𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛[𝙳.𝚆]

052

"Alright, so the names dad gave us—they're all couples?" Sam asks his brother, driving the Impala down the asphalt at a steady pace.

"Three different couples all went missing."

"And, these couples, there from different states, towns?" I ask. My arms rest on the middle seat of the front row, chin resting on the back side of my hands.

"Mm, yeah, that's right. Washington, New York, Colorado. Each couple took a road trip cross country. None of them arrived at their destination. None of them were ever heard of again."

"Well, it's a big country, Dean. They could've disappeared anywhere." Sam points out.

"Yeah, they could've, but each one's route took them through the same part of Indiana. Always on the second week of April, one year after another after another." Dean tilts his head to look at me and shows me the map he's looking at. I frown at him.

"And this is the second week of April, isn't it?" I ask, sighing tiredly.

"Yep."

"Terrific." I grumble.

"So dad is sending us to Indiana to go hunting for something before another couple vanishes?"

"Yahtzee." Dean points at him. "Can you imagine putting together a pattern like this? The different obits dad had to go through—the man's a master."

"Eh, it's easier than it may seem." I shrug. Dean turns to me.

"Easy for you to say, I'm pretty sure you've got Einstein's brain up there." Dean snorts.

"I'm gonna take that as a complement, Winchester. For your sake." I glare at him, but it falls when I feel the car shake as Sam pulls the Impala onto the side of the road.

"What are you doing?" Dean asks before I can even open my mouth. Sam puts the car into park.

"We're not going to Indiana." Sam announces simply.

"Wha—we're not?" I ask in confusion.

"No, we're going to California. Dad called from a payphone—Sacramento area code."

"Oh, Sam." I sigh, lifting my head up and sitting straight, hands falling down to my lap.

"Guys, if this demon killed mom and Jess and dad's closing in, we got to be there. We gotta help."

"Dad doesn't want our help." Dean says.

"Well, I don't care."

"He's given us an order."

"I don't. care. We don't always have to do what he says. Especially not Jennifer. Right, Jen? Back me up." I look at him and see him giving me the same look back at the asylum, seeking my support. But I couldn't give it to him. He tilts his head slightly when I don't answer.

"Sam, dad is asking us to work jobs, to save lives. It's important." Dean says seriously. Sam looks back at him.

"Alright, I understand. Believe me, I understand. But I'm talking one week here man, to get answers. To get revenge." Sam stresses the last word. My frown deepens.

"Alright, look, I know how you feel."

"Do you?" Sam asks harshly. "How old were you when mom died—four? Jess died six months ago. How the hell would you know how I feel?"

"Sam, look, your dad said it wasn't safe for any of us to go after this demon. He's only trying to keep you guys safe. Believe me, I want to avenge Jessica's death as much as you do, but I also don't want us dying in the process." I tell him. I hesitate to meet his eyes because I know I'll either see anger or betrayal in the depths of them. Sadly, it was both.