that comes from the same source,'' I said and Sam shot me a look of realisation.

''The lake,'' he said and I nodded.

''Yeah,'' I said..

''Which would explain why it's upping the body count. The lake is draining. It'll be dry in a few months. Whatever this thing is, whatever it wants, it's running out of time,'' Sam said thoughtfully.

''And if it can get through the pipes, it can get to anyone, almost anywhere,'' I said, standing up. ''This is gonna happen again soon.''

As if on cue, the shower next door started up, harsh beads of water bouncing loudly against the tiles on the shared motel room door. Heading straight for the door, I yanked it open, with Sam getting up to follow.

''And we do know one other thing for sure. We know this has got something to do with Bill Carlton,'' Sam said as I hammered on Lex and Katie's door.

''Yeah, it took both his kids,'' I said, glancing at Sam as I continued to knock.

''And I've been asking around. Lucas's dad, Chris, Bill Carlton's godson,'' Sam told me.

''Let's go pay Mr. Carlton a visit. First though, we gotta check on Katie,'' I said and Sam raised both his eyebrows at me.

''You really wanna poke that bear? You're the one who said she has a temper, and you're the one who's been pushing her buttons all day,'' he pointed out and I turned to him while I waited for the door to be answered.

''This exactly why I only do one night stands, you shouldn't have called her, we parted on good terms, why'd you have to go and ruin that?'' I asked, throwing my arms out. The anger in the air was catching up with me, and now even I was annoyed.

''Because I didn't think you could do better,'' Sam answered with a shrug. There was still no answer at the door, so I jiggled the knob. It was locked and I looked back at Sam with a glare.

''Screw you, Sam,'' I said, knocking hard on the door once again. The door actually opened this time, revealing a rather confused looking Lex with an open tube of Oreos. He had a few in his mouth, crunching through them as he looked between us.

''What's happening, why does Mom look like she wants to murder someone?'' he asked, spraying dark oreo crumbs our way and then jerked his head back towards his bathroom door. ''She's been yelling through the door about how all men are scum and she's glad Will Carlton is dead.''

''No time, water monster might go for your sister,'' I said, stepping around him and marching over to the bathroom door. Trying the handle, I discovered it too was locked and I brought my fist up to the door, hammering on the thin wood. ''Come on, tragedy bunny, open up!''

''WHat is yOUR proBleM!'' She screamed back.

''Might be something in the water, you're showering, you really wanna do that?'' I called to her and she continued showering, despite my warning.

''I'll take my chances, you jackass! Get lost!'' she yelled and I sighed, leaning my head on the door. My forehead hit the door with a gentle, barely audible thunk.

''Katie…'' I said resting my fist against the wood without knocking. Maybe Sam was right, I had pushed her too far today. It was just supposed to be a bit of harmless fun. Plus, who gets angry about easy sex?

''You heard her,'' Lex said, suddenly standing behind me. He grabbed my jacket sleeve and yanked me back from the door and across the motel room carpet. ''Whatever you did, you should probably wait it out. I'll stay here to make sure she doesn't drown or anything.''

''Fine, but make sure she's careful, yeah? She might actually be a target now, not just because of what she knows,'' I said and I heard Katie screaming in the shower.

''For FUCKS SAKE DEAN!'' She said and on that note, I was booking it out the door. Lex looked between me and Sam, who offered him a simple shrug, and followed after me. Ooops.