My Home Is Always With You {8}

Chapter 20: "Pac-Man Fever"

Liz is in the library reading more of Natalie's books when Dean walks in with a case of beer and a bag of snacks because he went on a snack run. Dean says, "Hey, beautiful." Liz smiles over at Dean and says, "Hey." Dean walks over to Liz and kisses her lips and hums. Dean pulls away with a smile and sits next to Liz. Sam walks into the room looking exhausted and Dean says, "Man, I'm telling you, give me five minutes with some clippers, and--" Sam cuts Dean off and says, "Oh, shut up. Uh, what time did I lay down?" Dean says, "You took a siesta around noon... yesterday." Dean grabs a beer and tosses it at Sam, but Sam doesn't catch it and it smashes it behind him. Sam says, "I'm sorry. Uh..." Dean says, "That's why we don't have nice things, Sam." Liz says, "It's not his fault he couldn't catch it, besides, he doesn't need beer. What he needs is coffee. Here, Sam." Liz passes her cup to Sam and he says, "Thanks, Liz." Liz nods and says, "Your welcome." Sam is a little unstable and drops the cup and Liz says, "You, okay?" Sam says, "Yeah, I'm-- I'm fine. Just, uh, you know what? I'm gonna get dressed we should go find Kevin." Dean gets up and says, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Easy, easy, sleeping beauty. Look, man. I've hacked into every security camera around-- Garth's houseboat, Kevin's hometown, where Mrs. Tran lived." Sam says, "And?" Dean says, "Well, nothing so far." Sam says, "We have to find him." Dean says, "I know. I know. Look, Garth is out looking for him. We've got a hunter A.P.B. out on Kevin. We will do what we can from here. While you get better." Sam says, "I'm fine. I can still go out there. I can still hunt." Liz stands up and says, "Really? Then, let's go see how great of a hunter you are." Sam looks at Liz confused and follows her with Dean behind them. They go to their gun range and Liz turns the lights on and grabs her gun. Sam says, "This is stupid." Liz fires the gun, and she hits the chest twice. Liz gives her gun to Sam and says, "All right, if you can hit that target, then you're fine with hunting. If you can't, then you're benched." Sam grabs the gun and says, "No problem." The couple sees Sam's hand shaking and Sam shoots but misses the target and hits the concrete. Sam sighs and Dean says, "Look, man, that second trial hit you a lot harder than that first one. I don't know whether it was just more intense or what." Sam says, "It felt the same... till the next day." Liz says, "So, we're gonna sit tight, keep an eye out until you get better." Liz walks out the room with the boys following her, Liz hears a ding from her computer and goes over to it to see an email. Liz says, "It's from Charlie. 'In the neighborhood found you guys a case.'" Dean says, "Found us a case? 'In the neighborhood'? How the hell does she know where we are?" Liz says, "Uh... well, she doesn't. Not exactly, at least. It says she tracked out cells to a 20-mile radius. Then the signal went out. Huh. This place must be in some kind of, like, Bermuda Triangle." Dean says, "What, are you saying, that we can make and receive phone calls from here and nobody can track us? Man, I love this place." Then, they go meet with Charlie and she pulls up in her yellow car and she smiles at them. Dean says, "Your highness." Charlie says, "What's up, bitches?" Charlie gives them a hug and she looks at Sam and says, "You okay, Sam?" Sam says, "Yeah. No, I'm-- I'm good. Yeah. What are you doing in Kansas?" Charlie says, "Uh, a comic convention, in Topeka." Sam says, "In the middle of the week?" Charlie says, "Girl's got to get her collectibles. So, you gonna invite me into your dungeon, or do I got to answer your questions three first?" Liz smiles and says, "Follow us. Let us introduce you to the Men of Letters." They get inside and they're all siting in the library. Charlie says, "Holy awesome. Too bad they got wiped out, though that is what they get for the sexist name." Liz says, "I know, right." Sam says, "Well, anyway, that's our skinny. How about you?" Charlie says, "Um... made a deal with the yesteryear weirdos. We're gonna team up to stomp the Shadow Orcs. You guys are still coming to the midyear Jubilee, right?" Dean says, "Wouldn't miss it." Liz says, "So, what about this case you brought us?" Charlie says, "Oh. When I was in Topeka, I saw this pop up over the wire. Tom Blake, a checkout clerk in Salina who went missing on his way home from work-- he was found dead yesterday. His insides? Liquefied. Locals have no idea what happened. They tried to bury the report so people wouldn't freak, but I flagged it. I have eliminated the following things that go bump in the night." Sam says, "Wait a second. When did you become such an expert?" Charlie says, "Well, after you guys left, I dug into all things monstrous. I'm a wee bit obsessive... if "A wee bit" means completely. I also found this series of books by Carver Edlund. Did those books really happen? Wow. That is some meta-madness. Thanks for saving the world and stuff." Charlie looks at Sam and says, "Sorry you have zero luck with the ladies." Sam looks offended at Charlie and says, "Wha-- we need to find every single copy of those books and burn them." Charlie says, "They're online now, so good luck with that." Dean says, "Awesome. Well, you two crazy kids deal with that. Me and Liz will go see if there's anything to this, uh, case of yours." Sam says, "I'm coming with you." Sam trips and Charlie says, "Whoa. Are you sure you're, okay?" As Sam says, "Yes." Liz says, "No. You're taking a knee. Sam, you can barely walk, and you don't have perfect aim. I rather have Charlie then you." Dean gives Liz look and Charlie smiles and says, "Really?" Dean says, "Yeah, really?" Liz says, "Yes, really." Dean looks at Charlie and says, "She has to past the test." Charlie says, "What test?" Dean takes Charlie to see if she can shoot a gun and Charlie walks back in the library with a smile and Liz smiles and says, "I take it you passed?" Charlie smiles and says, "Yep."