>EVERYBODY LOVES A CLOWN<

One week later

Karoline stood on the porch with her arms resting on the railing, an ice cold beer between her hands as she watched Dean working on the Impala. She had been out there with him, working on the Buick, but it wasn't nearly as bad at the Impala, the back end was just smashed in. It hadn't taken more than three days for her and Dean to fix it, now she was just working on re-painting the area.

"Why'd you stop?" She looked back to see Alayna coming over to rest against the railing beside her.

"Just needed a snack break..." Karoline trailed off looking at the beer in her hands. "Drink break." She corrected. Alayna nodded, turning her attention back out to the junkyard, to see Sam approach Dean.

"He'll be fine," Karoline sighed heavily at Alayna's confident words.

"I'm worried about him," Karoline admitted, there was no point in keeping it hidden from Alayna; she probably knew already anyway.

"You worry too much," Alayna replied.

Karoline managed a small, soft laugh at her words, "Cons of living with the Winchesters."

Alayna cracked a smile at the truth in her words, "That's the truth." Alayna agreed quietly, knocking her monster can against Karoline's beer. They both glanced up as they heard Sam's voice grown louder and they both sighed.

"We should get out there." Karoline nodded at her sister's words and they both headed down the steps and out into the junkyard where Dean and Sam were arguing.

"We've got nothing, Sam. Nothing, okay? So you know the only thing I can do. Is I can work on the car." Dean was saying when the girls finally reached them.

"So how's the car coming along?" Karoline offered Dean her beer which he happily accepted.

"Fine." He replied curtly. Karoline sighed silently, glancing back at her sister. But, before Alayna could talk Karoline's phone went off. She frowned at the unknown number on her screen, answering it hesitantly, "Hello?"

"Hey, Kare-bear."

"Daddy?" That caught the others attention. Tom had been gone by the time everyone calmed down about John's passing, he didn't even stick around long enough for the funeral, just disappeared.

"Listen, you remember Ellen and Jo, right? The Harvelles?" He asked, his tone meaning business.

"You mean your girlfriend and her daughter? Yeah, I remember them." Karoline rolled her eyes.

"She's not my-" He cut himself off with a sigh. "That's beside the point, I have a hunt I'd like you four to check out for me, she's got the details with her up at the roadhouse."

"A hunt? Are you serious?" Karoline turned away from her sister and the boys curious faces, her face contorting in irritation. "You just drop off the face of the earth -again- and then expect us to go check out a hunt just because you asked us too."

"Kare, please, after John I-" Tom cut himself and Karoline's features softened. "I just need to be on my own for a while, can you please just go check this out for me?"

Karoline sighed in defeat, "Fine."

"Thank you." And the line went dead. Karoline snapped her phone shut, running a hand through her hair before she turned back to the others.

"What was that?" Alayna asked.

"You remember Ellen, right?" Karoline asked and realization dawned on Alayna's face as she nodded.

"Who's Ellen?" Dean asked, looking between the two girl's confused.

"An old friend of our Dad's," Alayna answered, turning to look at the two boys, despite everything a little excited to see them again.

"I'll go ask Bobby if we can borrow one of his cars," Sam told them and went to go head up to the house.

"No it's fine," Karoline stopped him. "My car's basically done, we can all fit." Sam and Dean shared a look, causing Alayna to grin.

"Fine, but I call shotgun," Dean jumped forward, grabbing the door handle before Alayna could. Alayna's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to protest looking to her sister, but Karoline just grinned slightly, ducking into the front seat.

"Man, come on." Alayna whined and Dean grinned tauntingly at her as he got into the passenger seat. She let out another whine, stomping her foot before stalking into the back seat with Sam.

"Let's do this," Karoline grinned starting up her car, a smile spreading across her lips as it started up without a hassle like it had been doing for the past week.

Tell me it's all right,

Just for one night.

Show you how to feel like,

What it feels like.

To be hugged, to be kissed.

Yes I can be that part of you.

I'll try my best.

***2002***

"No, I did not order Sunflowers, I specifically said Lilies... You better be sorry... Thank you." Karoline snapped the phone shut, letting out a deep sigh, completely drained. The wedding was in one month and she was already three weeks behind schedule.

"Uh-oh," She turned to see Axel walk into the room they shared at the roadhouse, ever since he purposed she had been staying behind on Hunts more frequently, Daryll taking her place. Not that Alayna minded. "What happened."

"Everything. The Caterer cancelled, they mixed up my flowers and their is a 60 percent chance my dress will arrive three days after our wedding." She let out a frustrated groan.

"Alright, come on," He held out his hands and she let him pull her into a hug, dropping her forehead against his chest. "It'll all be fine. If we need to we came push the date a few days."

"You're right, I'm sorry," She pulled back slightly, raising her head to look up at him. "I'm not meaning to go all bridezilla on you."

He shrugged indifferently, with a wide smirk, "That's what you're supposed to do, I'd be worried if you didn't." She shot him a half amused, half chiding look, raising onto her tip-toe to press her lips to his.

"Mm, before I forget," She pulled back, her hands on his chest. "Daryll and Ash wanted me to tell you they moved your Bachelor party to tonight instead, Daryll's tagging along for a hunt tomorrow."

"Then I better move my plans for tonight to now."

"Wha-" Her question was cut off into a squeal as Axel picked her up and carried her over to the bed. She giggled as he pressed chaste kisses to her neck, not even noticing the knock on her door at first. Not until about the third time.

"Karoline!" Axel let out a groan at the interruption dropping his head onto her shoulder, she cracked a smile, nudging him a side so she could go answer the door.

"Yes, Jo, Darling," Karoline greeted with a wide smile as she swung open the door. The blonde on the other side smiled at her briefly, it faltering slightly when she saw Axel lying on the bed behind Karoline.

"Tom wanted to know if you could help out with a hunt, Alayna's sick." Karoline frowned at the news, it was quickly replaced with a small smile when Axel let out an annoyed groan.

"Sure, tell him I'll be down in a minute." She closed the door softly and turned slowly to meet Axel's gaze. "My sister's sick, and I've been dying for a hunt, it helps me relax." She listed off her excuses before Axel could even get a word in.

Axel threw his head back with a childish whine, "So, you're just gonna leave me here all alone."

"You're not alone, you have Daryll, Ash, and Jo," She told him as she went over to her closet to back a bag. "And if you get really bored, Alayna's still here. Though, she does get cranky when she's sick."

"Cranky? More like murderous." Karoline couldn't help but shrug in agreement, throwing the last few things she needed into the duffle bag, and zipping it up. When she turned she was surprised to see Axel leaning on the dresser just behind her. "Have fun tonight, I'll be back sometime tomorrow. Promise." She grinned at him, pressing a brief kiss to his lips.

***Present***

Two hours later and Karoline was pulling the Buick to a stop in front of 'Harvelle's Roadhouse'. A small smile tugged at her lips as she turned the car off, pushing open the door and looking over the bar she hadn't been to in almost three years.

"So how does Tom know these people again?" Sam asked as the four made there way up to the roadhouse.

"Him and John used to come here all the time," Alayna told them, her eyes scanning over the building with a small smile. "Kari and I haven't been here in years though."

"Why?" Dean asked. Neither answered, as Karoline frowned, which only confused the boys even more.

"Hello? Anybody-" Sam was cut off as Alayna pushed open the door without a care, and Karoline followed in right after her.

"That works too." Dean muttered, sharing a look with his brother as they followed the girls inside.

"You two go that way, we'll check the back." Karoline ordered, gesturing for Sam and Dean to continue forward as they rounded a corner. Dean and Sam shared an exasperated look before continuing forward into what seemed like the main room.

"Ellen?" Alayna called out as they rounded another corner and entered a living room area. "Jo?"

"Girls?" They both whirled around to see Ellen standing in the doorway with a wide smile. "Well, I don't believe my eyes." She let out a disbelieving laugh as she crossed the room and pulled the girls into a hug. "You're Dad told me you two were coming out here," She continued as she pulled out of the hug and put a good distance between herself and the two girls. "But I thought he said you'd have a couple friends coming with you."

"Yeah, they're over-"

"Kare! 'Layna!" They heard Dean call out, his voice pained, cutting Alayna off.

"That'd be them." Karoline smirked in amusement, and turned, Alayna and Ellen following behind her as they quickly made their way into the other room. There they saw Dean doubled over, clutching at his face while Jo held a rifle aimed right at him, then a boy that was all too familiar to Karoline, holding a rifle to the back of Sam's head.

"Kare?" The boy whispered, looking up at the girl's as they entered the room, he lowered his gun at the sight and a wide smirk took over his face, a devious look in his icy blue eyes. "Karoline and Alayna Van Allen, I must say it's been a long time." Jo turned at the names, and smiled at the girls.

Karoline gave a strained smile and a slight wave, "Hey, Axel." Alayna rolled her eyes at the name.

"You two know each other?" Dean asked looking between the blonde and the man by his brother.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Axel DeVincenzo, Kare's ex-fiance," Sam and Dean's eyes instantly widened at the information and turned to the blonde, who lowered her head awkwardly. "Which makes you Sam and Dean Winchester, I've heard a lot about you."

Both boys ignored him as they turned to Karoline, "You were engaged?" Dean asked, bewildered.

"Yeah," Karoline drew out the word awkwardly, nodding her head. "About that..." She trailed off looking between the two boys shocked faces then to her sisters annoyed one. "This reunion has been wonderful, but we're here on a hunt."

"Right, Axel," Ellen agreed, turning her attention to the blue eyed man. "Why don't you get them some drinks, while I get this one some ice." She nodded at Dean.

"Got it." Axel smirked, moving behind the counter as Ellen left the room.

Jo lowered the gun and Dean turned to her with a sarcastic smile, "Hey." She waved awkwardly.

"Don't plan on hitting me again, do you?" Dean asked sarcastically as Jo set aside the rifle.

"Any requests," Axel called from behind the counter earning the hunters attention and Karoline slide onto a bar stool across from him. "Bourbon, right?" He smirked at Karoline and she rolled her eyes, but nodded. As he turned back to make the drinks Dean came over to sit next to her, Sam and Alayna standing by them.

"Well, that was interesting." Was all Dean said with tight lipped smile, and Sam gave an airy laugh in agreement. Ellen came back into the room and handed Dean a make-shift ice pack which he immeadiatly pressed to his nose.

"So how did you know our Dad's?" Dean prompted, his gaze flickering over to Karoline and Axel, when the man handed her a glass with a smirk. "Kare-bear here says you all used to be good buddies."

"I just run a Saloon, but hunters have been known to pass through now and again," She grinned glancing at Jo then at Karoline and Alayna. "Including both your Dads, long time ago. John and Tom were like family once."

"Oh yeah? How come he never mentioned you?" Dean asked her.

"You'd have to ask John that," Dean stiffened in his seat and Karoline glanced over at him, placing her hand over his.

Axel glanced between the two, "Uh-oh." He turned back to the wall of drinks to put the bottles he had pulled down away.

"What?" Jo looked up at him confused, then to her mother to see her wearing the same confused look.

"Something happened to John," Axel informed them and Dean turned his hard gaze to the man. "Tactless, Ellen." Ellen looked to the four, and the looks on all their faces said it all.

"I'm so sorry," She told them earnestly. "What happened?"

"We're thinking it was the Demon." Alayna answered, turning her gaze as she tried to keep all her emotions at bay.

"It just got him before they got it, I guess." Sam added.

"What about Tom?" Ellen asked, worry in her eyes and Karoline rolled her eyes while Alayna smiled slightly with a knowing look.

"He's fine," Karoline answered, knocking back the rest of her drink. "Took off after John... you know."

"I'm so sorry," Ellen repeated.

"It's okay. We're alright," Dean spoke for all of them.

"You know," Axel leant against the counter, smirking. "If you need help tracking that Demon, a buddy of mine is really good with that kind of stuff."

"Really, who?" Sam asked, his eyebrows rose in disbelief, while Karoline and Alayna shared a look at the mention of Ash.

"Ash!" Axel called, and the passed out figure on the pool table jerked up, flailing around before turning slightly.

"Closing time?" He asked, looking back at Axel then around at the group.

"Not quite."

"Kare!" He shot up with a grin. "And little Lay-Lay!" He chuckled coming over to the girls and pulling them into a bone crushing hug.

"Okay." Karoline chocked out, patting his arm.

"Good to see you too, Ash." Alayna chuckled, as he let them out of the hug, his grin never faltering.

"That's Ash?" Sam inquired, incredulously.

"He's a genius." Jo informed them, and both boys turned to look at Karoline and Alayna who shrugged, nodding in conformation.

"You got to be kidding me. This guy's no genius," Dean argued, skeptically. "He's Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie." Ash let out a small laugh, glancing at Axel then back at Dean.

"I like you," Ash said and Dean grinned.

"Thanks." Dean said. Axel cleared his throat, shaking his head when Ash looked at him, but Ash's grin just widened as Dean glared at the blue eyed man.

"Just give him a chance," Jo, who had joined Axel behind the bar to clean some glasses, said.

Dean shrugged, "Alright. Well, this stuff is a year's worth of work our Dad and Tom got, so let's see what you make of it." Dean slid the thick folder over to Ash.

"Come on," Ash scoffed as he flipped through the pages, then turned it for Axel to see. "This crap ain't real. Ain't nobody can track a Demon like this."

"Our Dad's could," Sam's voice held a hint of pride as he stated this.

"I bet." Axel smirked, bouncing his eyebrows at the four of them.

"These are non-parametric statistical overviews, cross-spectrum correlations. I mean... Damn. They're signs, omens. If you can track them, you can track this Demon. You know, like crop failures, electrical storms. You ever been struck by lightning Axe?" Ash suddenly asked looking up at Axel.

"I can't say that I have, but I imagine it wouldn't be the funnest thing in the world." Axel mocked with a wide smirk, and Jo cracked a smile.

"It ain't." Ash agreed.

"But you can track it, right?" Alayna asked him, and he glanced at her before grinning.

"Yeah, with this, I think so. but, it's gonna take time. Give me..." He paused, closing his eyes, and holding up his fingers. Axel grinned at the looks Dean and Sam gave Ash. "Fifty-one hours." Karoline and Alayna shared an amused look as Ash just got up and walked away.

"Genius." Axel repeated Jo's words, his smirk never faltering once, and Jo let out a small laugh.

"Hey, man," Dean called after Ash, and he turned back. "By the way, I dig the haircut." Ash grinned again.

"All business in the front," He grabbed a piece of his Mullet to show him. "Party in the back," He turned and walked out of the room.

Alayna laughed slightly, turning back to Ellen, "Now back to why we actually came here."

"Right, let me go get that." She got up and headed into the back room again. Jo walked out from behind the bar and right passed Dean, obviously flirting. Karoline rolled her eyes as Dean checked her out, before getting up and following her over to a booth.

"How did your mom get into this stuff, anyway?" Dean asked, starting the conversation as he slide into the seat across from her.

"From my Dad. He was a hunter," She explained, a sad look passing over her face. "He passed away."

"I'm sorry." Dean told her earnestly, knowing exactly what she was going through.

"It was a long time ago. I was just a kid," She shrugged, before frowning at him in understanding. "Sorry to hear about your Dad."

"Yeah. So, I guess I've got fifty one hours to waste. Maybe tonight we should, uh..." Dean trailed off when he heard a familiar song, one Karoline played all the time.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

He glanced over his shoulder to see Axel smirking at her, holding out a hand. She rolled her eyes, but none the less let him pull her out of the seat and into his chest, swaying them to the music.

"That was the song she picked out for their wedding." Jo told him, and Dean turned back to the blonde.

"About that, what's the story there?" Dean couldn't help his curiosity glancing back at the two before turning back to Jo fully.

"She was about 18 when she and Alayna came in here with Tom," Jo began. "And Daryll, Axel, and Ash had all been best friends for the longest time, hung out here everyday."

"So that's how they met." Dean deduced, frowning at the fact that, that was right around the time Tom stopped letting Karoline and Alayna hang around him.

"They started dating," Jo continued, glancing over at the two, frowning when she saw Karoline resisting the urge to laugh at whatever Axel had said. "Fast forward two-three years later and Axel purposed."

"What happened?" Dean asked, not even bothering with hiding the bitterness in his voice.

"Axel got wasted one day and tried to sleep with Alayna," Dean's eyes widened and his jaw set in anger, turning to look back at Axel and Karoline, the blonde finally pulling away from him with a teasing smirk. "Karoline called off the wedding and her, Alayna, and Daryll booked it. Hadn't come back here since, not until Daryll... you know."

"I heard." Dean turned back to see Jo frowning her gaze focused on Axel over his shoulder.

"But, you gotta understand, that was years ago, and he had no idea what he was doing." Dean rose his eyebrows in disbelief as she defended him, knowing what that look in her eyes meant without her even having to say it.

"Dean!" Dean heard Karoline call his name before he could respond, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Ellen walking over to Sam and the girls with a file.

He turned back to Jo with a smile, "That's my cue." Jo nodded as Dean got up and headed over to the group.

"Alright, so here it is," Ellen was saying when Dean approached them. "This is all he faxed me about the case." She handed Alayna the file and she took it with a smile.

"Thanks Ellen." Alayna nodded in appreciation as they all got up from the bar, Karoline grabbing her Hobo bag from the counter.

"You four take care of yourselves." She told them, following them to the door.

"Of course, bye." Karoline waved before they made their way back to the Buick. Sam and Alayna were in the back again, both reading off what the case was about as Karoline drove, Dean in the passenger seat.

"You got to be kidding me -Killer clown?" Dean scoffed in disbelief, looking back at the two.

"Yeah," Alayna nodded, making a face as she reached a particularly graphic picture of the victims. "The daughter was left untouched, but the clown murdered the parents. Tore them to shreds, if you wanna get specific."

"And the family was at some carnival that night?" Karoline checked, and Sam nodded.

"Right, right, the Cooper carnival," Sam read as Alayna held the flashlight for him to see. It was pitch black outside and raining.

"How do you know we're not dealing with some psycho carny in a clown suit?" Dean asked.

"Cause Dad wouldn't have kicked us the hunt if it was some Psycho in a clown suit." Karoline pointed out, glancing at Dean and he shrugged in agreement.

"Plus, the cops have no viable leads, and all the employees at the carnival have pretty good alibis," Alayna added reading the article over Sam's shoulder. "And the daughter says she saw the clown disappear into thin air."

"Let me guess," Karoline rolled her eyes. "Cops are saying trauma." Alayna nodded.

"Well, I know what you're thinking, Sam; 'why did it have to be clowns'." Both girls laughed aloud at Dean's jab.

"Oh, give me a break," Sam complained as Dean joined the girl's laughter.

"You didn't think I'd remember, did you?" Dean asked and Sam rolled his eyes. "Come on, you still bust out crying whenever you see Ronald McDonald on television," Dean joked, and Sam let out an annoyed huff.

"Come on, guys, leave him alone," Alayna defended and Sam shot her a grateful look. "I mean, clowns can be very scary. What, with those big smiles, and red noses. I'm getting chills." Alayna mocked a horrified shiver and Sam groaned, which only made the three laugh more.

"At least I'm not afraid of bugs," Sam turned the table and Alayna's laughter immeadiatly cut off. "Or flying. Or Dolls." He added, cutting off the others laughter as well.

"Only, really, frogs." Alayna grumbled. "Slimy little bastards."

"Planes crash!" Dean defended.

"And dolls are evil. They come to life when you least expect it and kill everyone you love and then they kill you." Silence followed Karoline's outburst as they all slowly turned to look at her.

"With what? Their killer rattle?" Dean quipped and Karoline glared at him.

"Anyway," Alayna changed the topic, still laughing softly. "According to the file, this happened before, in 1981 at the Bunker Brothers circus."

"Same M.O.?" Dean asked, looking back at the two.

"Yeah," Sam nodded, reading over the paragraph Alayna pointed to. "Three times, all different locations."

"It's weird, though. If it is a spirit, it's usually bound to a specific locale - a house or a town," Dean pointed out logically, and Karoline nodded in agreement.

"So how's this one moving from city to city, or more like Carnival to Carnival?" She asked.

"Could be attached to an object or something? Maybe in the circus?" Alayna suggested, flipping through the pages. "Spirits can attach themselves to anything."

"Great," Karoline grumbled in annoyance. "Paranormal scavenger hunt."

"Well, it's still a hunt," Sam pointed out and Alayna nodded. "We need to do something other than sit around Bobby's, doing nothing."

"That's funny coming from you, Sammy," Dean let out a humorless chuckle and Karoline shared an exasperated look with her sister through the rear-view mirror.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, it's just not like you," Dean noted, and Alayna bit her lip, but didn't speak. "I thought you were hell-bent for leather on the Demon hunt."

"Well, we got fifty-one hours to kill," Karoline pointed out, trying to change the subject. "And I'm pretty sure Bobby was about to kick us out himself anyway."

"Plus, I think it's what Dad would've wanted us to do." Alayna winced at Sam's choice of words.

"What Dad would've wanted?" Dean echoed in surprise.

"Yeah, so?" Sam faced his brother now, and Dean shook his head looking out the window.

"Nothing." He replied. Karoline glanced at him quickly, he'd been so guarded lately.

***2002***

"Alright," Daryll brought over their third bottle of Whiskey of the night, setting it in the center of the table that Axel and Ash were already sitting at and in the midst of a game of Poker. "Who's deal is it?"

"Mine," Axel proclaimed, slamming his hand down on the deck and bringing it towards him to shuffle. His eyes went in and out of focus as he struggled to shuffle the deck; the end result was the cards raining all over the place. "Whoopsie." He grinned drunkenly.

"I think you've had enough there, my friend," Ash swiped the bottle before Axel could, earning a childish whine from the boy.

"Ash~ Don't be a downer~" Axel all but whined, as he tried to steal the liquor, only earning a chuckle from his best friend.

"What Kare sees in you, I will never understand." Daryll shook his head at the older boy, earning his attention.

"Believe it or not, dear friend of mine, some girls just can't resist my good looks, my charm, and my unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift." Was Axel's reply. Daryll rolled his eyes pushing out of his chair to pick up the cards.

"Whatever you say Axe," He scooped up the cards easily and pushed to his feet. "I still think its- where'd he go?" Daryll looked around confused, his gaze flicking to the empty chair next to Ash who was too busy downing the Whiskey to even realize Daryll was speaking.

Alayna let out a light groan as she rubbed her head, flicking off the bathroom light as she left into the hallway. Only to stop short when she saw Axel digging through the closet. "What're you doing?" She saw him jump, followed by a loud thunk.

"Ow~ Okay, that hurt." He muttered, rubbing at the back of his head as he ducked out of the closest and looked back at her. "I thought Kare and I had hid some Bourbon in here, I guess we already drank it." Axel closed the door, using the wall to catch himself before he fell on his face.

"You're drunk." Alayna stated more than asked, and Axel only grinned at her holding up his thumb and finger really close together. "You should go lay down before you puke."

"You're really cute, you know that?" Alayna quirked an eyebrow at him as he started walking closer. "You know who you remind me of?"

"Who?" She shook her head, taking a small step back for each step he took forward.

"My friend Alayna," Was his answer, earning a confused look from the short brunette. "She's short like you, long brown hair, big Bambi eyes. I should stop." He cut himself off suddenly, leaning his hand against the wall beside him only a few feet in front of the younger Van Allen. "I'm way too drunk to be talking to a cute girl."

"I'll agree with you on that one." Alayna hesitated a moment, before going over to him and helping him straighten up. "Come on, before you fall over."

"Oh, you're so nice." He whispered, leaning onto her as she helped him down the hall to his and Karoline's room. "And you smell weird. Is that Vapor rub?"

"It helps when you have a cold." She responded snidely, all but falling flat on her face as she tried to open the door with 180 pounds leaning on her. She let out a small yelp, being trapped between the door and a boy that was nearly double her height.

"You're sick? I'm so sorry pretty lady," He slurred, his forehead resting against the door just beside her head as he ran his hand down her face.

"Do you think you could move?" She asked sarcastically, crunching her face and shoving his hand away.

"No, no, no, if I do that I'm gonna fall over." He pulled back, just slightly to look down at her the action giving Alayna a very bad feeling.

"What're you doing?" Alayna jerked her head back when he leaned it slightly and he paused.

"It's called really close talking, so you can hear what I'm saying," He explained, his voice just barely above a whisper.

"More like so I can smell the whiskey on your breath," She shot back and he shrugged. "I think you should just go lay down," She tried to shove him away, but mix her being sick with the fact he was basically a giant pile a rocks at the moment, their was no moving unless he wanted to.

"But, Kare said if I get lonely I could talk to Alayna and since I can't find her, I think I'm just gonna keep talking to you." He replied, his hands going over hers to hold them against his chest.

"Axel, stop." She pulled at her hands, trying to break free.

"Axel?" Both instantly snapped their attention to the stairway, where Daryll stood, his face a mix of confusion and anger. "What the Hell!"

***Present***

"Check it out -Five-o," They all glanced to where Dean had said to have seen two clowns being interrogated by Feds.

"Dammit," Karoline cursed. "Of course, there had to be Feds here."

Sam and Alayna headed back to wait by one of the Carnival ride while Dean and Karoline went to go talk to the Feds. Alayna smirked up at the tall boy, leaning against the fence, "So, clowns, huh?"

Sam rolled his eyes which only made her smirk widen, "Don't start."

"I'm not starting anything Sammy." She shrugged innocently, looking away from his deflated look. That's when she noticed something -or rather someone heading their way. It was a short girl, her red hair tied into two pig tails, all dressed up in a clown suit. "Excuse me," Alayna reached out a hand to stop her and Sam's eyes widened. "Would you mind taking a picture with my friend, he just loves clowns."

"No, Alayna-" Sam began to protest but the little clown girl, cut him off.

She smiled, nodding, "Sure, of course."

"Great," Alayna smiled at Sam's nervous look as the clown came to stand next to him, and she backed up holding up her phone to take a picture. "Say cheese."

"Cheese!" The clown smiled widely while Sam stood there stiffly and gave an awkward smile. Alayna's smile never ceased as she snapped the picture, she looked over the picture before holding it out for Sam to see.

"You two just look so adorable," She looked away from Sam's scowl and turned her shit-eating grin to the clown. "Thank you."

The clown honked her nose and Sam jerked back as she went walking passed them, causing Alayna to bust out laughing. "That wasn't funny." Sam muttered.

"It was a little funny." Alayna countered, holding up her thumb and finger really close together.

"I hate you." Same replied.

"Correction; You love me." Alayna argued, and Sam rolled his eyes a small smile tugging at his lips as he turned to Dean and Karoline who were just now approaching.

"So what'd you find?" Sam prompted.

"Two more murders, they happened last night." Karoline explained what she and Dean had figured out from the Feds. "They were ripped to shreds, right in front of their little boy."

"Who fingered a clown," Alayna's eyes widened as she look up at Sam, that was not the wording he'd wanted. "What?" Sam asked confused as he caught sight of the looks Dean and Karoline were giving him.

"Yes, a clown, who apparently vanished into thin air," Dean continued, annoyance coating his words.

"Guys, looking for a cursed object, especially in this place where every object is supposedly cursed, is like trying to find a chocolate chip cookie in a box of raisin cookies. It's impossible." Karoline told them seriously.

"Well, it has to give off EMF," Alayna reasoned as they all chose to ignore the blondes odd simile. "We'll just have to scan everything here."

"Oh, good. That's nice and inconspicuous," Sam spoke with sarcasm laced though his tone.

"I guess we'll just have to blend in," Karoline frowned at Dean's words and followed his gaze to a couple of workers, who were coming out of the tent, carrying boxes. Behind them was a 'Help Wanted' sign, nailed to the white beam. They all shared a look, before heading over to the tent and heading inside. When they got inside they saw a man throwing knives at a wooden target, he hit the bulls-eye every throw. "Excuse me, we're looking for a Mr. Cooper. Have you seen him around?" Dean questioned, and his smile immeadiatly fell as the man turned, revealing his too-dark glasses.

"What is that - some kind of joke?" He ripped off his glasses to reveal his pale blue eyes. Dean's face was priceless.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry." Dean stumbled over his words.

"Ooh," Karoline sucked in a sharp breath, raising a hand to her lips to stifle her laughter.

"You think I wouldn't give my eyeteeth to see Mr. Cooper. Or a sunset. Or anything at all," He ranted and Dean glanced back at Sam and the girls.

"You want to give me a little help here?" He asked, and Sam grinned.

"Not really," he replied and Dean turned to the girls.

"You're on your own," Karoline said while Alayna took a step back and raised her hands in surrender.

"Hey, Barry, " A man cut in. "Is there a problem?" They turned to face the man, who was shorter than anyone they'd ever seen. Even Alayna.

"Yeah, this guy hates blind people," The man with the knives informed the dwarf.

"No, I don't," Dean tried to deny, but the Dwarf cut him off.

"Hey, buddy, what's your problem?" The short man demanded, jerking his staff he was carrying at Dean threatening.

"Nothing. It's just a little misunderstanding," Dean stated.

"Oh, boy." Karoline muttered, turning away so the pissed off Dwarf didn't see her amused grin.

"Little? You son of a bitch!" Alayna pressed her hand against her mouth to stifle the laugh that was begging to come out, the fact Sam was quietly snickering behind her didn't help.

"No, no, no! I just- I didn't- Alayna, you're little, you talk to him." Dean took a step back shoving Alayna in front of him.

Alayna's laugh immeadiatly cut off as she turned to Dean with a raised eyebrow, the look on her face made Dean take a step back and Karoline and Sam to take three -still completely amused. "Excuse me?"

"Ooh," the Dwarf and the blind man chimed together, shaking their head at Dean. Eventually, Karoline and Sam stepped in to save Dean from the small man, the knife thrower, and Alayna. And they showed the four hunters to Mr. Cooper's tent.

"You four picked a hell of a time to join up," Mr. Cooper greeted them as he walked into the trailer. "Take a seat," He gestured to the two normal seats in front of his desk and the small wooden, clown one. Dean and Alayna hurried to the normal ones, before Karoline and Sam could. "We got all kinds of local trouble."

"What do you mean?" Karoline asked, resting on the arm rest of Dean's chair, subtly smirking back at Sam. Sam scowled, fidgeting slightly, before he slowly took a seat on the small, clown one.

"A couple of folks got themselves murdered, cops always seem to start here first," Mr. Cooper gave a short explanation. "So, you three ever work the circuit before?"

"Oh yeah," Karoline took the question, lying easily. "I mean, just last year we went through Texas and Arkansas."

"Doing what? Ride Jockeys? Contortionist? A and S mean?" he listed off some possibilities that just went right over the four hunter's heads.

"Ride Jockeys," Alayna answered at the same time Karoline said, "Contortionist." Their eyes widened as they shared an awkward look.

"Ride Jockeys," Karoline changed her answer with an awkward chuckle at the same time Alayna changed her answer to, "Contortionist." They gave each other a pointed look.

"A little bit of both." Sam cut in, and Mr. Cooper leant back in his seat.

"You guys have never worked a show in your lives before, have you?" He figured out pretty fast, and Karoline sighed.

"Nope," Dean openly admitted. "But we really need the work, and, uh, Sam here's got a thing for the bearded lady." Alayna and Karoline tried desperately to keep back their laugh, but failed miserably. Sam glared at them, and Dean cut off his laugh quickly.

"You see that picture," Mr. Cooper pointed to a picture that hung on his wall. "That's my Daddy."

"You look just like him," Sam told him. Alayna frowned at how true that was, they were almost identical, she slide her gaze to Karoline who had the same expression.

"He was in the business -ran a Freak Show, till they outlawed them in most places. Apparently displaying the deformed isn't dignified. So, most of the performers went from honest work to rotting in Hospitals and Asylums. That's progress, I guess. You see, this place is a refuge for outcasts, always has been, for folks that don't fit in nowhere else, but you four... you should go to school, find yourselves a family, have 2.5 kids. Live regular," Dean scoffed, and Sam leant forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

"Sir..." He began, completely serious. "We don't want school, and we don't want regular. We want this," Alayna slowly turned to look at Sam and frowned at the truth in his words. Mr. Cooper hesitated for only a moment more before nodding. "What?" Sam questioned, glancing at Dean and the girls as they left Mr. Cooper's trailer.

"That whole 'I don't want to go back to school' thing -you just saying that to Cooper, or were you, you know, saying it?" Dean asked with a pointed look.

"Sam?" Alayna prompted him, and he sighed.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"You don't know?" Dean echoed, trying to hide the excitement in his voice. "I thought that once the Demon was dead and the fat lady sings that you were gonna take off, head back to wussy state." Karoline snorted in amusement at his words.

"I'm having second thoughts," Sam confessed, and they paused in their step.

"By 'second thoughts' you mean...?" Alayna made a motion for him to continue.

"I think... Dad would've wanted me to stick with the job," Dean's expression immeadiatly dropped to one of frustration and annoyance at Sam's words.

"Since when do you give a damn what Dad wanted?" Dean asked harshly.

"Oh, would you look at that guy, he's swallowing a sword. Wow." Karoline said in fake enthusiasm sensing the on-coming argument.

"You spent half your life doing exactly what he didn't want, Sam." Dean continued, completely ignoring the blonde's attempt to change the situation.

"Since he died, okay?" Sam answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Karoline sighed. "You have a problem with that?"

"No," Dean answered making it obvious he did. "I don't have a problem at all." He bit out before turning, and walking off.