The Demon Within

No Exit

Sam and Dean were getting out of the Impala, parked in front of the Roadhouse.

"Los Angeles, California," Dean proclaimed.

Sam looked over in confusion "What's in LA?"

"Young girl's been kidnapped by an evil cult,"

"Yeah? The girl got a name?"

"Katie Holmes,"

Sam laughed "That's funny. And for you, so bitchy,"

Dean turned as they heard the sound of breaking glass and shouting voices coming from inside the roadhouse. "Of course, on the other hand-catfight,"

***

On the upper levels, Ellen and Jo were shouting.

Sam and Dean entered cautiously.

"Leave while you still can, boys," El warned without looking up from her computer.

"You're still here aren't ya?" Dean asked.

"Cable's out," El smirked.

"I am your mother, I don't have to be reasonable!" Ellen exclaimed at Jo.

"You can't keep me here!" Jo argued.

"Oh, don't you bet on that, sweetie,"

"What are you going to do, are you going to chain me up in the basement?"

"You know what, you've had worse ideas than that recently. Hey, you don't wanna stay, don't stay. Go back to school,"

"I didn't belong there! I was a freak with a knife collection,"

"Yeah, and getting yourself killed on some dusty back road, that's where you belong?!' Ellen turned towards the trio, El quick to make it seem as though she hadn't been paying attention for the past half hour. "Guys, bad time,"

"Yes, ma'am," Sam said.

"Yeah, we rarely drink before ten anyway," Dean nodded, earning a snort from El.

"Wait." Jo interrupted "I wanna know what they think about this,"

"I don't care what they think!" Ellen shouted.

A mom, a dad, and two kids under three, all wearing bright yellow t-shirts that read 'Nebraska is for Lovers' entered the Roadhouse.

"Are you guys open?" The Dad asked.

"No!" Jo exclaimed.

"Yes!" Ellen said.

"We'll just..." The Dad started to lead his family out "check out the Arby's down the road,"

The phone rang.

Jo glared at the phone, then at Ellen, who stalked over to answer it.

"Harvelle's." Ellen answered "Yeah, Preacher,"

Jo turned towards the brothers "Three weeks ago a young girl disappears from a Philadelphia apartment." She shoved a file folder at Dean "Take it, it won't bite,"

"Think he's more worried about your mother," El pointed out.

"This girl wasn't the first." Jo continued to explain "Over the past eighty years six women have vanished. All from the same building, all young blondes. Only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the pattern. So we're either dealing with one very old serial killer or..."

"Who put this together? El?" Dean asked.

"Jo did it herself," El replied.

"Hmm," Dean hummed, impressed.

"I gotta admit. We hit the road for a lot less," Sam noted.

"Good." Ellen spoke up "You like the case so much, you take it,"

"Mom!" Jo argued.

"Joanna Beth, this family has lost enough. And I won't lose you too. I just won't,"

***

"I feel kind of bad, snaking Jo's case," Sam said as the brothers walked into the apartment building.

"Yeah, maybe she put together a good file. But could you see her out here working one of these things? I don't think so," Dean said as he pulled out an EMF reader "You getting anything?"

"No, not yet," Sam ran his EMF reader over the light switch, it purred. He leaned over "What's that?"

"What?"

Sam touched the goo "Holy crap,"

Dean touched the goo "That's ectoplasm. Well, Sam, Io think I know what we're dealing with here. It's the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man,"

Sam rolled his eyes "Dean, I've only seen this stuff, like, twice. I mean, to make this stuff you have to be one majorly pissed-off spirit,"

"All right, let's find this badass before he snags any more girls,"

The Winchesters exited the apartment and walked down the hallway; hearing voices, they hid around a corner.

Dean frowned as he realized the womans' voices belonged to Jo and El.

"It's so convenient," Jo noted.

"Yeah, it's a great building," The Landlord said "fixed it up real nice. All the apartments come furnished, too,"

"It is so spacious." El marveled "You know, my friend told me we absolutely have to come to check it out, and I have to admit, she was right. You did a really good job with this place,"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean asked the two girls.

"There you are, honey," Jo grabbed Dean around the waist "This is my boyfriend Dean and his buddy Sam,"

"Good to meetcha. Quite a gal you've got here,"

"Oh yeah," Dean smacked Jo "she's a pistol,"

"So, did you already check out that apartment?" El wondered "The one for rent?"

"Yeah." Dean replied "Yes. Loved it. Heh. Great flow,"

"How'd you get in?" the Landlord asked.

"It was open," Dean shrugged.

El cleared her throat "Now, Ed, um, when did the last tenant move out?"

"About a month ago," The Landlord recalled "Cut an run, too. Stick me for the rent,"

"Well. Her loss, our gain!" Jo declared "'Cause if Dean-o loves it, it's good enough for me,"

El smiled as she pulled out a wad of cash "We'll take it,"