XXIV – Siren Search

After some consultation from Bobby, we get closer into figuring out the monster of the case. Currently, we're pointed in the direction of a Siren. Nasty creatures who disguise themselves as beautiful women to seduce their prey, which is (obviously) men. They can also mind-read, so whatever the man desires, they transform into that perfect woman. It's a dangerous ability in the hands of a creature like that.

We're still waiting on how to kill a Siren. The boys looked to me as if I'd know. ("My knowledge only goes so far, you guys.")

Another kill happens. Sam and I go check it out, leaving behind at the motel room.

"You okay, Vera?" he asks me.

"I'm good."

"First case not so bad?"

"No." I keep my eyes out the window.

"Wait until we get to fight the Siren."

I put my fist to my mouth in thought.

"You sure you're okay, Vera?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I look at him now, curiously.

"Well, it's just—you've been a bit squirrely since we went to search for answers at the hospital."

"I nearly died, Sam. That place...it reminded me of how human I am. I had things stuck in me that I didn't know what they were. I couldn't heal myself back into top health." I exhale.

"Something tells me it's more than just that. You can tell me." There's a pause. "Do you have something against Doctor Roberts?"

"Where did that come from?" I question.

"It's just...when we were talking with her, your demeanor changed. You got a little...I don't know...tense."

"You seemed to be having a jolly good time with her."

"Wow, Vera."

"What did I say now?"

He chuckles. "Wow, I didn't even think..." He rubs his forehead, keeping one hand on the wheel. I have faith he won't crash us—Dean would revive us to kill us both, he'd told Sam to take care of Baby (which I now know is the car). "Are you...jealous of her, Vera?"

"I'm not jealous of her. The way you fawned over her..." I look away. "It kind of puts a damper on our first kiss. Or did that not happen in your mind?"

Sam's cheeks tint pink. "It happened. We were both there."

"It just...I know there's no official title on us, but...It got me wondering where we're going. I mean, there's clearly chemistry." Our past secret kissing sessions have fully proved that.

"You gonna bite my head off if I talk to other girls?"

"I don't eat human flesh, I'm not a cannibal." I cross my arms. "Besides, that wasn't talking, Samuel. That was something more than just 'talking'."

He sighs. "I'm sorry you got that impression."

"It wasn't an impression; it's fact. You're into her."

"You really got to rein this in. It's not a good look on you."

"For the record, this isn't my first case with you brothers. My first with you was the witch hunt."

"This is your first case with us as a human."

"Don't remind me."

We tolerate each other long enough to get what we can gather out of the crime scene, and the man himself. Lenny Bristol is the man's name, and Sam and I both think the same thing. This man is another Siren victim. He bought a stripper named Belle, and then a few hours later, he murdered his own mother. Belle disappeared.

When we get back to the motel room, we find Dean with Sam's phone in his hand. I look at him curiously but don't look too much into it.

"Lenny Bristol was definitely another Siren vic," Sam tells his brother.

"You get in to see him?"

"Yep. He bought a stripper named Belle. Coupla hours later he offed his mother. Belle, of course, went MIA."

"Wait, he killed his mom?"

"The woman he was closest to," I murmur.

"Yeah, you, uh, forgot your phone." Dean tosses Sam the device, which is ringing.

Sam gives Dean a worried look as he answers. Dean and I exchange looks.

"Hold on a sec, I'll put you on speaker," Sam says into the phone.

"It says you need 'a bronze dagger, covered in the blood of a sailor, under the spell of the song'," says the voice from the phone. I vaguely recognize it. It's Bobby.

"What the hell does that mean?" asks Dean.

"You got me. We're dealing with three-thousand years of the telephone game here."

"Best guess?" asks Sam.

"Well, the Siren's spell ain't got nothing to do with any song. It's most likely some kind of toxin or venom. Something she gets in the vic's blood."

"And makes them go all Manchurian Candidate. Uh, what do you think, she infects the men during sex?"

"Maybe."

"Supernatural STD," Dean states. "Sexually Transmitted Disease, Vera. Don't ever get one."

I wrinkle my nose. "I don't ever plan to," I assure him.

"Well, however it happens, once it's done the Siren's gotta watch her back. She gets a dose of her own medicine..."

"It kills her," says Sam.

"Like a snake getting iced by its own venom."

"So we just gotta find a way to juice one of the OJs in jail?" asks Dean.

"Not that easy. None of those guys are under the spell anymore. Haven't got a clue where you're going to get the blood you need."

"I might I have an idea," says Sam.

"Be careful. These things are tricky bitches. Wrap you up in knots before you know what hit ya."

"So, does this so-called idea deal with a certain doctor?" I ask Sam nonchalantly when he ends the call.

"Dude, what's up her ass?" Dean asks his brother.

"It's a long story," says Sam.

"Nothing that really concerns you," I snap to Dean.

* * *

"Doctor Roberts," Sam says as we find her at the hospital, away from her office.

"Agent Stiles," Dr. Roberts says. "Can't stay away, huh?"

I roll my tongue in my mouth and find myself rolling my eyes.

"Actually, uh, we're here on business. About the blood samples. The ones with the high...you know...oxytocin?"

"You still have them?" Dean asks her.

"Mhm," she responds.

"Good, we need them."

"What for?"

"Excuse me, Doctor Roberts?" A man is approaching us. I take note of his suit.

"Yeah?"

Dean pulls out his badge. "Excuse me, uh, we're a little busy here, buddy," he says.

The man pulls out his own FBI badge. I start to feel sweat on my palms. "Yeah, so am I, pal."

"Doc, can you give us a sec, please?" Sam asks the doctor.

She begins to back away. "Sure."

"Thanks."

"What's your name?" Dean asks the man.

"Nick Munroe. What's yours?"

"I'm Special Agent Sam Stiles, these are my partners Dean Murdoch and Veronica Mars. Before you ask her, yes, it's her real name," Sam says quickly. I don't get what he means, but I don't question it either. "What office are you from?"

"Omaha, Violent Crimes Unit. My SAC sent me down here to see about the murders."

"Hmm."

"You?"

"D.C.," replies Dean. "Our Assistant Director assigned us."

"Oh, which AD?"

"Mike Kaiser," says Sam.

"What are you badge numbers?"

"You're kidding, right?" I cut in, mildly irritated, hiding my nerves.

"I'm just following protocol."

Sam hands Nick Munroe a card. "Look, man, whatever," he tells Munroe. "Just call our AD, he'll sort things out."

Nick Munroe walks away to go dial the number. I just look at Sam and Dean.

"Whose number did you give him?" I ask.

"Bobby's," Dean tells me. "Why do you think he had more than one phone in the kitchen?"

"That's why?"

"You got to have airtight aliases, Vera. Right down to your fake Assistant Director in the D.C. office of the FBI."

I nod. "Impressive, Winchesters. Very impressive." I watch Nick Munroe. He looks a little embarrassed. I can tell how his mouth is stuttering on his words.

Nick Munroe returns with a slightly hanging head. "I'm sorry, guys."

"Just don't let it happen again," Dean warns him.

"Where are you at with this?"

"Where are you at with this?"

"Well, I was just about to run the, uh, perps' bloodwork."

"I already checked, dead end," Sam tells him. I give him a strange look but don't say a word.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"But get this. I feel like I found something that, uh, connects all the murderers."

"Really?" I ask, raising a curious brow.

Munroe nods. "They were all banging strippers...from the same club."

"You don't say!" Dean exclaims. I can tell he's messing with Munroe, because we've already established that amongst the three of us.

"What do you say we, uh, go down there and check it out?"

"Well, here's the thing, Nick. See, we're kinda lone wolves..."

"You know what," Sam cuts in, "that sounds like an excellent idea. Just...just give me a second with my partners and we'll, uh...one sec. Come here." He pulls Dean and me aside. "Dude, you gotta stay with him."

"What?"

"Keep him outta the way."

"Why me?"

"'Cause I gotta get the blood samples."

"You mean we, right?" I ask Sam. "I'm not going to a strip club with Dean and Detective Clueless."

"I'm offended, Vera," Dean says. "What the hell am I supposed to do with him?"

"Just take him to the strip club...keep an eye out for the Siren," Sam tells him. "Come on, Dean, just...just focus on the naked girls. You'll forget he's even there!"

"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for the girls."

**Oooh, I smell jealousy on Vera. How about you?**