Supernatural, Hunting, Living and Love (Revisited) Part 4

We finished up breakfast with my Mum. Sam and Dean done the dishes I rushed the boys out the door to go get the Impala before my Mum could do anything more for them. As per usual she was super nice when people where around and it was taking everything in me not to snap. Once we had our bags, we set of back in the direction of the car yard. Hopefully this time we would get the Impala back. The boys walked in front of me chatting away for the most part, leaving me be. I knew they knew something was up but I also knew they knew better then to ask. I had already made up my mind. I was going to help them finish out this case and then I would head for the next one. As soon as I had some alone time I was going to start researching my next case. I figured this one was as good as finished in the next 2 days or so. I already had a plan on where to continue the research on this case and an idea what to look for.

We got to car yard and Dean took off to look for this car. It didn't take him anywhere near as long as it had taken Sam to come back with the car. Dean and Sam began placing all their weapons and such back in their arsenal in the truck. I threw my suitcase on the back seat and climbed in to wait for them. While I was waiting I noticed a t-shirt on the floor. I picked it up out of curiosity. It looked like it could be one of Deans shirts. I brought it to my nose and smelt it. It was definitely one of Deans shirts. Before I could stop myself, I had unzipped my bag and shoved the shirt inside. I quickly zipped it back up. The truck obscured the view of the backseat so neither brother had seen what I had done. Why I took Deans shirt I had no idea. It wasn't like having something of his was going to help me get over him. Hell it would probably make the whole situation worse, but I couldn't help but feel like I deserved it. After everything he had done to me, I felt like I deserved something of his. He would never miss it. Hell he probably wouldn't even notice it was gone so no harm done right? The trunk closed with a loud thud that shook the car. Sam and Dean climbed into the car and we began the 40 minute drive back to the hotel.

When we pulled up out front of the hotel I was quick to grab my bag and make a b-line for my car. I had the keys on me so it wasn't like I need to step foot in the hotel room. I opened the door and tossed my suitcase over the drivers seat into the backseat. Dean stopped at the room door and looked at me as I climbed into the drivers seat.

“Where do you think your going?” Dean said

“Research” Was all I replied before I revved the engine and took off our of the paeking lot.

I drove myself to the library. I wanted to research each of the deaths at the pool and stay away from the Winchesters. I parked my Impala in the library parking lot, grabbed my notebook I kept in the car to use for researching and made my way inside. I wasn't the only one who had chosen to come to the library so early in the morning. I was forced to wait in the que at the reception desk for what seemed like an hour at least but was probably closer to 20 minutes. When it was my turn, I put on the biggest fake smile and sweetest voice I could.

“Hi I would like to book a computer and I would also like access to anything you may have about the Blacktown pool” I said

“Can I ask why?” the lady at the counter asked

“I'm writing a paper on places that have had seemingly bad luck from the day they opened and if there is a reason some places have worse luck then others”

“That certainly is an interesting topic, any other places I can look up for you?”

“Oh no just the pool thank you”

“Okay here is the login details for one of our computer cubicals, I'll get someone to bring you the rest soon”

“Thank you” I smiled taking the paper handed to me.

I walked off towards the cubical listed on the paper. I sat down in front of the computer and typed in the log in details the librarian gave me. A timer showed up in the bottom of the screen when I logged in showing I had an hour of computer time before I would be locked out and would need to go back up and ask again. Not wanting to waste time I immediately began search up all the deaths at the pool. I already knew we were dealing with a spirit so I figured the best place to start was making a list of all the people who had died at the pool. A quick google search gave me a list of 47 names. I wrote all 47 in my notebook and was about to start searching when a guy around my age walked over and handed me a large pile of papers and books. He had pulled everything they had and made copies of old newspaper articles for me to keep as reference material. I thanked him for his help and went back to searching the names. I knew I was looking for people the spirit would consider a burden and following that line of logic I assumed the ghost was likely someone who would see themselves as a burden. Following that line of logic I was able to bring my list down to 30 names. I was honestly hoping for a smaller list but with how long this had been carrying on for I wasn't surprised. I collected my things just as the computer timer ticked over to zero. That had to be some sort of hunting record. I dropped all the books back to the lady at the desk and made my way back to the car. I drove in silence back to the hotel, taking the longest possible path back. I even looped the block a couple times just to avoid seeing them for a little longer. But eventually I pulled into parking lot and a parked next to Deans Impala. Dean was standing next to his Impala on the side opposite me staring intently at the side of the car. I climbed out of my car grabbing my notebook as I went and made my way over to stand next to Dean. I looked to where Dean was looking. Sure enough there was a sizeable dint in the side of the car just like Sam had said. Overall the damage didn't look too bad. The dint could be fixed and the scratches on it looked like they would polish out.

“The damage doesn't look too bad” I broke the silence between us

“Yeah their lucky, it's nothing I can't fix once we're back at the bunker” Dean said crossing his arms “Where have you been?”

“I was researching, I think I found our spirit. What is the bunker?” I asked turning to look at Dean

“The bunker is a safe place for hunters, it's covered in sigils and wards, basically impenetrable by everything we hunt” Dean looked down at me “Lets go get Sam and you can show us what you found”

Dean unfolded his arms and walked into the hotel room. I followed behind after taking one last glance at the Impala. Yet another thing that was all my fault. Dean went straight to sit on his bed, Sam was sitting at the table typing away on this laptop.

“Put that thing away Sammy, y/n here thinks shes found our spirit” Dean said. Sam looked up at me unimpressed.

“Hay don’t get too excited you might pull something” I said “What did you find” Sam asked clearly not amused at my joke.

“Well I made a list of all the people who have died at the pool and shortened that list to all the people that the spirit might consider a burden which gives us a total of 30 names.” I said

“How did you decided who to include on your list?” Sam basically interrogated me.

“Well the first death at the pool was a young girl who was running, slipped and impaled herself on a pole, I couldn't find anything on her that would suggest she was a burden, no medical issues, no mental health issues, no family problems, nothing so I ruled her out as possibility, same for the 82 year old who suffered a heart attack, the 14 year old who was being a show off and broke his neck”

“Yeah okay I get the point have you worked out who on your list is our spirit?” Sam asked clearly frustrated.

“I would assume the person first on my list, not just because they died first but because in the article written up after they died their mother was quoted as saying 'even thought I am heartbroken at losing her I also feel a sense of relief knowing that she's no longer burdened by the health issues she had to deal with in her short life' sounds like a recipe for a vengeful spirit to me” I crossed my arms and smirked.

“Sounds pretty solid to me” Dean looked at Sam.

“Well only one way to know for sure” Sam sighed in defeat

“Salt and burn the body, one problem there, the family had her cremated”

“Then something else remains of her, a hair, a finger nail, something” Dean said

“So what we split up check the burial plot and the pool?” I offered.

“What did you find on her death?” Sam asked “Do you know how she died?”

“From the reports it looks like she wasn't technically at the pool at the time, she was walking past with her family and attempted to scale the fence around the pool, at the time of her death the top of the pole was barb wire coils, she apparently managed to get to the top before falling, the portion of fence she climbed had a fence post which was missing it's post cover off the top, in her fall she some how managed to impale her self through the stomach onto the pole. She was still alive when they removed her though and she died on the way to the hospital due to extreme trauma and blood loss”

“Is the pole still there?” Dean asked

“I don't think so from the records it was all torn down and replaced 12 months ago when they done a massive remodel but if we're lucky the old fencing materials may not have been removed from the area yet” I shrugged “If you two want to go check the pool for the old fencing materials and I'll check the burial site”

“Sounds like a plan to me” Dean stood up to get his keys.

My keys where still in my hand so I quickly made my way back out of the room and into my car before either brother was close to being ready to leave. The less time spent with them the better. I pulled out of the parking lot and started on my way to the burials site which was less a burial site and more a hole in the wall. I had my notebook open next to me with the location of the girls ashes written on it. I would occasionally glance over to it and say the row and plot number out loud. Anything to make it look like I knew who I was looking for and didn't seem at all suspicious. I was so distracted trying to learn the location that I almost drove straight past the cemetery gates. I drove my car as close as I could before bring it to a stop. I put the car in park, took one last look at the notebook and climbed out of the car. The girl had been put to rest in a large building that was purpose built for holding people ashes. Inside the building everything so far as the eye could see was white marble. It made the building feel cold and creepy. Every foot step reverberated off the walls, the sound making its way back to my ears at an almost painfully loud decibel. I had to walk all the way to the back of the building where all the older ashes where stored. From what I found the older ashes use to be stored in brick walls until the cemetery decided they needed something nicer. Personally I think it was so they could jack up the prices on the plots. The back of the building wasn't a brightly lit as the front. Likely because no one came down here to visit anyone anymore. It didn't take me long to locate the girls name plate. Each name plate had a little view window above it in which sat an urn and personal items belonging to the person. From what I could see nothing in the window stood out as being something that could contain part of her. It was mostly notes and pictures. Calling it a bust I made my way back to my car. Hopefully the Winchesters where having more luck then I was. Once I was sitting back in my car I sent a text to Dean letting him know the cemetery was a bust. I locked my phone and tossed it into the passengers seat. I heard the almost instant ping but I had no desire to look at it. I didn't want to go back to the hotel nor did I want to go back to my mothers. I really only had one other place I could think of. I put the car in drive and tore ass out of the cemetery. I drove the familiar streets to a place I use to run to when my mother was home. My haven away from her hell. I didn't even have a chance to stop the car let along get into the drive before a familiar screaming, hyperactive face came smashing out the front door. Theresa bounced around and screamed in her driveway as I tried to park my car.

“Y/N your back!” Theresa squealed tackling me in a hug

“Theresa! I didn't expect you to still be here, honestly thought I was going to have to ask your parents for your new address” I smiled hugging her back.

“Oh this is my place now, Mum and Dad moved further out of the city” Theresa shrugged “Anyway where have you been travelling? How much of the world have you seen? I want to know everything”

“Ah yeah about that, how about me go inside and I'll tell you everything”

Theresa grabbed my hand and dragged me into her house. We sat on her lounge and talked for hours. I told her about how instead of travelling the world I'd actually taken up hunting. I told her about all the different monsters I'd seen and killed. I told her about the current case I had been working at the pool. I told her about the Winchesters being back but that as soon as the case was done they were out. I even dropped everything on her about Dean. I found myself actually crying over this man. Theresa pulled me into her arms and just held me and let me cry. This wasn't the first time she'd seen me breakdown over things. For so many years it had just been the two of us.

“How do you know that Dean isn't just telling Sam what he wants to hear?” Theresa said after I finally moved back from her.

“Dean is a player, he said so himself, and I don't want to be the chick he hits up while working cases here”

“Y/n I saw the way he looked at you the last time they were here, if love at first site had a look, that was it” Theresa giggled

“Taz honestly I don't want to put my heart on the line” I sighed “Like Sam said hunters don't get happily ever afters so maybe its best I learn to be cold now”

“Well I can see I'm not going to change your mind and I know its pointless continuing to argue this with you” Theresa shook her head “Now about this case your working have the boys found anything yet?”

“How should I know my phones in the car”

“Then go get it woman” Theresa squealed

I sighed and removed myself from the lounge. I interestingly made my way back out to the car. I could hear my phone ringing before I even got close to the car. I sighed yet again, walking to the passenger side door. I visibly cringed when I picked up my phone to see over 40 missed calls and nearly 100 messages from Dean. It was a bunch of 'where are you' and 'god dammit woman answer your phone'. I was about to call Dean back when he rung my phone again.

“Yes Dean?” I answered

“Oh thank god” Dean basically screamed “Where have you been?”

“I was catching up with a friend, did you find anything?” I asked

“Now is not the time for social calls”

“Did you find anything?” I repeated ignoring Deans comment

“Yeah we found the pole. All the old fencing material has been moved to an old scrapyard and I don't think we're going to be getting the pole out of here in baby” Dean said

“Is there any reason for us to take the pole?” I asked

“There is traces of blood inside it” Dean said matter of factly “I know we can't say for certain it's hers but at the same time I don't want to take the chance that it's not”

“Okay give me an a minute I have an idea” I pressed my phone to my chest “HAY TAZ” I yelled back at the house.

“That's my name” She came jogging out the front door

“Is your brothers ute still sitting in the backyard?” I asked

“What do you think?” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms

“Can we borrow it?”

“If we can get it to start”

“Okay did you hear all that Dean?” I asked putting the phone back to my ear.

“What is a ute?” Dean asked

“A truck” I said “Since you know a thing or two about cars do you mind coming around to help us start it?”

“Yeah just text me the address” Dean sighed

I hung up from Dean and texted him the address. I knew it wouldn't take him long to get here and it bothered me. I didn't want to say anything because I could tell Theresa was excited to see Sam. I sighed and sat on the steps outside Theresa's house and waited for them. All we had to do was get the pole and burn the blood then Sam and Dean could leave I kept reminding myself. I could also use the small amount of time I had left with them to practice ignoring my feels. After all I was quite certain Dean would be the last guy I found myself crushing on. Yeah that's all this was a crush. I would get over it. What was that thing my mother always said? 'You don't love them, you lust them there is a difference'. Yeah that's all it was. All I needed to do was act like he was just a friend and eventually that's all I would see him as. A friend. I heard the impala come roaring into the street much like mine would have. No wonder Theresa knew I was back before I was even in front of her house. Theresa began shaking me, squealing with excitement as the car pulled up in the driveway. I stood to greet the Winchesters. Dean parked his Impala behind mine. The Winchesters climbed out of the car, Dean removing his flannel shirt as he went. He tossed his flannel behind him leaving him in just his black t-shirt. I stood back and let Theresa greet the boys. She quickly guided them through her house and out into the backyard. I sat back down on the front step and waited. I heard Theresa and Sam come back into the house. They were busy chatting away. Sam was laughing at whatever she was saying and I could hear her laugh too. It seemed like what applied to Dean seemingly didn't apply to Sam. I zoned out the sounds of Sam and Theresa in the house and instead concentrated on the half dead grass that covered Theresa's front yard. I began thinking of random fantasy lands, resorting back to something I hadn't done since I was a teenager to cope with the situation. I really didn't want to deal with either of the Winchesters in that moment. Hell I'd given them basically all they needed, if Dean didn't have my car trapped in Theresa's driveway I would have just left. Instead I sat staring into the distance, daydreaming up a fantasy land where I had never met Dean Winchester and never fell into this life.