Missed Chapter 21?

Free Supernatural Fanfiction – Chapter Summary:

The ghost hunt gets real as fanboys dig up secrets—and graves—while Analina and the crew race to stop a vengeful spirit before it’s too late.

Rating: PG-13
Contains:   Supernatural peril, mild language, and graveyard tension.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:  
That’s What Sam & Dean Would Do

WE WENT BACK DOWNSTAIRS. Miss Gore had to be around the hotel somewhere. For some reason, it was hard to pinpoint all the ghosts. I figured I could at least get the boys crossed over myself by protecting them from Miss Gore. Sam and Dean would probably have to use their normal methods with her. She didn’t sound like the type of ghost that would just vanish—which meant we had to do some digging.

We had to figure out where Miss Gore was buried. I stood by Dean as Sam made a call.

“And…?” Dean asked as Sam rejoined us a few minutes later.

“I talked to a guy from the County Historical Society. Not only did Leticia Gore butcher four boys, but one of them was her own son. He didn’t know where she was buried.”

A pair of fake Sam and Deans were at the table near us.

Fake Dean said in a deep voice, “Check it out. There’s the orphanage. Here’s the carriage house, and right there… cemetery.”

“You think that’s where Leticia’s planted?” Fake Sam asked in an equally low voice.

“It’s worth a shot.”

Sam reached out to touch the map.

“Hey—hey!” Fake Sam exclaimed.

Fake Dean grabbed the map back. “Hey, do you mind?”

Sam turned toward us. “It’s real. A century old, at least—and he’s right. There is a cemetery on the grounds.”

“Where’d you get that?” Dean asked Fake Dean.

“It’s called a game, pal. It ain’t called charity.”

Dean sighed. “Yeah, right. Give me the map, chuckles.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the chuckles, chuckles. Besides, Dean don’t listen to nobody.” He pulled back his jacket to reveal a plastic gun.

Dean rolled his eyes.

“Dean! Cool it,” Fake Sam said to Fake Dean.

Dean started to pull out his own gun. I put a hand on his arm as Sam said, “Dean!”

Dean looked at us both. “What? They’re freaking annoying.”

Sam tried again. “Look, guys. We all want to find the bones, right? We just thought… it would go faster if we all worked together.”

The fakes exchanged looks.

“Ahem. We—ah—we get the Sizzler gift card,” Fake Sam said.

Rolling his eyes again, Dean said, “Fine.”

“And we get to be Sam and Dean,” Fake Dean added.

Sam and Dean looked at each other.

“Fine,” Dean said shortly.

Fake Dean whispered “yes” to himself.

This should be fun, I thought.

WE WENT TO GET SOME SUPPLIES from the car and met them by the front door. While getting the supplies, I said I would go and check out the boys to see if I could get them to cross over.

“Oh, and Jo?” Fake Dean yelled in my direction as I left them.

“Jo?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. Dean shifted uncomfortably. Must be another girlfriend?

“Yeah, Jo,” he said that like I was stupid. He cleared his throat and went back into character. “That’s right, sweetheart. Leave this to the professionals. We’ll light her up nice and toasty.”

I glanced at Dean, who appeared to be extremely pissed off at the situation. “Uh, right.”

I gave Sam a look to keep an eye on Dean. Hopefully, Dean wouldn’t hurt the two role players—err—LARPers?

As I turned to go back into the hotel, I heard Fake Dean call to them, “Hey, Rufus, Bobby, would you hurry it up?”

I sighed. People were heading back into the conference room for another session with Chuck. That would help control all those emotions in one spot, which meant I’d be able to feel the ghosts more easily. I opened up more to the energies around me. I could feel the different spirits around the hotel. Since I’d already met the one little boy, I connected a little faster to his location. I decided to try him first. He seemed to be a floor above me.

As I got to the second-floor landing, I could feel the other three boys roaming down at the other end of the hotel. I would stop there next. Miss Gore wasn’t near me. She was… I reached further out as I walked… in the attic.

I opened a door to a library. I knew the little boy was in here.

“Hello?” I called out. “Little boy? I’m here to help you. You don’t have to be afraid.”

I waited. I could feel his energy building, but he didn’t appear.

“Look, I know what happened. I can help you. My friends and I are going to send Miss Gore away. She won’t hurt you anymore.”

He flickered into view. “What?”

He still held his head.

I took a step closer and bent down. “I’m going to help you cross over.”

“No! What did you say about my mommy?”

“Oh, well, my friends are going to make sure she won’t hurt you anymore.” I smiled.

He looked alarmed. “No!”

He glanced upstairs and then flickered away.

“Wait!” I called out too late.

That was weird. I suddenly felt Miss Gore disappear and go outside. They must be ready to set fire to her body. Within a few moments, the spirit of Miss Gore was gone.

I started to go back out and try the other boys. I felt them downstairs now, but something was different. It felt almost evil. I came around to the steps and noticed the German Hook Man walking in the hallway downstairs. I felt the other boys follow him. He must have noticed them and said something.

The air grew colder and tenser as I started down the stairs.

“Miss Gore wouldn’t let us have any fun,” I heard one boy say to the Hook Man.

“You look nothing like real ghosts, just telling you.”

I was halfway down and slowed to listen.

“But Miss Gore is gone, and now we can have all kinds of fun,” the boy said.

He started to scream, and I flew down the rest of the way. I was too late. The Hook Man was scalped! It wasn’t Miss Gore. It was the three boys!

I HAD TO FIND SAM AND DEAN. I wouldn’t be able to get them to cross over if that was the case. I flew around the bend and ran straight into them. The fakes weren’t with them.

“What happened?” Dean caught me.

“We were wrong. It wasn’t Miss Gore. It was the three little boys. Miss Gore must have been the one to stop them,” I said quickly. “They scalped the German guy.”

Realization spread over their faces.

“The boys’ graves were by her,” Sam said.

“Let’s go!” Dean started toward the front of the hotel. He pushed against the door, but it didn’t budge. He flipped the lock, but it was already unlocked.

“That’s not good.”

Dean and I quickly went into the next room and tried the windows. Nothing.

Sam came in.

“Hey, anything?” Dean asked.

“Every exit’s locked.”

Dean slammed his fist against the window in frustration.

“This is bad,” Sam said.

“Gee, ya think, Sammy?”

“We have to warn everyone,” I said.

Dean went to get the staff. I ran to get salt from the kitchen, and Sam went to tell Chuck to keep everyone in the conference room. I came in just as Sam must have told Chuck what happened.

“What? Holy crap!”

Sam covered the microphone, and they talked a few more seconds. I walked down the aisle and salted the door line to the back. Sam joined me as I finished that, and we walked to the back of the room.

Chuck announced, “Okay. So, ah, good news. I got much more to tell you… I guess.”

Dean ushered the hotel staff into the room.

“Buddy, I got work to do,” the hotel manager complained.

“You’re going to want to see this, trust me. It’s going to be a hell of a show,” Dean answered.

Chuck continued on stage, “Ah, what does the future hold for Sam and Dean? Well, how do you feel about angels? Yeah, because let me tell you, they’re not nearly as lame as you think.”

Once everyone was in, I salted that door.

“The legends about Leticia are ass-backwards, obviously,” Dean said.

“Yeah. So, all right, let’s say those three orphans were playing cowboys and Indians.”

“LARPing as cowboys and Indians,” Dean corrected with a smile and wink in my direction.

“Whatever. And let’s say they scalped Leticia’s son and killed him.”

“Mom catches ’em in the act, flips out, slices them and dices herself,” Dean finished.

“Now we’ve got three bloodthirsty brats in the building,” Sam said.

“Yeah, and Leticia was the only one keeping them under control.”

“Smooth move on our part,” Sam added.

I glanced at the woman dressed as a ghost, sitting near the back. She played Leticia Gore in the role-playing game.

“Yeah, well, we got to get back to the cemetery, torch the kids’ bones,” Dean said to Sam.

“How? We’re trapped. We don’t even have our guns! The ghosts are running this joint, and they’re only scared of one thing.”

I hit Dean with my elbow. He looked at me, and I nodded toward the girl.

His eyes lit up. “Exactly.”

He started to talk to the woman.

“You want me to do what?” she asked.

“You’re an actress. We just want you to act,” Dean said simply.

“I work at Hooters, in Toledo. No, you can forget it.”

“You’ll be safe. We promise. This is really important,” Sam added.

Fake Dean and Fake Sam came back.

“We want to help,” Fake Dean said.

“Just give her the puppy dog thing, okay?” Dean said to Sam. He turned his attention to the Fake Sam and Fake Dean. “Guys, no.”

“Why not?” Fake Sam asked.

“’Cause this isn’t make-believe,” he answered.

“Look, we know. We’re not nuts. We’re freakin’ terrified.”

“Yeah, but if all these people are seriously in trouble, we gotta do something,” Fake Sam insisted.

“Why?”

“Because that’s what Sam and Dean would do,” Fake Dean answered sincerely.

SURPRISINGLY, DEAN AGREED to let them help. He would take the fake ghost up to the library where I last saw the one boy. Sam, the fakes, and I would try to get the door open and make our way out to the cemetery.

We watched them head up to the library, and then we hurried to the front door. Sam, Fake Dean, and Fake Sam threw their weight against the door. Being the smallest, I was ready to wiggle through first.

“Push it!” Sam yelled.

Suddenly, the door began to give a little. I squeezed in between and made it outside. I pulled on the handle from out there. It still didn’t give way that much, but Fake Sam eventually squeezed out with me. He pulled from the outside as well. A moment later, Fake Dean managed to join us. Then, the door slammed shut.

“Damn it,” I heard Sam from the other side. “Get to the graves. I’ll help Dean.”

“Alright,” I yelled back.

The fake guys looked startled.

“Where’s their graves?” I asked.

“Uh, this way,” Fake Dean snapped his attention back to me and the situation.

We made a stop at the Impala for the shovels, salt, accelerant, and two lighters—all that was left in the trunk. Dean had given me his set of keys to get in. We could each dig up one of the boys’ graves. The son wouldn’t be a problem. He could go last if he didn’t cross over on his own. The other boys were the dangerous ones.

We ran to the cemetery and started digging. I hadn’t actually done much digging myself, but the training I had helped a lot.

“Oh my God. Supernatural makes digging graves seem so easy. It’s not, though,” Fake Sam said and stopped. “I’m going to throw up.”

I paused for a moment to watch him. Would he really?

“No, you’re not,” Fake Dean said firmly.

I smiled to myself and kept digging. I could feel the shovel scrape against the lid of the coffin. Almost there, I told myself. At least this wasn’t a full-grown person. Breaking through the wood was harder than I thought it would be. But it cracked. I had to hit it a few times.

I scrambled out of the grave and poured some salt and accelerant on it. I glanced over at the other two. They were almost done. I flicked open the lighter and tossed it in. One down.

I scrambled over just as they exposed their bodies. They put the other two bodies together. I handed them the supplies. They poured the salt and accelerant over the bodies. Fake Dean repeatedly tried to flick on his lighter.

“How come Dean can always light the stupid thing on the first freaking try?” He kept trying. “Come on!!!”

I was ready to grab it out of his hands when it lit. He dumped it over the bodies, and they went up in flames. As the fire grew, I felt the release of the spirits going with them. The son’s energy also disappeared after the other boys’ spirits left.

With the two guys behind me, I raced back to the hotel. I pulled on the doors and they opened. It worked! In the distance, I heard sirens. It was probably for that poor German man. Just as I started up the stairs, Sam and Dean—the real ones—started down. I stopped about midway and waited for them.

“You guys alright?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re good,” Sam answered, rubbing his arm as he walked down.

Dean stopped a step below mine, so we were almost directly eye-to-eye. “How about you?”

He reached up and brushed my cheek. I could feel some dirt crumbling off.

“Fine,” I said as my heart fluttered.

“Good.”

He smiled.

I started to unconsciously lean into him when the front doors flew open and a bustle of activity stopped me. I contained the sigh that wanted to escape, and we moved out of the way.

We cleaned up while they questioned the guests and took care of the dead body.

SAM WENT OUT FIRST and was stopped by Becky. Poor guy. Dean and I started to walk to the car. The Fake Dean and Fake Sam were behind us. Dean noticed and stopped to talk to them.

“You know, I gotta hand it to you guys. You really saved our asses back there. So, ah, you know, thanks.”

They just stared at each other.

“Guys, I don’t even know your names,” Dean continued.

“Oh. Well, I’m Barnes. This is Damien. What’s yours?” the Fake Sam—Barnes—answered.

“I’m Analina,” I smiled, thinking of what Dean would do. They didn’t know who I was… yet.

“Dean. The real Dean.”

Barnes and Damien paused for a moment and then laughed.

I muffled my giggle at this. I patted Dean’s arm and started to walk to the car.

“Hey, Analina,” Chuck called. He carried a box.

“Yeah?”

“Here’s the books I promised you.” He handed me the box.

“Oh great!” I said. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to read them all before Dean realizes I have them.”

Chuck smiled. “Yeah… He’s not such a fan. I—uh—can send you a Word document of them.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, well. I mean, you seem like the nice one in the bunch. You know, you wouldn’t actually hurt me if I published the new books.”

“Ah, y-yeah. Thanks, Chuck.” I put the box on the floor of the Impala’s back seat and took out a piece of paper and pen from my purse. I started to write down my email address. “You’re not really going to publish more books, are you?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Well, I wanted to. I mean, I don’t have income besides the series.”

I knew this did not float over very well with Sam and Dean. I wasn’t thrilled about it. However, he was right. I wouldn’t actually hurt him because of it.

“I mean, you shouldn’t worry too much about it,” he said, trying to appease me.

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Well, I can never get your perspective in the visions. At least, not yet. It’s weird.” He scratched his head.

“Hey, Chuck? If you get anything else on the anam cara, could you let us know?” I asked.

“Uh, yeah. Sure,” he muttered. “So that’s really true?”

“I was actually going to ask you the same thing,” I admitted.

“Huh… I guess it is. I mean, I wouldn’t have seen it if it wasn’t.”

I nodded.

He looked back and noticed Sam and Becky talking. Sam looked uncomfortable as Becky talked. He looked like he was trying to be… sad?

“I better,” Chuck pointed over at them, without finishing his sentence.

“Yeah, good idea.” I smiled. “Thanks again, Chuck.”

“Sure,” he replied. He started walking away and then stopped. “You know what? I think—I think you’re good for him. Dean, I mean. I think he really needed you. And you him.”

“Thanks,” I said quietly. He nodded and walked away.

Before I could even contemplate any more of that, Dean came over. “Where’s Sam? I think I’ve had enough crazy to last me a while.”

I pointed. “Over there.”

He looked over, and his face broke out into a smile. He muttered, “I’m glad it’s not me.”

“So am I,” I agreed. I looked back at Dean, who arched an eyebrow. I laughed. “She scares me. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her jealousy.”

Dean wrapped his arms around me and gently pushed me against the Impala. “I think you could take her,” he smiled.

“Yeah? Well, I’d rather not find out,” I said.

With his smile still in place, he dipped his head down to kiss me. Gentle at first, and then I felt myself lean in closer to him. I ran my fingers through the hair at the top of his neck, and he deepened the kiss. I became deliciously dizzy.

Sam cleared his throat as he came up to the car. I jumped.

“You guys need a room or something?” he asked, walking over to the front seat.

Dean looked as if he considered. I poked him in the ribs. “I guess we’re good. How about you?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” Sam said, opening the door and climbing in.

ON THE WAY, Sam told us that Becky had actually dumped him for Chuck—not that they were actually dating. Apparently, she liked when Chuck gained control of the ghost situation in the auditorium while I was outside digging up bodies.

They eventually lapsed into silence, and I settled down and started to read the first book. They didn’t even notice until I was almost done.

“Hey, you alive back there?” Dean called, smacking his hand on the back of the front seat.

I popped up. “Sorry, what? I was reading.”

“Are you about ready to eat? There’s a diner… Wait, reading what?” Dean glanced back in his mirror. “You’re not reading those Supernatural books, are you?”

I clutched the book a little harder. Sam looked back.

“Maybe.”

“How did… Chuck?” Dean concluded.

“I wanted to read them,” I insisted.

“Why?” Dean demanded.

I sat up and leaned against the front seat. “Well, for one, I like to read. Two, it was free. And three, I thought it would be beneficial to what’s been going on.”

“Beneficial?” Dean sputtered. He reached behind to grab the book, but I leaned back.

“Dean,” Sam called quietly, taking the steering wheel and moving the car back into the lane.

Dean turned back to the road.

Chuck should send me the Word documents soon. I could read them without Sam and Dean knowing. For some reason, I just really wanted to read it. “Okay, fine. Just let me finish this one. I’m almost done. Fifty pages left. Then I’ll stop.”

“Just like that?” Dean asked.

I sighed. “Do you want me to read them or not?”

He glanced at Sam.

“But you’re going to tell me who this Cassie and Jo are, at least,” I stipulated.

He paused as he went over this in his mind. If he told me about them, he would have more control over it than if I read it myself. I could see the thought flickering across his face. Sometimes he was easy to read.

He sighed.

“I’ll give you the books if it makes you feel better,” I added reluctantly. I figured he would probably take them anyway—by force if he had to.

Sam remained silent.

“Fine,” Dean reluctantly agreed.

In a show of good faith, I reached down and picked up the box of books. I lifted it over the front seat and placed it between them.

“You’ll get this one,” I held up the first book, “soon.”

Dean and Sam glanced down at the books. I settled back to finish the one I kept.

“I hope you’re enjoying that,” Dean muttered.

“Actually, it’s not too bad. I mean, the writing is not terribly great, but I’ve read a lot worse in that department,” I said. “I’d probably give it 4 out of 5 stars.”

I received a slightly disgruntled look and eyebrow raise at that remark. I couldn’t see Sam’s expression from my view, but his shoulders looked tense.

An uncomfortable pause followed.

“Would it help if I apologized? I didn’t think it would upset you like this.” I started having doubts about reading the rest without them knowing.

“I’m not upset,” Dean said tersely.

I arched an eyebrow at that. He noticed.

“Well, how would you like your life in the hands of the public without your knowledge? Actually, if Chuck weasels his way, you could very well find that out.”

“But no one else knows this is non-fiction, right?”

“No, only Chuck, Becky, and us,” Sam answered. “But that still doesn’t make it right.”

“No, I understand that. It just… never mind.” I wondered if guilt could swing this over my way.

“What?” Dean asked, with a bitter tone.

“Nothing. I just thought that you trusted me enough to read them. That’s all.” I let my voice drop as I dipped my head back into the book.

I didn’t dare look back up. But I saw that they were silently communicating with each other from the corner of my eye.

Sam sighed. “Analina, it’s not that we don’t trust you.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “It’s alright. I understand.”

I sat back up and put the book on top of the pile. “So what happens after Sam drives into the house?”

Image by Copilot

Ready for Chapter 23?