My World and Hers (a Sam Winchester love story)

Chapter 25: West of Normal (part 3)

A/N: As always, it's been a while since I last updated. As you already probably know, this is this last chapter before the finally. Per request, I'm going to try and add Sam and Keira fluff in here as well. As always, enjoy! :)

<Sam's POV>

Keira, Dean, and I are still standing in the room together, with the burnt scent of the judge's remains hanging in the air. The bed with the ashen corpse stands between the Sheriff, and Dean and I. Keira is over on the other side as well, comforting Darla. She sends me several awkward looks as she pats the other woman's shoulder.

"Are you okay, Sheriff?" I ask as he stares at the body with a disturbed expression.

"Of course I'm okay," he answers gruffly.

"It was a ghost!" Darla pipes up and Keira rubs her arm comfortingly.

"It wasn't a ghost," the Sheriff replies, sparing her a quick glance before turning back to face the bed, "unless a ghost leaves footprints."

He points to the floor by Dean. We look down to see a single set of footprints that look like their made of ash. Dean, Keira, and I exchange knowing looks.

"Elias Finch was here," Darla says and points at the bed, "he did that, and then he walked out that door."

Keira nods.

"We believe you," she says, patting the other woman's shoulder.

"Rope didn't kill him," the Sheriff informs us, "I've seen this before."

"You got any idea where he could be?" I question.

"Could be a thousand places," he answers, turning for the door.

"Well, you got a way to flush him out?" Dean asks.

" 'Course," the Sheriff answers, "we form a posse, then we're gonna string Finch up right. Put a bullet in his head for good measure."

Keira snorts softly, looking at Dean expectantly. He's trying to hide his excitement, but I can tell that this is the first time anything is living up to his expectations. I nod, surprised that that actually makes sense.

"That actually sounds like a good plan," Dean agrees.

"You two should come along," the Sheriff tells, glancing at Keira as he says it, "be downstairs at dawn."

"We'll be there," Dean says, unable to completely mask his joy.

The other man pauses, looking us both over carefully.

"And get yourselves some real gear," he adds before leaving.

We both glance down at our clothes.

"Well," Dean says quietly so that Darla wont' hear, "I think we better pay our respects to Finch."

I sigh.

"I was thinking the same thing," I agree, turning to look at Keira.

I nod for her to join us and she gently pats Darla's shoulder one last time before joining us.

"So what's happening?" she asks when she reaches us.

"We'll tell you along the way," I say as we get ready to leave the saloon.

Dean and I stand over the grave, both of us holding lanterns. They're pretty heavy, so Keira isn't holding one. Instead, she's carrying the gun. As always, we waited until night to go to the graveyard. There isn't any moon out tonight, making it twice as dark as it would otherwise have been. It chilly out too. I notice Keira shivering and pull her closer. She snuggles into my side as all three of us peer into the empty grave.