"So," Faith commented, looking out the car window. "It's true."
She let her eyes wash over a tanned cowboy, walking across the road as they stopped.
"Everything is bigger in Texas."
Sam
"You've never been to Texas?" Sam's eyebrows rose lazily as he looked across at her.
Faith
"Nope," Faith said, glancing at him.
"Never really needed to come here though."
Dean & Sam
"The food's bigger and better," Dean grinned appreciatively with a nod.
"We've been here quite a few times," Sam amended, "working jobs, of course."
"Texas is pretty haunted," Dean leant forward to see a street sign, "probably from all the old gunslingers."
Faith
Faith slid her hand over Sam's knee absently.
"Awesome. So... what's the deal this time?"
Sam & Dean
"Just some kids gone mssing, the usual," Sam sighed, looking over some paperwork.
"Dad tagged the area around a decade ago as a possible hotspot, so these last few instances have spiked on the radar."
"That's one way to put it," Dean shrugged, "I'm only here for the food."
Faith
"Mmm food."
Faith glanced up at Sam.
"Cool. Well... ooh, something to fight would be fun. Or am I to be banished to research as a way to 'rest'?"
Dean & Sam
"There's bound to be some demons round if we look hard enough," Dean pulled off the main highway, heading into the outsirts of Austin, "I think of the big demon smoke clouds hovered over Dallas for a time."
"Mmm," Sam nodded in agreement, eyes fixated on the map.
Faith
"And when a Slayer is in town, most vampires come out to play."
Faith nodded.
"Sounds good."
Sam & Dean
"There you go," Sam murmured.
"Yeah, I doubt we'll be bored for any length of time. Besides, don't forget about the huge targets strapped to each of our backs," Dean rolled his eyes.
"Make a left turn up here," Sam instructed.
Faith
"Yeah," Faith mused. "I'm thinking I could use a holiday of the tropical variety after this trip."
She scratched her nose absently.
Dean & Sam
"I wish," Dean grunted, making the turn.
"Make a right at the cornerstore," Sam added, "anywhere particular you wanna go?"
Faith
Faith shrugged.
"I'm aiming for something far away. Bahamas? But if Angel can't organise documents, then I'll do the Cabo thing."
Dean
"Cabo?" Dean raised an eyebrow.
Faith
"Mexico," Faith said, glancing across at Dean.
"It's pretty nice. Swim up bars, good surfing, you know."
Dean
"Would if I'd ever been, I guess. No interest in leaving this country."
"Too much to fight here, why go elsewhere?" Sam mused.
"Yeah, there's that."
Faith
"Mmm," Faith shrugged.
"Angel used to drag me all over the world to study fighting techniques, but I'm in need of a tan."
Dean & Sam
"We've heard the stories," Dean rolled his eyes.
"A holiday would be great, if we had time for one," Sam pulled a face, "turn right up here."
Faith
"Well, I'm meant to be resting, so that's my excuse."
Faith glanced at Sam.
"I'll take Spike in case I run into trouble, I guess."
Dean & Sam
Dean chuckled to himself at a random Spike-related memory that came to mind.
"Good idea," Sam insisted with a nod.
Faith
Faith watched out the window again, but one hand absently squeezed Sam's.
"So..."
Sam & Dean
"So we're here," Sam looked up as Dean pulled off the road and onto gravel.
He followed the trail up about a mile before coming to a halt in front of an old shack.
Dean turned off the car and raised his eyebrows.
"They're never much to look at, are they?" he pulled a face.
Faith
"Nope, that would make our job slightly less difficult."
Faith waited for Sam to open the door and get out before she could follow.
Sam & Dean
"Probably because rich people can afford 'professionals'," Sam mused, thinking of the Ghostfacers quad.
Dean chuckled to himself at the same thought, then they both got out of the car.
"Good timing at least, sun's going down," Dean looked up, shielding his eyes, "let's gear up and scope the place out before it gets dark."
Faith
Faith stretched once she was out of the car, yawning lazily.
"Alrighties."
She ran a hand through her hair, then slipped her arm around Sam's waist absently.
Sam & Dean
Sam smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder in turn.
Dean looked over at them and his face fell.
"Emphasis on before the sun sets guys," he rolled his eyes, move it!"
He opened the trunk and grabbed some weapons.
Faith
Faith grinned slightly, moving forward to get some weapons.
"We're coming. Well - "
Dean & Sam
"No time for that," Dean insisted, slight tease to his voice.
"Dean-"
"Sam! Get to work!"
Sam rolled his eyes and walked to the trunk, grabbing his ready- packed duffel containing the usual ghost hunting tools.
Faith
Faith grinned to herself, stepping back to let the boys do their thing.
"You're too dominating," she said to Dean. "It's why we would never work as a couple."
Dean & Sam
"Most girls tend to like the man taking charge," Dean reasoned, "but you know full well that it's the other way around in the bedroom. Or whatever other location."
"Dean, work?" Sam taunted.
"Yeah, yeah..."
Faith
"Yeah, Sam likes me to take the reigns too," Faith said, trying to keep a straight face.
Sam & Dean
"What?!"
"Let's get this show on the road, ladies," Dean insisted, cloing the trunk once he'd packed his duffel.
He armed his shotgun and headed for the shack.
"This isn't the exact place though, right?" Sam frowned.
"Why? Sad we don't get to walk an extra ten miles?"
Faith
"Yeah, I was angling for another piggyback."
Faith slipped her arm around Sam's waist as they walked.
Dean & Sam
"So sorry to disappoint," Dean drawled sarcastically.
He opened the cabin door and stepped in, pausing for a moment as he realised how big it was. Then he stepped over to the nearest corner and set up their old video camera.
Sam pulled Faith in and looked around, brushing away some cobwebs.
Faith
Faith glanced around the cabin.
"Hmmm, nice."
Sam & Dean
"Homey," Sam coughed.
Dean fetched his EMF meter from his bag and switched it on. Nothing.
"No spikes. Unless it only does its thing at night," he shrugged.
"Probably," Sam frowned, stepping further in and heading down a hallway.
Faith
Faith followed along behind Sam, waving her hand in front of her face, feeling a cobweb.
"Oh great, we get to stay the night?"
Sam
"I don't think we'll be getting much sleep," Sam countered.
Faith
"Figures."
Faith rubbed her nose tiredly.
Dean & Sam
A half hour later, the sun had set. Dean had the camera set up on night vision in case any orbs made an appearance, and he stood watch behind it holding his salt rifle.
Sam stood at the side window, looking out.
"What if it's something coporeal?" he suggested suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Then it would have left some sort of trace," Dean countered.
Faith
Faith folded her arms across her chest, watching the sunset through the window.
"Eh, easier to fight if it's corporeal. For me, anyway."
Sam
"Depends what it is," Sam shrugged.
He hesitated, squinting, trying to see something outside.
"Faith," he called her over, pointing out a moving shadow.
Faith
Faith walked over, lightly goosing Sam as she peered out the window.
"Any idea what it is?"
Sam & Dean
"Gone, now," Sam pulled a face.
"What'd it look like?" Dean asked.
"A shadow?" Sam shrugged.
Faith
The sound of shoes crunching on gravel came from outside, and Faith peered out the window again.
"Maybe not gone..."
Dean & Sam
Dean aimed his gun for the door, not moving but ready to if needed.
Sam made for the door as the sound stopped suddenly. He froze, looking at Dean.
Dean took a deep breath, then nodded.
Sam opened the door and stepped out into the dark.
Faith
Faith took a step towards the door, ready to back Sam up if need be.
Sam
"Hey! Hey! Are you ok?!" Sam exclaimed upon sighting the girl.
The blonde was barely in rags, holding her arms tightly as if she were - and she probably was - freezing.
Sam stepped over and took her by the shoulders.
Faith
The girl just stood there, shaking slightly, eyes focused on the ground.
Faith came out to see who Sam was talking to.
"Let's get her inside," she breathed.
Sam & Dean
Sam nodded in agreement, keeping an eye out in case she were followed as they escorted her in.
Dean stood when he saw her.
"What happened?" he frowned.
Faith
"I don't know," Faith said to Dean.
She helped the girl over to a chair, sitting her down.
The girl shook, still not making eye contact with them. Blood stained the front of her dress.
Sam & Dean
"I don't know man," Sam looked worried as he stepped over to Dean, watching.
"I'm not sure a ghost is the problem."
"Forgetting the witnesses so soon?" Dean raised an eyebrow, "they could do some serious damage."
"Yeah, but they would have killed her outright," Sam pointed out.
Faith
"Hey," Faith said softly, kneeling down so she was eye level with the girl.
The girl rocked herself back and forth, shaking her head violently.
"Little help? Sam, you're the people person, not me."
Dean & Sam
"Ditto," Dean nodded.
Sam stepped over and put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Hey," he said calmly but determined.
"What's your name?"
Faith
The girl recoiled from Sam's touch, shaking her head more violently.
"There's a bad man," she whispered, still rocking. "A really bad man. Bad man. Bad man."
Faith glanced at Dean.
Dean & Sam
"Need a bit more than that, sweetheart," Dean shook his head.
Sam frowned as he took a step back.
"What can you tell us about this man?" he changed angles.
Faith
"NO!" the girl shouted. "Nonononononono..."
Faith rubbed her eye tiredly.
"Helpful."
Sam & Dean
Sam gave up, rolling his eyes as he stood.
"Well she's bviously not going to help our case," Dean stated the obvious, "maybe we should just drop her up the road and start scouting the place out."
Faith
"Is there a hospital or anything?" Faith asked, turning away from the girl.
The girl reached under her dress and pulled out a gun that was covered in blood. She opened her mouth and stuck the barrel inside.
A second later, the back of her head and brain had stained the wall behind her.
Sam & Dean
"Damnit," Sam cursed, wiping blood from his face.
"There's something you don't see everyday. From mortals, anyway," Dean shrugged.
He hesitated, tilting his head.
"Should see if the gun has any rounds left. Sounds like we could use it in this case."
Faith
"Well," Faith said, wrinkling her nose up. "I can't believe I'm gonna do this."
She walked over and winced as she reached for the gun.
Dean & Sam
"Careful," Dean insisted, returning to his post.
Sam covered his mouth with the back of his hand, as if he were about to be sick.
Faith
"Oh God," Faith muttered, carefully taking the gun from her hand.
"Gross gross gross..."
Sam
"Here," Sam quickly took it from her, pulling himself together.
He rubbed the blood off with his sleeve and opened the cannister.
"Three shots left," he informed Dean.
Faith
Faith was looking slightly green.
"Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick."
Dean & Sam
"Throw a sheet over her or something," Dean said absently, looking out the window.
Sam nodded, finding some old bedsheets belonging to the cabin and using them to cover her body.
"Hate to state the obvious, but I guess she saw something," he said as he did so.
"Yeah but what? Supernatural or just plain human? Hard to tell these days," Dean muttered, putting his shotgun down for a moment as he checked his pistol.
Faith
"Especially with what we've been through lately," Faith agreed absently.
She looked at Sam.
"Maybe we should talk to locals or something?"
Sam & Dean
"I think it's a bit late for door knocking," Sam reasoned.
"And I don't plan on being here when the sun comes up," Dean added, "maybe we should just go hunt."
"Think that's such a good idea after the Benders?" Sam asked, worried.
"Ain't my fault you got jumped by humans."
Faith
"I'll protect you," Faith teased lightly.
"Alright, let's make like Tom and Cruise."
Dean & Sam
Dean winced at the joke and headed for the door.
Sam went over to his duffel and grabbed a few things - an extra gun, his machete and crossbow - before following.
Faith
Faith followed Sam out the door, pulling her jacket a little tighter around her body as she stepped down from the porch.
"Where to?"
Dean & Sam
"Well the road was a no-show, so I'll head East. Sam?"
"West, got it," Sam nodded to his brother.
"Faith? South," Dean waved, "stay in contact."
"Meet back here in fifteen minute intervals," Sam insisted.
Faith
"Five by five."
Faith turned in her direction and started walking.
Sam
Five minute down a beaten track, Sam froze. Looking over his left shoulder, he barely breathed as he focused his hearing. He wasn't sure if he could hear footsteps or not.
With a frown he turned back toward the cabin, only to be hit over the head with something heavy and metal. Everything went black.
Faith
Faith checked her watch and noticed it was about time to go check back in. She turned around and wandered back in the direction of the cabin.
Dean
"Hey," Dean nodded once Faith was in sight.
He cut his route to walk straight for her.
"Anything?"
Faith
Faith shook her head.
"Nope. You?"
Dean
"Nope," Dean sighed, pulling out his phone.
"Damnit Sam, where are you?"
He dialled Sam's number and put the phone to his ear. When it rang out, he frowned.
"That's odd..."
Faith
Faith sighed in resignation.
"No more splitting up, ever. Because this always happens."
She turned in the direction that Sam had headed.
"Right, come on."
Dean
"You go, I'll scope around a bit," Dean insisted.
Faith
"This will end well," Faith said to herself, wandering off down the road Sam had been following.
She noticed some of the dirt had been disturbed and she followed the trail slowly.
Dean
Dean tried Sam's phone a few more times, before looking up at where Faith had disappeared.
"Faith?!" he called after her.
Getting no response, he turned to go back to the cabin, coming face to face with... someone.
He ducked to the right and pulled his pistol as the man took a swing.
"Who are you?!" Dean demanded.
Unable to see anything but the man's shape in the dark, he fired a warning round at the dirt.
"Answer me or the next one's in your heart," he sneered.
The man took a step forward and Dean fired two rounds. When the figure kept advancing, Dean's eyes widened.
"Holy sh--!"
He retreated backwards, making it to the cabin and locking himself in. He quickly grabbed his shotgun loaded with rock salt, and stood ready at the door.
"Sammy where are you?" he breathed, hand on the doorknob.
Faith
Faith pushed through the bushes, wincing slightly as a branch she hadn't ducked cut across her cheek. She looked up to see the clearing, and ducked under another low hanging branch to come out into the yard of an old slaughterhouse.
She glanced at the ground and saw the footsteps continued inside. With a slight shrug, she walked carefully to the entrance, eyes scanning the perimeter as she moved.
She pushed on the door, and upon finding it locked, she simply kicked it open.
Sam & Dean
Sam groaned as he came to, opening his eyes to see nothing but black. He felt something around his wrists, and soon felt the pull of his arm muscles that told him he was strung up. With another groan he tilted his head back, waiting until his purple vision kicked in.
~*~
Dean took three deep breaths, then stormed through the cabin door with his shotgun at the ready.
To face an empty driveway.
Keeping a careful eye out, he circled the cabin, listening for anything that would indicate where the... thing, had gone.
Faith
Faith pushed through the stalls, wincing slightly at the smell.
"Wicked gross," she muttered, seeing the decaying animal carcasses strung up on meat hooks.
She listened for something, anything, but only heard her own light footsteps.
"Sam?" she tried.
Dean & Sam
Dean cursed as he looked around, shining his flashlight on the ground to try and find footsteps. He could only find his own, not even Faith or Sam's.
"Ok, just a little creepy..."
~*~
Sam squinted as he thought he heard something, before seeing the faint glow of a distant flashlight.
He debated whether or not to call out, before hearing Faith's voice.
"Faith?" his voice croaked, and he was sure he wasn't heard.
Taking a deep breath, he tried again.
"Faith?!"
Faith
Faith stopped, listening for a second, before heading in the direction of Sam's voice.
"Sam!" she called again, before trying another door.
Locked.
With a kick, she had it open, and she shone her flashlight around.
Sam
"Faith!" Sam called again, hearing the door break open.
At the same moment, he saw a shadow pass by out the corner of his eye, making him jump.
Faith
Faith shone the light up to where Sam was, and as she jogged over, something ghosted past the back of her neck.
She spun, poised to fight, when she sensed something beside her. Just as the metal bar was raised to hit her across the head, the guy went flying across the room.
Sam
"Oh wow," Sam breathed, having seen the shape go flying into the wall.
"Faith? Are you ok?!"
And then the familiar sound of a chainsaw motor...
Faith
"Hopefully," Faith said, going to help Sam out of his restraints.
She heard the chainsaw and almost groaned.
"It's never easy, is it?"
Sam
"Be careful," Sam insisted, a moment before seeing a dark shape behind Faith.
"Faith, look out!"
Faith
Faith turned, but before anything could happen, the assailant went flying across the room again.
"Nifty."
Sam
Sam looked up at the ropes holding his wrists, lending a little telekinetic energy of his own to pulling them free.
After a short struggle he dropped to the ground, falling to his knees.
"We need to get out of here. Where's Dean?"
Faith
"Back at the cabin."
Faith helped him to his feet.
Sam
"Better question, where are we?" Sam coughed.
Faith
"Not far, maybe half an hour through the bush again."
Faith rubbed his back lightly.
"You ok?"
Sam
"Fine," Sam insisted.
"Where'd the creep go?"
Faith
"Um..." Faith looked around.
"Good question... but maybe we should go make sure he doesn't chop Dean into pieces."
Sam
"Good idea," Sam nodded.
He took her hand and led the way back through the shed, pausing at the back door and looking around in the dark.
"It's too quiet," he said suddenly.
Faith
"You noticed that too, huh?"
Faith squeezed his hand.
"Come on, no one lives forever. Well, actually..."
Sam
"More pressing issues right now," Sam nodded.
Wishing he had his flashlight with him, he began down the path.
Faith
Faith let Sam lead the way, thankful she wouldn't be the one copping tree branches in the face this time.
"What happened, by the way?"
Sam
"I don't know I blacked out," Sam frowned.
"Just woke up with this headache and heard the chainsaw."
Faith
"Ok," Faith said, wiping the blood from her cheek with her free hand.
"Well, let's get back to Dean and regroup."