This is a LONG chapter so get your snacks and drinks and snuggle and enjoy! ❤️
|
DEAD IN THE WATER [PART FOUR]
___

"You're okay, baby. You're okay."
—
"I was scared."

• • •

Dean and Juliet arrive at the Carlton house, they park the Impala and get out. The two look into the distance and see Bill Carlton sitting on the same bench as he was before. The mother and father of one, glance at each other before making their way towards the older man.

Once they're close enough, Juliet can see the pain in Bill's eyes at losing his two children. The Huntress feels a tug on her heart strings. She feels sympathy for the man, but now isn't the time for sympathy, they need to put a stop to what's happening before this thing can take anyone else.

Juliet gently clears her throat, "Mr. Carlton?"

The said man looks up at the two hunters as they approach and Juliet continues, "We'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind." The older man doesn't reply and the two glance at each other again.

Dean then speaks up, "We're from the, the Department-" Bill cuts him off and they can see a hard look in his eyes. "I don't care who you're with. I've answered enough questions today."

Juliet ignores the tug in her heart once more, and puts a professional and hard look on her face. "You son said he saw something in that lake. What about you? You ever see something out there?" There's a pause and Bill doesn't answer, so Juliet carries on. "Mr. Carlton, sophie's drowning and Will's death...we think there might be a connection to you or your family."

Bill turns to them with a broken look on his face as his voice wavers, "My children are gone. It's...It's worse than dying-" Juliet sucks in a breath as she looks at the older man. "I can't fathom how you're feeling right now and I-we are sorry for your loss. I have a daughter as well, she's only five years old and if anything happened to her, God forbid, I would feel just as broken as you're feeling now. So, please if you could just hear us out or tell us anything you might know..."

Bill looks at her as if he's thinking what she is saying over. A breath of hope catches in her throat as it looks as if he might hear them out but that hope is distinguished when Bill shakes his head, "-Go away. please."

Dean and Juliet nod their heads but don't say anything more as they walk back up to the Impala, respecting the man's decision and not wanting to push him on it anymore.

"What do you think?"

Dean glances at Juliet as they continue to walk to the car.

"Aw, I think the poor guy's been through hell. I also think he's not telling us something."

Juliet hums in agreement, "I thought that, too."

When they arrive back at the sleek black beauty of the Impala, Juliet leans against it, "So now what?" She looks at Dean as he stands in front of her but she furrows her eyebrows as he tenses. Juliet lays a hand on his arm, "Hon, what is it?" Dean just narrows his eyes. "Huh." He turns to the Carlton house. "Maybe Bill's not the only one who knows something." The hunter gives Juliet a knowing look and what he's saying immediately clicks in her brain, she digs through her pocket and takes out the drawing Lucas had given her back at the park and holds it up between her and Dean as they compare it to the actual house.

The two look at each other, smirks on their faces.

"I think we should go and pay Lucas a visit."

Dean nods his head as they get into the Impala. Dean starts the car and reverses out of the drive way and makes his way onto the road. He glances at Juliet, seeing her going through his box of tapes, before turning back to the road. "I would be broken too." Juliet looks up from the box of tapes and at Dean, her eyebrows furrowed, "What?"

"If anything happened to Harls, it would break me too."

Juliet pauses and is quick to take his hand and squeeze it. "Nothing's goin' happen 'cause she's got us and Sammy to protect her and the only way anything that goes bump in the night can get to her, is through us and besides, I think she'll kill us if she finds out that we've seen Lucas without her."

Dean laughs and nods his head before he lifts her hand, that is holding his, and places a loving kiss on the back of it. He smiles when he sees her cheeks tainted red. The huntress shakes her head and goes back to looking through the box of Cassette tapes.

A smile dances on her lips as she finds what she is looking for, she picks out a cassette tape with 'Dean and Juliet' written in neat cursive handwriting on the label. Juliet bites her lip to surpress her smile from widening as she puts the box of cassette tapes back before placing the tape in the slot of the tape deck.

Dean beams and starts tapping his hands to the beat of the music, on the steering wheel, as Led Zeppelin's 'Fool in the Rain' starts to play through the speakers. The two start to belt out the lyrics, singing to each other as well as with one another.

• • •

Dean and Juliet knock on Andrea's front door, she lets them in and closes the door before turning to them as they ask to see Lucas.

The woman shakes her head, "I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea." Dean, however, is persistent. "Just for a few minutes." Andrea still doesn't budge and continues to shake her head, "He won't say anything. What good's it gonna do?"

Juliet takes a step towards her and looks at her, a pleading but urgent look in her eyes. "Andrea, please. We think more people might get hurt. We think something's happening out there." Andrea doesn't look convinced by Juliet's words and crosses her arms. "My husband, the others, they just drowned. That's all."

Juliet looks the woman up and down and narrows her eyes, "If that's what you really believe, then we'll go." Dean nods his head in agreement, "But if you think there's even a possibility that something else could be going on here, please let us talk to him."

There's a pause in the air as Andrea sighs before reluctantly nodding her head, allowing them to talk to her son.

They follow Andrea up the stairs and to Lucas's room to see him on the floor, coloring, with toy soldiers standing around him. Juliet and Andrea lean against the doorway as Dean enters the room and crouches down by the boy, a soft smile on his face.

"Hey, Lucas. You remember me?"

The boy looks up at the sound of Dean's voice and looks around for something or someone but when he sees that they're not there, he frowns and goes back to coloring.

Juliet smiles, knowing who he was looking for while Dean looks down and notices that the boy has drawn two new pitures, both being of a red bicycle. He looks back at the small boy, "You know, I, uh, I wanted to thank you for that last drawing. But the thing is, we need your help again."

Lucas continues to draw a picture of a person in the water as Juliet hands Dean the drawing of the house. He unfolds the piece of paper and sets it down in front of Lucas, "How did you draw this? Did you know something bad was gonna happen? Maybe you could blink your answers for me? Like you did with Harlow."

Lucas doesn't react and continues coloring.

Dean nods his head in understanding, "You're scared. It's okay. I understand. See, when I was your age, I saw something real bad happen to my mom, and I was scared, too-" Juliet's eyes soften and are full of warmth as she hears and watches as Dean opens up to Lucas. "-I didn't feel like talking, just like you. But see, my mom-I know she wanted me to be brave. I think about that everyday. And I do my best to be brave. And maybe, your dad wants you to brave too."

Lucas drops his crayon and looks up at Dean. He shuffles through his drawings before handing him a picture he had drawn of a white Church, a yellow house, and a boy with a blue baseball cap and red bicycle in front of a wooden fence.

Dean takes the picture and smiles at Lucas, "Thanks, Lucas."

The two hunters bear Andrea a farewell as they leave the house and get into the Impala. Juliet turns to Dean as he starts the engine. "Maybe we should go get Sam and Harlow? Take them with us. Keep them in the loop, y'know? Well, more Sam than Harlow."

Dean nods his head and takes a right turn, driving back towards the motel they're staying at to pick up their other two family members.

• • •

When they arrive back at the motel, they unlock their door but pause when they see Sam and Harlow sitting on the said little girls bed, teddies surrounding them as they drink imaginary tea but that's not the thing that made them both pause.

Sam sits beside Harlow, a bright pink and fluffy Boa wrapped around his neck and a plastic tiara on his head, talking in a posh lady voice. "Oh, yes Mr. Rabbit, I would love some more tea." Sam goes to hold his pretend cup out for more "tea" but pauses when he notices Dean and Juliet standing in the door way.

The two immediately burst into laughter as Sam turns to them, his eyes screaming for them to stop laughing but they can't stop. The two lean against each other as they fall to the floor.

Harlow looks at them, about to greet them but stops short to look at them in confusion while Sam looks at them with a deadpan look on his face. "You both done?" Juliet goes to speak but bursts out laughing once more after taking one look at her best friend.

It takes a few minutes for the two to gather themselves but once Sam takes off the tiara and bright pink fluffly boa from around his neck, the two collect themselves. The two explain to Sam that they have another lead and know where to go next and with that, the four pile into the Impala, Juliet still sitting in the front while Sam is in the back with his niece.

While driving to their next destination, Juliet hands Sam the picture Lucas had drawn them while also filling him in -Billy squier's 'Too Daze Gone' plays on the radio- "Andrea said Lucas has never drawn like that 'till his dad died." Sam takes the picture as Harlow gasps upon hearing what her mother said. She looks between her mother and father, an adorable look on her face.

"You vent to see Wucas dithout me! Dat's a crime!"

Dean and Juliet sneak a glance at each other both trying to surpress their smiles at the high tone detected in their daughter's voice. Her father looks at her from the rearview mirror, giving her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, sweetheart. To be honest, we didn't think we'd be dropping by to visit him either."

Juliet turns and sends her daughter a knowing smile, "If it helps any, he was looking 'round for you and when he didn't see ya, he frowned."

Juliet smirks as Harlow doesn't say anything and turns to look out of the window, but she can see the young girl blushing. The brunette smiles as she takes a moment longer to look at her daughter before turning back 'round and taking in the scenery.

Sam looks up from the picture, a smile on his face at seeing how embarrased his neice is before addressing Dean and Juliet. "There are cases-going through a traumatic experience could make people more sensitive to premonitions, psychic tendencies."

Dean nods his head, "Whatever's out there, what if Lucas is tapping into it somehow? I mean, it's only a matter of time before somebody else drowns, so if you got a better lead, please." Sam stays silent for a few minutes before speaking up again, "All right, we got another house to find." Juliet playfully rolls her eyes, "No flies on you, is there Sam?" The said man jokingly huffs and gently nudges her head forward causing her to laugh.

Dean smiles at the two before turning back to the road. "The only problem is there's about a thousand yellow two-stories in this county alone."

Sam looks back down at the picture and something clicks in his brain, he holds the picture up and points out the church to Dean and Juliet, "See this Church? I bet there's less than a thousand of those around here." A smirk plays on his older brothers lips as he glances back to the road after looking at the picture. "Oh, college boy thinks he's so smart. Should have kept that tiara and pink fluffy boa on, I think it suited you. Brought out your eyes." Juliet chuckles and turns to Sam, a teasing look on her face, "Uh-uh-uh, it was a bright pink fluffy boa."

Sam shakes his head and rolls his eyes playfully but nothing more is said.

There's a pause between the brothers, the radio softly playing in the background.

Sam hesitates before looking at Dean -well more like at the back of Deans head...but- "You know, um..." Dean glances at Sam from the rearview mirror, one eyebrow raised, before glancing back at the road. He continues, not wanting to back out. "Juliet told me what you said about mom."

Dean remains quiet but glances at his girlfriend from the corner of his eye, the said woman holds her arms up in mock surrender and Dean just shakes his head as Sam continues, "You never told me that before." Dean shrugs his shoulders, as if not bothered but Juliet knows otherwise. "It's no big deal." His eyes then widen as he takes a quick glance at Sam. "Oh God, we're not gonna have to hug or anything, are we?"

Sam doesn't say anything, just scoffs a laugh while Juliet rolls her eyes at Dean.

In her eyes, she feels as if the boys should talk it out, what happened that night. They never have done, she thinks it would be a weight off Dean's shoulders and would also bring them that litte bit closer, strengthen their bond, but that doesn't happen, instead the rest of the journey remains silent, nothing but the radio being heard.

• • •

It doesn't take long until Dean has pulled up to the church. The three young adults and child step out of the car.

The small family of four approach the white church shaped exactly like the one in Lucas's picture.

Dean seems to realise this, as he fishes out the said drawing and looks at it, comparing it to the scene in front of them. He looks between the picture and the drawing and mentally ticks off the similarities in his head; there's a yellow house next to the church and a wooden fence near the house, the only thing missing is the red bicycle and the boy that's in the drawing.

Juliet and Sam look at Dean before the three look up at the church once more before crossing the street and making their way to the house, Dean holding Harlow's hand as they do.

They approach the front door of the house and Juliet steps forward and is the one to knock. An elderly woman answers the door and looks between the small family of four, confusion written on her face.

After flashing the woman their IDs the elderly woman happily lets them in.

"We're sorry to bother you, ma'am-"

The elderly woman leads the three hunters plus the child into the lounge as Dean continues what he's saying, "-but does a little boy live here, by chance? He might wear a blue ball cap, has a red bicycle."

The elderly woman faces Dean and shakes her head, "No sir. Not for a long time. Peter's been gone for thirty-five years now."

Juliet's heart clenches at hearing the sadness in the elderly woman's, Mrs Sweeney, voice. It's then she notices a picture of the boy matching Dean's description on the side table as Mrs. Sweeney sighs wistfully.

"The police never-I never had any idea what happened. He just disappeared."

Juliet notices a number of toy soldiers, exactly like the ones Lucas has, scattered 'round on the table. She clears her throat to get Dean's attention, it works, the brown-eyed brunette then nods her head to the soldiers. The green-eyed hunter glances at the toys before going back to listening to Peter's mother.

"Losing him-you know, it's...it's worse than dying."

Juliet and Dean share a look upon hearing those familiar words. Bill Carlton said the exact same thing about losing his kids. Juliet gives Mrs. Sweeney a small smile, "If you don't mind me asking, did he disappear from here? I mean, from this house?"

The elderly woman turns to Juliet, "He was supposed to ride his bike straight home after school, and he never showed up."

While the grown ups are talking, Harlow decides to have a little nose around the woman's house that they are in. The little Winchester moves her eyes from one corner of the room to the other, taking everything in. It's then a picture catches her eye. The five year old hums in thought before walking over to the picture, picking it up and taking it to her father to show him.

Harlow tugs on Dean's sleeve to get his attention, which she does. The twenty-six year old sees what his daughter his holding in her hands. He kneels down to her height and gently takes the photo from her little hands, "What have you got there, kid?"

Harlow shrugs her shoulders, "I fwound it." The little girl then wanders over back to her mother, who grabs her hand absentmindedly, and listens to the conversation Juliet and Mrs. Sweeney are having.

Dean glances at his daughter before looking down at picture, he narrows his eyes as he sees a boy, who must be Peter, with a red bicycle but that's not what caused him to narrow his eyes, there's another boy in the photo, a boy who is standing next to Peter.

Dean turns the picture around his hands and notices writing scrawled on the back; 'Peter Sweeney and Billy Carlton, 1977'

A thought immediately strikes Dean and just like that, he's ushering everyone back into the car, saying a farewell to Mrs. Sweeney as he does so, and speeds down the road while also explaining why they had rushed off so quickly.

Sam turns to Dean, him and Juliet having had swapped places; him now in the front with her in the back with Harlow, "Okay, this little boy Peter Sweeney vanishes, and this is all connected to Bill Carlton somehow."

Dean glances at Sam before looking back to the road, nodding his head, "Yeah, Bill sure as hell seems to be hiding something, huh?" He directs the last part of that sentence/question to Juliet, who nods her head in agreement.

"He definitely wasn't telling us everything. Even someone who isn't highly trained in picking up when someone is lying and/or hiding something coulda sensed it."

Sam looks between the two other hunters in the car in realisation, "And Bill, the people he loves, they're all getting punished."

The three hunters all share a look as Juliet voices her thoughts to both Winchester brothers, "So what if Bill did something to Peter?" Sam hums in agreement and turns to Juliet, one of his eyebrows raised, "What if Bill killed him?"

Juliet nods her head, not denying what Sam is saying being a possibility. Dean glances up at Juliet in the rearview mirror, "Peter's spirit would be furious. It'd want revenge. It's possible."

A sinking feeling hits Juliet's stomach and she places her hand on Dean's shoulder, clutching it, gaining his attention. She looks at him, their eyes meeting in the rearview mirror, not a word needs to be spoken between them 'cause just one look in Juliet's eyes is all Dean needs to know that she's telling him to step on it, and he does.

• • •

The Impala pulls up in front of the Carlton house and all three adults immediately jump out of the car, Juliet telling Harlow to stay put and not to get out of the car no matter what, she then shuts the car door and approaches the house with Dean and Sam.

The three hunters warily look around the scene, trying to find the older man.

"Mr. Carlton?"

They come up empty and just as they're about to call it quits, an engine can be heard, roaring to life. The three young adults share a look before making a run for it outside where they see Bill Carlton, the exact man they were looking for, riding his boat out into the lake.

Dean, not taking his eyes off of the boat, addresses his brother and girlfriend, "Hey, check it out." Dean, followed by Sam and then Juliet, run to the end of the dock, all three of them waving their arms about frantically, trying to get the older mans attention.

"Mr. Carlton! You need to come back! Come out of the water! Turn the boat around!"

When Dean fails to get through to the former father of two, Sam decides to try and have a go at convincing him to come back to the dock and to get out of the lake and back to safety. "Mr. Carlton!" But the man continues to ignore their calls for him to return and keeps driving out. Juliet watches with wide eyes as the lake's water starts to rise up and in a blink of an eye, the boat is flipped over and into the air before it vanishes under water.

Juliet shuts her eyes and turns her head into Dean's chest, burying her head in his jacket as he tightly wraps his arms around her, holding her close.

Unbeknownst to the three hunters, Harlow had seen everything from inside the car, watching the scene unfold from behind the Impala's glass window. The little girl in question, is frozen as she continues to stare, wide eyed, out of the window, her breathing having picked up as tears start to pool in her eyes.

And that's the scene that greets her parents as well as her Uncle when they arrive back at the car but sirens can be heard in the distance before any one of the adults can comfort her.

• • •

Lucas is sitting in a chair, rocking back and forth, Andrea sits next to her son, holding a plastic container and a paper bag.

The sheriff's daughter turns to her son when she hears his breathing start to pick up. Concern graces her features as she sees the panic-stricken look on his face. "Baby, what's wrong?" Andrea goes to question Lucas more, but the three hunters entering the station, followed behind by Harlow, with Jake leading them, stops her in her tracks.

The single mother of one looks up at the Winchester-Sullivan family- "Dean, Sam, Juliet." -her eyebrows knit in confusion as she sets the paper bag and plastic container on the empty chair next to her. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Jake looks between the three hunters and his daughter, his eyebrows now knitted in confusion also. "So now you're on a first-name basis. What are you doing here?" Andrea smiles at her father and holds up a bag of food, "I brought you dinner." Jake's look of confusion is instantly replaced with one of regret, his eyes holding an apology in them. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I don't really have the time."

Instead of blowing a casket, Andrea nods her head in understanding, "I heard about Bill Carlton. Is it true? Is something going on with the lake?"

Jake doesn't give a solid answer and shrugs his shoulders, "Right now we don't know what the truth is. But I think it might be better if you and Lucas went home." At hearing what his grandfather is saying, Lucas whines and looks up, looking stricken as he jumps up and grabs onto both Juliet and Dean. Harlow looks at her friend in worry.

The two hunters share a look before looking down at the little boy, Juliet strokes his hair as Dean puts his arm around him, shielding him the best he can as he looks down at the small boy with concern. "Lucas, hey, what is it?" The seven-year-old doesn't say anything, just clutches onto the hunters tighter. Juliet continues to stroke his brown hair away from his face, her feather like touch is comforting. The brown-eyed brunette looks down at the scared boy as he looks up at her with terror in his eyes. The huntress gently shushes the boy, "Lucas."

The little boy just clutches them even tighter as his mother looks at him in worry and confusion. "Lucas?" However, the boy ignores his mother and whimpers a heartbreaking sound that has Juliet's gut twisting and not in a good way. Her mothely instincts start to surface as she pulls the boy away from her at arms length before crouching down in front of him, her brown eyes meeting his greeny/blue ones. "Lucas, it's okay. It's okay." Her voice doesn't seem to be getting through to him, so she tries a more gentle approach and starts to rub soothing circles on his arms. "Hey, Lucas, it's okay. It's okay."

The boy's breathing starts to slow down but he doesn't take his eyes off of the two hunters, even as Andrea pries him away from the oldest Winchester brother and the only Sullivan descendant and leads him out of the building.

The three hunters share a look but don't have time to dwell on the little boy's odd behaviour as Jake invites them into his office. Juliet turns to her daughter as Dean and Sam walk inside, "You go sit and wait in one of those chairs, baby. We'll be as quick as we can, okay?" The five-year-old nods her head, a smile on her face as she watches Juliet hold out two of her fingers after kissing them. Harlow's smile widens as she copies her mothers actions, the mother and daughter press the two fingers they had kissed, together and lock them before Juliet goes into Jake's office, shutting the door behind her as Harlow makes her way to one of the cushioned chairs.

As Juliet enters the box room, Jake is throwing his jacket down and sits in the chair behind his desk, facing the young adults, an exhausted yet unconvinced look on his face as he repeats what the hunters had told him when they arrived at the scene at the lake. "Okay, just to be clear, you see...something attack Bill's boat, sending Bill-who is a very good swimmer, by the way- into the drink, and you never see him again?"

Dean, Juliet and Sam look between one another, nodding their heads before turning back to the Sheriff. Out of the three of them, Dean is the one to speak. "Yeah, that about sums it up." Jake scoffs, eyeing the three of them skeptically. "And I'm supposed to believe this, even though I've already sonar-swept that entire lake? And what you're describing is impossible? And you're not really Wildlife Service."

Dean looks surprised at Jake finding out the truth while Juliet and Sam look exasperated at having been caught and called out. Jake catches on to Dean's expression and a knowing look crosses his face as he smirks at having caught the oldest out of the three off guard. "That's right, I checked. Department's never heard of you three." Dean gives him a sheepish smile as he masks his surprised expression. "See, now, we can explain that." However, Jake doesn't want to hear it, "Enough, please. The only reason you're breathing free air is one of Bill's neighbours saw him steering out that boat just before you did-"

Juliet mentally thanks that neighbour who had also seen what they had, otherwise, they would probably be rotting in a cell by now. The huntress subtly shakes her head and tunes back into what Jake is saying.

"-So, we have a couple of options here. I can arrest you for impersonating goverment officals and hold you as material witnesses to Bill Carlton's disappearance, meaning you three will rot in a cell and that kid of yours would be put into the care system-" Dean clenches his jaw and tightens his fist at the threat of his daughter being taken away from them but before he can say anything, he feels a gentle touch on his balled up fist. The hunter looks to his left and smiles softly as his lovers soft touch is enough to ground him and make his anger dissipate, even if it is only a little.

"-Or, we can chalk this all up to a bad day, you get into your car and take your kid, you put this town in your rearview mirror, and you don't ever darken my doorstep again."

Juliet doesn't take kindly to the man's words and glares at the Sheriff, about to big mouth him but Sam immediately grabs her arm and smiles tensely at Jake. "Door number two sounds good." Jake looks at Sam and smiles triumphantly while nodding his head. "That's the one I'd pick."

With that, the three hunters leave the Sheriff's office and collect Harlow before walking out of the building. Harlow looks up to her family, having picked up on the somber mood. "Where dwe dowing?" Dean, who's holding his little girl's hand, looks down at her. "We're hittin' the road Harls." Hearing this, the five-year-old frowns, "But...wucas?" Her father gives her a sad smile and shakes his head, "Sorry, baby. We gotta get a move on otherwise we'll be in big trouble, you understand?" Dean's tone is gentle and not at all patronizing or annoyed. Harlow hums in thought as they cross the street and head towards the Impala, "Otay, wut I'm wot nappy abwout it."

Dean squeezes Harlow's hand as he helps her into the car, "Yeah, me neither kid." He makes sure she is strapped in her carseat properly before getting into the drivers side and starting up the engine before driving in the direction of the motel, so they can start packing their things.

• • •

Hours later, night has fallen as Dean, Sam, Juliet and Harlow are all piled in the Impala, bags packed and in the trunk. The car is waiting at a traffic light. A sign saying 'I-43 North to Milwaukee' is to the left.

The traffic light turns green but the Impala doesn't budge and remains where it is. Sam looks to his brother, as does Juliet, and notices that, just like his daughter, Dean seems to be deep in thought, too.

"Green."

Sam's voice snaps him out of his thoughts and Dean turns to his brother, a questioning hum leaving his mouth, "What?" Sam points to the traffic light that is still on green. "Light's green." Dean bites his lip in thought and glances at Harlow in the rearview mirror to see a frown pulled at her lips and an expression on her face that looks like she's just seen a kicked puppy.

Seeing that expression on his daughter's face is enough for Dean to make up his mind. The oldest Winchester brother turns right instead of left causing Sam to look at him in confusion, "Uh, the interstate's the other way." Juliet smirks at her boyfriend in the rearview mirror before addressing Sam to clear up his confusion. "Oh, he knows that, Sammy but I think our little Dean is about to have a hero complex."

The said man doesn't say anything and instead just continues to drive, stepping his foot down on the gas to go that little extra mile.

Having connected the dots together, Sam turns to Dean and sighs, "But Dean, this job, I think it's over." The said man glances at Sammy, "I'm not so sure." But Sam doesn't seem as convinced. "If Bill murdered Peter Sweeney and Peter's spirit got its revenge, case closed. The spirit should be at rest."

"All right, so what if we take off and this thing isn't done? You know, what if we missed something? What if more people get hurt?" Sam looks at Dean in confusion, "But why would you think that?" Before Dean can answer, Juliet beats him to it. "'Cause you idjit, Lucas was really scared." A look of realization appears on Sam's face as he turns to his brother, a teasing smile on his face. "That's what this about?"

Dean sighs as he keeps on drivin', "I just don't want to leave this town until I know the Kid's okay. Not just for my sake but also for Harlow's." At the mention of his niece, Sam turns his head and looks at her, sadly. He hates seeing her so quiet, it's not right. She should be screaming the song on the radio to her hearts content and laughing at him teasing Dean, but she doesn't, she just sits there, looking out of the car window.

Sam turns back to Dean and the teasing smile returns back onto his face, only this time, it's wider. "Who are you? And what have you done with my brother?" Dean glances at his little brother and the smallest of smirks is pulling at his lips, "Shut up."

Harlow, who had heard the whole conversation, speaks up for the first time since getting into the car. "We wonna save Wucas, daddy?" Dean smiles as he glances at the five-year-old in the rearview mirror, "Yeah, baby. We're gonna save Lucas."

• • •

The hunters arrive at the Devins/Barr household and ring the doorbell. Sam turns to his brother, "Are you sure about this? It's pretty late." Dean doesn't answer and instead carries on ringing the doorbell, this time with more urgency as no one had answered the door when he first rang it, that and, he feels a bad feeling twisting and knotting in the pit of his stomach, something isn't right. He shares a glance with Juliet, knowing, sensing, that she's feeling the same way, too.

Just as he's about to ring the doorbell again, the front door opens and they look down to see a panicking Lucas, who looks as if he's out of breath and afraid. Dean and Juliet's overprotective parent mode kicks in as they follow the little boy into the house.

"Lucas? Lucas?"

The small boy ignores Dean's calls and instead, quickens his pace while the three hunters and child follow behind him.

Lucas ends up leading them to a shut door but when Juliet looks down, she can see water gushing from the gap beneath the door, flowing into the corridor. Lucas starts pounding on the bathroom door in panic before looking back to the hunters for help. Dean looks down in thought before gently pushing Lucas towards Sam, Juliet doing the same with Harlow, before stepping back from the door and kicking it open.

Sam stays in the corridor with Harlow, who refuses to let her Uncle go, whereas Lucas clings back onto Dean like the older man is his lifeline. This leaves Juliet to enter the bathroom alone. Upon seeing Andrea drowing in the water in the bathtub, the brown-eyed brunette rushes over to the drowning woman and sticks her arms in the tub, trying to pull Andrea out. However, she is pulled back underneath the water by an invisible force, but Juliet isn't one to give in so easily, so she continues to use all of her upper-body strength, not caring that her clothes are currently soaked and sticking to her skin in an uncomfortable way or the burn her muscles give due to her pulling so hard.

She keeps trying to pull her out until, eventually, Andrea is let go and both women land on the hard wooden floor with a thud, both of them fighting to get their breath back as Dean and Sam look at them in shock before snapping into action and helping Juliet and Andrea up from the floor as the latter of the two starts to cough up water.

• • •

Dawn is breaking. Andrea and Sam sit in the living room, the former of the two now wearing dry and comfortable clothing.

"Can you tell me?"

Andrea turns to Sam, as Dean and Juliet look through the notebooks that are on one of the bookshelves, she shakes her head, "No. It doesn't make any sense." Andrea then starts to break down in tears. Dean and Juliet glance at each other, both unsure on what do to do when it comes to comforting people who are either; not a person of their family or Harlow.

Speaking of Harlow, the young girl sits with Lucas at the table, both of them shaken up from the things they have experienced as well as witnessed throughout the day, leading up to tonight. Both of them are coloring pictures to take their minds of what has happened.

The crying woman inhales and exhales deeply as she looks at Sam, shaking her head, "I'm going crazy." She buries her face in her hands as Sam gently shakes his head, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, consoling her, even if it is only for a second. "No, you're not. Tell me what happened. Everything." Andrea sucks in one more deep breath, willing herself to be completely honest to the people who saved her life, trying not to care if it sounds crazy or not.

"I heard...I thought I heard...there was this voice."

Juliet, at hearing this, slightly tunes into the conversation between her best friend and the woman she rescued, while also continuing to look through the notebooks with Dean.

"It said...it said 'Come play with me'."

Andrea sobs as all three of the hunters steal a glance at each other. The shaken woman notices as she looks between the trio, a confused look on her face. "What's happening?" Juliet nor the Winchester brothers say anything. The former of the three pulls out a scrapbook that says 'Jake - 12 years old' and flips through it before closing it and going over to Sam and Andrea, with Dean following. She places the book down in front of Andrea before opening it once more and turning to a page with a photo titled 'Explorer Troop 37'.

"Do you recongnize the kids in these pictures?"

Andrea's eyebrows furrow as she shakes her head, confused by the question being thrown at her. "What? Um, um, no." She then points out one of the kids in the picture presented to her, "I mean, except that's my dad right there. He must have been about twelve in these pictures."

Juliet watches as she moves her finger to another photo in the book, this one being of Jake as a child; he's standing next to another child, Peter. The three hunters look at each other once more.

"Chris Barr's drowning. The connection wasn't to Bill Carlton. It must have been to the Sheriff."

Juliet nods her head at Dean's words, "The puzzles pieces are slotting into place." He smirks at her words as Sam looks at his brother, "Bill and the Sheriff-they were both involved with Peter." Andrea looks between the three in frustration as well as confusion. "What about Chris? My dad-what are you talking about? Puzzle pieces slotting into place?"

Unbeknownst to the now frantic woman, Lucas and Harlow had gotten up from the table and towards the window, stopping to look out of it. Dean and Juliet, however, did notice.

"Lucas, Harlow?"

The two don't reply and continue staring out of the window and into the pitch black that's the outside.

Dean and Juliet glance at one another before slowly making their way toward the kids, who both looked as if they're freaked out.

"Lucas, what is it?"

Dean slowly approaches Lucas while Juliet does the same with Harlow.

"Harlow, baby. What's out there?"

Just as the hunter and huntress are going to crouch down beside the two children, Lucas walks over to the front door and opens it, walking outside with Harlow by his side. Everyone follows the two kids. Andrea follows her Son in concern. "Lucas, honey?" The said boy stops and looks at the ground and then at Dean. The hunter watches with furrowed eyebrows as his daughter does the same. He shakes it off, however and gently ushers them towards the house before looking at Andrea, "You and the kids get back to the house and stay there, okay?"

Andrea looks relucatant but grabs both Lucas and Harlow's hands, anyway, and pulls them back in the direction of the house.

Juliet watches from the Impala -as Sam and Dean fetch shovels from the trunk of the car-, a solem look is on her face as she wants her daughter by her side and not away from her or Dean. She feels a hand be placed on her shoulder. She turns and sees Dean looking at her, a knowing look in his eyes. "She's safer in the house, Jules. She's with Andrea." Juliet sighs and nods her head, a small smile on her face. "I know." She then cups his cheek and brings her lips to his, sharing a short but sweet kiss before she is handed a shovel by Dean.

They then make their way to the place where they've decided to dig and do just that.

They're only digging for five minutes at least when Sam's shovel clanks against something metal. They get on their hands and knees to continue digging up the rest of the dirt before pulling out a familiar red bicycle.

"Peter's bike."

"Who are you?"

A deep voice from behind them causes them to whip around, not having noticed the person sneak up on them. They see the Sheriff standing their, his gun pointed at them. The three drop their shovels on the ground before Dean gently pushes Juliet behind him, not wanting her to get shot if things get hairy.

Sam looks between the gun and Andrea's father, "Put the gun down, Jake." The Sheriff doesn't listen and gestures to the bike with his gun. "How did you know that was there?" Dean doesn't answer the question and instead asks a couple of his own; "What happened? You and Bill killed Peter, drowned him in the lake and then buried the bike? You can't bury the truth, Jake. Nothing stays buried."

Even though his words aren't directed at her, Juliet still feels her blood run cold as reality slaps her hard in the face. Those words Dean is saying right now, could one day be said to her. No, it will be said to her if Dean gets his hands on the truth. Why did she agree? What does she gain from this? An argument? Possibly the end of her relationship if things go sideways. Looking at the back of her boyfriend's head now, she thinks 'Would he still stand in front of me and take a bullet for me if he knew the truth?'

• • •

Andrea looks outside the window and notices her dad holding a gun to the people who saved her life. She turns to Lucas and Harlow, she plasters a smile on her face as to not worry the children as she looks at them. "Go to your room, Sweetie and take Harlow with you." She then gives both kids a pointed look, "Now. Lock the door and wait for me. Don't come out, both of you."

Lucas and Harlow both run off as Andrea runs outside and over to her dad and the hunters, she hears what they are saying.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!"

Dean, who is starting to lose his patience at Jake's lies and also his calm due to the gun still being pointed at them. He feels Juliet is about to retort but he reaches 'round and squeezes her hip, silently begging her not to say anything. Not wanting her to get hurt.

"You and Bill killed Peter Sweeney thirty-five years ago. That's what the hell I'm talkin' about."

Andrea reaches them and looks at her Dad in shock, "Dad!" Jake ignores his daughter and still concentrates on the hunters, more specifically, to what Dean is saying. "And now you got one pissed-off spirit!"

Juliet steps out from behind Dean and the hunter gives her a look at doing so, but she smiles at him, assuring him that she'll be fine and that's enough for Dean to relax. Juliet then turns to Jake, a hard and stern look on her face. "Listen to me, it's gonna take Andrea, hell it's already tried to, then it'll take Lucas and everyone you love. It's gonna drown them. And it's gonna drag their bodies God knows where, so you can feel the same pain Peter's mom felt. And then, after that, it's gonna take you, and it's not gonna stop until it does."

Jake scoffs at her words and turns to her, mocking her. "Yeah, and how do you know that, princess?" Juliet clenches her teeth together and has to fight the urge to punch his lights out. "Because that's exactly what it did to Bill Carlton." Her words are said with a bite.

The Sheriff just laughs in the huntress' face as he looks between the three hunters. "Listen to yourselves, all three of you. You're insane."

Dean, also now wound up with how the Sheriff spoke to his girlfriend, clenches his jaw and tries not to let out the growl that is rising in his throat. "I don't really give a rat's ass what you think about us, but you ever speak to the mother of my child like that again, I can't promise that you won't get hurt and I don't care that you're a Sheriff. Now, if we're gonna bring down this spirit, we need to find the remains, salt them, and burn them into dust. Tell me you buried Peter somewhere. Tell me you didn't just let him go in the lake."

• • •

Lucas and Harlow stand outside, watching. The two didn't go and lock themselves in Lucas's room like they were told to do by Andrea. As the two are watching the adults, they feel a breath from behind them that causes Harlow's hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end.

"Come play with me."

The voice is said in an eerie whisper but it feels as if it has both kids under a trance as without any hesitation, both children follow the voice without neither adult noticing.

• • •

"Dad, is any of this true?"

Jake turns to his daughter and shakes his head, a scoff leaving his lips. "No. Don't listen to them. They're liars and they're dangerous." Andrea, however, doesn't fall for her fathers lies and shakes her head, "Something tried to drown me. Chris died on that lake." Jake's eyes look to the ground when hearing this, but Andrea won't have any of it. "Dad, look at me." He does and Andrea continues, "Tell me you-you didn't kill anyone." The Sheriff looks away, not being able to look his daughter in the eyes and lie, and that's all Andrea needs to know that he did.

"Oh my God."

"Billy and I were at the lake. Peter was the smallest one. We always bullied him, but this time, it got rough. We were holding his head under the water. We didn't mean to. But we held him under too long and he drowned. We let the body go and it sank." 

Dean and Sam glance at each other as Juliet glares the the Sheriff, her blood boiling with rage, but she doesn't say anything, just glares at him as he continues talking to Andrea. The said woman looks as if she's about to throw up. It seems Jake sees this as well.

"Oh, Andrea, we were kids. We were so scared-" 

Juliet cuts him off with a scoff, "You were scared? How must have that poor boy felt, he was proberly struggling and you just carried on? He must have been scared out of his wits."  

Jake has the decency to let out a chocked sob as he addresses both women, "-It was a mistake." He then turns back to his daughter, "But, Andrea, to say that I have anything to do with these drownings, with Chris, because of one ghost? It's not rational." 

Dean, having let the Father and daughter have their moment, cuts into the conversation before Andrea can say anything. "All right, listen to me, all of you. We need to get you away from this lake, as far as we can, right now."

At that moment, Andrea turns her head and spots Lucas and Harlow going down to the lake, both of them reaching for the toy soldier that's in the lake.

"Come play with me."

Andrea's heart leaps to her throat as she screams in fear; "Lucas!" At the sound of her scream, Juliet and Dean turn to the lake and see Harlow also reaching her hand into the water and both of their hearts stop dead as their breath gets caught in their throat. Before Juliet has time to blink, she's running towards the lake with Andrea and everyone else behind her.

"Harlow!"

"Harlow, get away from the water!"

Lucas! Baby, stay where you are!"

Neither child respond to Dean, Juliet or Andrea and instead continue to try and grab the toy. It's then a hand surfaces from the lake and grabs Lucas's hand, pulling him in. Due to the two children holding hands to stop each other from failings, Harlow is also dragged into the lake. 

Juliet and Dean's blood run cold with terror as they reach the edge of the lake but Lucas and Harlow don't resurface. Jake, a few feet behind them, stops short as Peter's sickly pale face is visible above the water, the ghost boys, dull and lifeless eyes staring at him, casuing his heart to stop short. 

Before Sam and Dean have the chance to dive, Juliet jumps into the lake after the children. Dean stops short at seeing this and his eyes widen. "Juliet!" Him and Sam glance at each other before running to the end of the dock and diving in after her.

Andrea looks at the three in shock and takes off her jumper to go in after them, after her son but Sam's voice stops her short, "Andrea, stay there!" The said woman shakes her head, "No! Lucas!" Sam holds out his hand to stop her. "We'll get him! Just stay on the dock!" She does so reluctantly as Sam dives under the water.

Juliet looks around the water, trying her best to see through the murkiness of the lakes water that's blurring her vision.

Feeling as if she's about to runout of breath, Juliet starts to resurface but a hand grabbing her ankle stops her.

The brunette kicks her leg, trying to get out of the the hands grip but it's useless. Before she knows it, the hand is pulling her down to the depths of the lake.

The huntress screams but her mouth ends up being filled with water, causing her lungs to start burning and black spots to fill her vision.

Juliet fights to stay conscious but the further the hand drags her down, the more breath she is losing.

It isn't long before she blacks out.

A minute later Dean resurfaces followed by Sam. Dean looks to his younger but taller brother in question. "Sam?" The said Winchester looks to Andrea and then Dean, seeing the worry in his eyes, before sadly shaking his head. It's then both hunters notice Juliet hasn't resurfaced along with them.

The older Winchester brother looks around before looking to Sam, "Where's Juliet?" The brothers look at each other with wide eyes before looking down into the lake they are currently swimming in. 

Andrea looks on in worry. "Lucas, where are you?"

Not giving up until both children, and now Juliet, are found, both hunters dive back under as Jake looks out into the lake and takes off his jacket, tears running down his face in worry. The Sheriff wades through the lake when Andrea looks over.

"Peter, if you can hear me...please, Peter, I'm sorry. I'm so-I'm so sorry."

Andrea shakes her head, "Daddy, no!"

Jake doesn't listen to his daughter and carries on talking to Peter, hoping and praying that the ghost will listen. "Peter. The-they're just children. And the girl, she was sticking up for you. Please it's not their fault, it's mine. Please take me."

Sam and Dean resurface for air at that moment and their eyes are immediately drawn to Jake, who is also in the lake. The former out of the two shakes his head with wide eyes. "Jake, no!" Peter then resurfaces  and watches one of the men that killed him.

"Just let it be over!"

Jake is then dragged down into the lake as Andrea looks at where he once was in shock. "Daddy! Daddy! No!" Sam and Dean then dive down again, to see if they can save him. "No!" Andrea screams once more.

Sam then resurfaces and Andrea looks at him with tears but hope in her eyes but Sam shakes his head and just like that, the young woman feels her whole world come crashing down as she sobs. But, just as Andrea clutches her chest in sorrow, Dean resurfaces with Juliet hanging on to his back, unconscious, her arms weakly wrapped 'round his neck. Andrea can also see that he is holding Lucas and Harlow, both look as if they're not moving.

Sam swims over and takes Juliet as Dean takes the kids and they both swim to the dock. Dean hands Sam Harlow as the little Winchester brother jumps onto the dock first -after placing Juliet down on the wood- he takes Harlow as Andrea takes Lucas, allowing Dean to jump up, also. 

Andrea starts to do compressions on Lucas, not stopping until he starts coughing up the water he had inhaled.

Sam and Dean both look at Harlow and Juliet, both mother and daughter are not moving. Without talking about it, Dean starts to do compressions on his daughter as Sam does the same with Juliet.

Out of the two, Juliet is the first to awaken. She musters all the strength she can and turns on her side, coughing up the water she had inhaled from being pulled down.

She looks to Sam, her breathing heavy. It's then she notices Dean hovered over Harlow, her eyes widen as she sees her daughter not moving.

"Harlow!"

Juliet's anguished scream catches the attention of Andrea, who moves closer to see Dean trying to save Harlow who still isn't moving.

Juliet, not caring that she is weak, crawls towards her daughter and lays Harlow's head in her lap as she watches Dean start to do mouth to mouth.

She looks up at her boyfriend, panic starting to set in. "Dean?!"

"I'm trying!"

When there is still no reaction from Harlow, Juliet starts to sob, thinking the worst.

Dean, however, isn't gonna give up. He cups his daughters face, "Come on, baby. You ain't going out on me yet." He then starts to count as he starts to do more compressions on her chest before doing mouth to mouth once more.

When it looks as if nothing is going to work, Harlow sits up, her little chest heaving, as she turns on her side, with the help of Dean and Juliet, and coughs up water.

Once things have calmed down, Dean and Juliet clutch Harlow tightly to them as Juliet cries in relief and kisses her daughters face mutiple times.

Dean wraps his arm around Juliet, bringing both his girlfriend and daughter in close. He, too, kisses Harlow on the forehead. "You're okay, baby. You're okay." The said little Winchester looks up to her mother and father, tears in her eyes as well as fear. "I was scared."

• • •

Dean, Sam and Juliet walk out of ther motel room, Harlow holding her mothers hand. Dean opens the car door and Sam tosses the duffle bag in. He turns to Dean, seeing a certain look on his face, "Look, we're not gonna save everybody." Dean nods his head, "I know."

Andrea smiles at the three hunters as she walks over to them, Lucas following behind. "Sam, Dean, Juliet." The hunters turn at the sound of their names and smile when they see Andrea.

"Hey."

Harlow smiles as her eyes latch onto Lucas. She immediately runs up to him. "Hi, Wucas!" The said little boy blushes shyly and clears his throat, "Hi!" Harlow beams at the sound of Lucas's voice and giggles when her face starts to flush red.

Andrea smiles at the two kids before turning back to the Hunters. "We're glad we caught you. We just, um, we made you lunch." She smiles as gestures to Lucas who brings a plate of sandwhiches, wrapped in cellophane, over to them. "Lucas insisted on making the sandwhiches himself."

Lucas looks up to his mom, "Can I give it to them now?" Andrea smiles and kisses him on the head, "Of course." Lucas blushes in embarrasment at his mom kissing him in front of Harlow, but he doesn't say anything and hands the tray of sandwiches over to Dean who smiles in thanks. "Come on, Lucas, Harls, let's load this in the car." The two kids follow him along with Juliet who leans against the Impala, watching them as Dean puts the sandwiches in the car before turning back to Lucas, sittting in the drivers seat with the door open. "All right, if you're gonna be talking now, there is a very important phrase for you to know-" He then turns to his daughter who is standing next to Lucas, "-And what is that phrase Harls?"

The said little girl smiles at Dean before looking to Lucas, "If there's one thing my daddy has taught me, It's pie fixes everything-"

Dean laughs and shakes his head, "Not that one, baby." Her little green eyes widen in realisation, "Oh, Led Zeppelin rules!" Dean cheers, "That's the one." He holds out his hand for Harlow to high five, which she does. He then looks to Lucas, "I'm gonna need you to repeat that." Lucas looks up at him, a toothy grin on his face, "Zeppelin rules!" Dean laughs, "And one more time?"

"Zeppelin rules!"

Dean chuckles and holds out his hand, this time to Lucas, for a high-five which Lucas returns. Juliet smiles at the two and crouches down beside Lucas and nudges his shoulder, gently. "Take care of your Mom, okay?" Lucas nods his head and quickly hugs the huntress as she stands up, before going up to his mom.

Juliet looks down at Harlow and seeing that Dean is distracted, she nudges her to get her attention, "Now's the time, kid." The little Winchester turns to her mother in confusion but stops short when she sees Juliet's knowing look.

Harlow blushes and before she can process what she is doing, she walks up to Lucas and kisses him right on the lips. Lucas's eyes widen and he shyly kisses back. It isn't a kiss like the ones her mother and father have, it's only short but it's enough to make the two children blush.

Andrea and Juliet smile at the sight, while Sam laughs at the shocked look on his brothers face and his wide eyes. Dean goes to get out of the car and drag Harlow away but Juliet, without looking, pushes him back down into the Impala's drivers seat and gives him a look that screams 'don't you dare.'

Harlow and Lucas's kiss breaks with both of them bright red in the face. The two stay smiling at each other before Dean's had enough and breaks the moment with his voice. "All right, that's enough, kid. Get in the car."

Harlow laughs at the tone of her Dad's voice, knowing that he's only half joking. As she gets in the car, Dean turns to his brother, scratching the back of his head, still processing what he's just seen. "Sam, move your ass. We're gonna run out of daylight before we hit the road."

Sam obliges but continues to laugh, even when they are all in the car. Juliet smiles as Dean turns to his brother with narrowed eyes. "Stop laughin'!" But this just causes his brother to laugh more.

With a roll of his eyes, Dean turns the engine and starts the car, revving it.

They wave bye to both Andrea and Lucas before hitting the road and driving off.  

Sam's laughter still being heard.

—

Authors Note

And Chapter Ten is done, meaning episode three is done.

I did promise you guys a long chapter and here it is. Now, it's really long. So long that there's a note at the top. 

Who thought I was gonna kill Harlow off, even for just a second? As if I would do that! She's my baby and she deserves the world, although she son't come out of this episode with nothing, she'll have a new fear. 😥

Who thought that moment between Lucas and Harlow was cute? I know I did! She can say she had her first kiss at the age of five, how sweet. And when Dean got in all protective dad mode but Juliet wasn't going to have it, so she just pushes him down like nothing. 🤣

Thanks for reading this chapter and PLEASE don't forget to vote and comment as it really means a lot to me!

I'll see you all in the next chapter! ❤

Until next time...