HOOK MAN [PART ONE]
___

"I saw you two lookin' at each other, Sammy."
—
"It's not like anything can happen between us."

• • •

Juliet sighs as she basks in the sun, letting the light seep into her sun-kised skin as she leans into the heat. Her sunglasses sit on top of her head as she eyes Sam from the corner of her eye, the younger Winchester brother stands at a payphone, talking into the reciever, she can't hear his words.

Juliet looks to Dean, who's sitting opposite her with Harlow next to him, drawing. The five year old occasionally looks up to have a sip of her strawberry milkshake, but other than that she's more concentrated on the paper and her crayons.

Dean smirks as he eyes his brown, doe-eyed, girlfriend. A laptop sits in front of him, an article on screen.

"You havin' fun over there?"

Juliet nods her head as she drinks some of her iced coffee, "I'm just enjoyin' the sun." She looks around at the outdoor café they are at, she analyzes every stranger she lands her eyes on, she can't help it. John had brought her up to spot everything, as everything/everyone is not who or what they seem. Although, the corners of her mouth lift up into a smirk as she spots a nearby couple having a domestic, if only she had some popcorn.

Sam making his way back to their table grabs her attention, she gives him a small smile. By the look on his face, I guess his call was fruitless.

Dean raises an eyebrow at his brother, "Your, uh, half-caf, double vanilla latté is gettin' cold over here, Francis."

Sam sends his brother a deadpan look as he sits down in his chair next to Harlow, "Bite me." His niece, still at the age where she takes thing literally, does just that. Juliet laughs as her daughter bites her uncle's hand before smiling up at him, proud of what she did. Dean shakes his head as Sam yelps and pulls his hand away, rubbing at the teeth marks she has left, her father places a hand on her to get her attention, he shakes his head, silently telling his daughter that she shouldn't bite people.

Harlow frowns, getting the message, before gently taking Sam's hand and placing a kiss on where she bit him. "Sorry, uncle Sammy." The said Winchester smiles before placing a kiss on her head. "I forgive you, angel."

Juliet and Dean smile at the bond between the two before the latter gets his brother's attention. "So, anything?"

Juliet frowns as Sam shakes his head, "I had 'em check the FBI's 'Missing Person Data Bank'. No John Doe's fitting Dad's description. I even ran his plates for traffic violations."

Juliet bites her lip, the boys haven't given up on their pursuit of John and she can't blame them, she wants to find John as well but she can't help the knot in her stomach at thinking about the aftermath of finding him. She knows, that once they do find him, her secret will be out and Dean can be a very understanding person, but even she knows that he will blow up once he knows that she knows about John's whereabouts this whole time. Juliet knows Sam will blame John for the whole thing, putting that kinda weight on Juliet's shoulders. He'll understand and see it from her point of view but the other part of her will also accept the blame, because she agreed and she would rather take that route than the easy way out.

Dean's voice brings her out of her reverie.

"Sam, I'm tellin' ya, I don't think Dad wants to be found," Juliet's heart just about breaks when she sees the look of disappointment on Sam's face. Dean see's the expression, too and decides to take his little brother's mind off the subject that is there father, "Check this out." Dean turns the laptop screen around so Juliet and Sam can see the screen as well.

Juliet's eyes flick left to right as she reads the words in the article. A teenage boy named Rich seems to have been found dead, his body found hanging from a post above his car. She raises an eyebrow at Dean as the said Winchester goes on to summarise what's said on the screen. "It's a news item out of Planes Courier. Ankeny, Iowa. It's only about a hundred miles from here."

Sam reads aloud from the article, "The mutilated body was found near the victim's car, parked on 9 Mile Road."

Dean smiles and motions to the laptop screen, "Keep reading."

Juliet looks to Sam, her hands gesturing towards the laptop.

"Can I?"

Sam nods his head and Juliet takes over with reading. "Authorities are unable to provide a realistic description of the," Juliet cuts herself off and motions to Harlow and Dean, getting the message, puts his hand over his daughter's ears. Juliet continues, "the killer. The sole eyewitness, whose name has been withheld, is quoted as saying "the attacker was invisible"."

Dean looks to his brother and girlfriend as he takes his hands away from Harlow's ears. "Could be something interesting."

Sam gives Dean a look, "Or it could be nothing at all. One freaked out witness who didn't see anything? Doesn't mean it's the invisible man."

Dean raises an eyebrow, "But what if it is? Dad would check it out."

And just liike the that, the four pile into Baby and drive off.

• • •

Dean pulls up outside a building filled with dorms, the fraternity where Rich had lived. The hunters step out of the car, Harlow by Juliet's side. The five year old clutches her mother's jean-clad leg as the frat guys turn their stares onto the newcomers. Juliet feels uncomfortable at the frat boys checking her out, looking her up and down. Dean notices the stares, too. He's quick to wrap his arm around Juliet's waist, glaring at the college students who are looking at his girlfriend like she's a piece of meat.

Sam looks to his brother, one of his eyebrows raised, "One more time, why are we here?"

Dean, still with his arm wrapped around Juliet's waist, looks to his taller but younger brother.

"Victim lived here."

The three hunters plus Harlow walk over to one of the frat boys who's fixing a car, an ugly car, Juliet might say. Dean looks down at the guy, a smile on his face. "Nice wheels." The frat guys look at them, odd looks on all their faces at the strangers. The guy fixing the car looks at Dean, Juliet and Sam.

"Who are you?"

The smile doesn't leave Dean's face as he answers.

"We're," he motions between him and Sam, "you're new fraternity brothers. From Ohio. We're new in town. Transfers. Looking for a place to stay." Juliet rolls her eyes as the grin on his face widens. The 'mechanic' points to Juliet, "No girls allowed on this campus," his eyes then move to Harlow, "no children, either."

Juliet rolls her eyes and reaches into Dean's jacket and pulls out a wad of cash from his wallet and hands it to the frat boy, he takes it with a smile on his face. Juliet raises an eyebrow, "Now, 'bout that place."

The frat guys smiles as the he tells them about a space in one room and where to find it.

Dean looks to Juliet as they walk through the doors, a sour look on his face. "Come on! Why is it always my wallet?"

Juliet smirks, "Because you love me."

Dean sighs as he looks at her with love in his eyes.

"I do, very much."

Juliet smiles and looks to Sam, sending him a wink.

• • •

The three hunters stand in the doorway of one of the college dorms. Juliet raises an eyebrow at a shirtless college boy in awful yellow shorts, painting himself purple. A mascot, maybe? The mother and daughter share a look as they smell the musky scent that can only be from a teenage boy. Juliet shudders at the smell, she feels as if she's getting PTSD from her younger years and putting up with that smell from Dean when they were younger.

Dean knocks on the door of the dorm, it catches the purple boy's attention. He looks at their reflection in the mirror, an eyebrow raised at the strangers. "Who are you?" Dean smiles, "We're your new roommates." Juliet watches as Dean walks over to the college boy, snorting when the said boy holds a brush and the tin of purple paint out to the hunter, an expectant look on his face. "Do me a favor? Get my back. Big game today."

Dean, thinking fast, points to his brother.

"He's the artist. Things he can do with a brush."

Juliet covers up her laugh with a cough, seeing the mortified expression on her best friend's face. She watches as Sam takes the brush and tin of paint before painting the boy's back, an uncomfortable look on his face as he does. The huntress shakes her head as she follows Dean to one of the chairs by the window, sitting in his lap as Harlow sits in the chair opposite. Juliet picks up one of the college's magazines, she checks the cover on the front, seeing the name of their new 'roomie' underneath a picture of him. She passes the magazine to Harlow to keep her distracted as they talk to the boy. The brunette looks up to the college student Sam is painting. "So, Murph. Is it true? What they're sayin'?"

The boy, Murph, looks to Juliet with a confused look on his face.

"What?"

Dean looks up from watching Harlow and turns to the purple boy.

"We heard one of the guys around here got killed last week."

Murph looks down at the blue carpet, a sad look on his face.

"Yeah."

Sam, always being the more emphatic out of the three, looks to Murph, an understanding look on his face.

"What happened?"

Murph shakes his head, "They're saying some psycho with a knife. Maybe a drifter passing through. Rich was a good guy."

Sam, still painting Murph's back, meets his eyes in the mirror, a curious look on his face. "Rich, was he with somebody?" The college boy gives Sam a dumbfounded look in the mirror. "Not just somebody. Lori Sorensen."

The three hunters share a look, the name wasn't mentioned in the news article. Dean turns to Murph, one of his eyebrows raised. "Who's Lori Sorensen?" He looks to Sam, a cheeky grin on his face as he points to a patch on Murph's body that hasn't been painted. "You missed a spot," He shakes his head as Sam looks in the wrong place, "Just down there, on the back." Sam sends his brother an annoyed look, he just returns it with a grin of his own as Juliet smirks and shakes her head at the two.

Murph, having ignored their interaction, answers Dean's question.

"Lori's a freshman. She's local. Super hot-" Juliet rolls her eyes at that, of course all guys care about is looks, especially college goers. "-And get this, she's a reverend's daughter."

Dean and Juliet share a look, the former of the two looking back to Murph, a sweet smile on her face.

"You don't happen to know which Church, do ya?"

Murph nods.

• • •

"...we should reflect on what this tragedy means. To us, as a Church."

Juliet smiles sheepishy at the people sitting in the pews in the Church as her, Dean, Sam and Harlow enter the service. The huntress winces as the door slams behind them, a loud bang echoing around the room, bouncing of each wall.

The reverend continues like nothing had happened.

"As a community, and as a family. The loss of a young person is particularly tragic. A life unlived is the saddest of passings," The three hunters, and Harlow, quickly take a seat in one of the empty pews. Juliet raises an eyebrow, a smirk on her face, as a girl from the row across turns to Sam and stares at him, the said hunter gives her a weak smile. Juliet bites her lip to stop the grin from appearing on her lips. She tunes back into what the reverend is saying, "So, please, let us pray. For peace, for guidance, and for the power to protect our children."

Juliet bows her head along with Sam and Harlow and the rest of the congregation. The huntress rolls her eyes as she see's everyone's head bowed in respect, except for Dean's. She elbows him in the side and gives him a pointed look, the hunter sighs and reluctantly bows his head, too.

• • •

Dean, Sam and Juliet, with Harlow holding her hand, walks out the church. The brunette huntress smirks as she watches Sam look to the girl that was looking at him during the service. Juliet notices that the girl is talking to her friend, it takes her back to the time when her and Cassie were good friends, before they had to up and leave without an explanation. Well, Juliet gave one, the woman just didn't want to hear it. Called her crazy.

The three hunters, plus Harlow, make their way towards the girl that Sam can't keep his eyes off. The said Winchester brother looks to the teenage girl, a curious expression on his face.

"Are you Lori?"

The brunette turns at the sound of her name being said. She turns on her heels to face Sam. Juliet smirks as the girl, Lori, pauses and eyes him top to bottom, checking him out. She blushes as she looks up to the taller Winchester brother.

"Yeah."

Sam smiles before introducing himself and his family, "My name is Sam." He then points to his older brother. "This is my brother, Dean," He then points to his best friend and niece, "This is Dean's girlfriend, Juliet and their daughter, Harlow." Dean and Juliet give the girl a small wave, the former of the two being the one to actually give a verbal greeting.

"Hi."

Harlow, too, waves at Lori, a beaming smile on her face, "Hi." Lori returns the wave and smile, she can't help but find the little girl adorable. She looks back up to Sam, his smooth and silky voice gaining her attention. She blushes at the way she had just described his voice in her head. Lori subtly shakes her head, focusing more on Sam's voice and what he's saying.

"We just transferred here to the university."

Lori nods her head, "I saw you inside."

She curses herself in her head, she didn't mean for it to come out like she had only saw Sam. Lori had seen the other hunters as well, Sam just happened to be the one to get the most attention. She blushes at the thought.

"We don't wanna bother you. We just heard about what happened and..."

Juliet smiles as Sam trails off, seems Lori isn't the only one who's flustered out of the two. Dean notices it, as well and decides to finish what his brother was saying, "We just wanted to say how sorry we were."

Sam nods his head, "I kind of know what you're going through. I-I saw someone..get hurt once. It's something you don't forget."

Lori lightly nods her head and goes to say something but the reverend walking over, stops her. The teenager looks to her the said man, "Dad, um, this is Sam, Dean and Juliet. They're new students. Oh, and the little girl is Harlow."

The reverend smiles at each of them, he shakes Dean's hand as the said Winchester smiles.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I must say, that was an inspiring sermon."

Juliet rolls her eyes, knowing that Dean didn't take in half of what the reverend was saying. Lori's dad doesn't notice and instead widens his smile at Dean's words. "Thank you very much. It's so nice to find young people who are open to the Lord's message." Dean chuckles as Juliet covers up her snort of laughter, knowing full well that Dean is the most unreligious person on the planet.

The couple share a look as Juliet stays with Sam while Dean leads Lori's dad away from the three, taking Harlow with him. Juliet shakes her head as she hears the start of what Dean is saying, "Listen, uh, we're new in town, actually. And, uh, we were looking for a, um, a church group." She shares a look with Sam, knowing he heard what Dean said, too. She subtly shakes her head, trying her hardest not to let out any form of laughter at Dean's words. She swears, she's a professional but sometimes her boyfriend just says the most out of character things, and being part of a church group, is definitly something he would never do.

Sam looks to the reverend's daughter, a soft look in his eyes.

"Tell me, Lori. What are the police saying?"

The two hunters walk alongside Lori as the said girl replies.

"Well, they don't have a lot to go on. I think they blame me for that."

Juliet raises an eyebrow, curious.

"Why do you say that, Lori?"

The reverend's daughter, sighs. "My story. I was so scared, I guess I was "seeing things"."

The three stop walking as Sam turns to Lori, the soft look never breaking.

"That doesn't mean it wasn't real."

Juliet smirks as he and Lori share a look with one another, the look lasting for a couple of seconds, maybe longer.

Lori tucks some hair behind her ear, a blush on her face.

"I, uh, should get goin'. I'll see you around, Sam."

Juliet and Sam watch as Lori walks away, the former of the two turns to her best friend, a smirk on her face. "I saw you two lookin' at each other, Sammy." The said Winchester rolls his eyes at his friend's teasing tone.

"It's not like anything can happen between us."

Juliet raises an eyebrow, "Why not? You're both the perfect match for each other. You both have trauma related backgrounds. I mean, if you ask me, you'll get along great. Of course, your trope would be 'traumatic lovers', but as long as you don't let it come between you both, you'll be fine."

Sam shakes his head, "That's not funny, Juliet."

The said huntress watches as Sam walks off, a sour expression on his face. She scoffs as she kicks a lone stone on the ground with her shoe.

"I thought it was funny."

• • •

Juliet smiles as she watches Harlow run off into the kids section of the library, she takes after her mama with her love for her books. The huntress walks alongside Dean and Sam as they pause in their steps.

Dean looks to Sam with an eyebrow raised, "So you believe her?" The two hunters watch as he nods his head, "I do."

Dean and Juliet share a look before turning back to Sam, the former of the two giving his brother a knowing smirk. "Yeah, you think she's hot." Juliet nods her head, agreeing with her boyfriend. "C'mon, Sammy. You can be open and honest about your feelings with us." The said man rolls his eyes, hearing the same teasing tone in her voice as earlier, before he had stormed off and talked to Lori some more. He shakes his head at his brother and best friend, "No, guys, there's something in her eyes. And listen to this, she heard scratching on the roof. Found the bloody body suspended upside down over the car."

The couple share another look before turning to Sam, once more. Juliet furrows her eyebrows at her best friend. "The body was suspended? That sounds a lot like the—"

Sam cuts her off with a nod of his head, "Yeah, I know, the Hook Man legend."

A smile is quick to appear on Dean's face.

"That's one of the most famous urban legends ever. You don't think that we're dealing with the Hook Man."

Sam shrugs his shoulders, "Every urban legend has a source. A place where it all began."

Dean pulls a face, on the cusp of agreeing with his little brother. "Yeah, but what about the phantom and the tire punctures and the invisible killer?"

Sam gives his brother a look, "Well, maybe the Hook Man isn't a man at all. What if it's some kind of spirit?"

It's Juliet's turn to smile, "I love a good ghost hunt."

Dean chuckles as he places a kiss on the crown of her head, rubbing her back.

"We know you do, hon."

• • •

Dean, Juliet and Sam sit at one of the tables in the library, Harlow in eye view. Dean smiles as he watches his only child snuggle herself into a corner, a book of animals nestled between her knees. Her green eyes are lit up with wonder and curiosity, excited to know what is in store on the next page. The older Winchester brother's thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps. He looks up and smiles politely at the librarian standing before them with boxes of information in her hands.

"Here you go. Arrest records going back to 1851 ."

She sets it down in front of the three hunters. Juliet watches as Dean blows off all the dust that's sitting on top of one of the boxes, a chuckle passes her full, pink, lips as he starts to cough from all the dust.

Dean, after his small coughing fit, looks up at the librarian and nods his head.

"Thanks."

The said woman looks at the three hunters before nodding her head, "Ok." Juliet watches as she walks away, a scoff leaving her lips at the woman's rudeness.

Dean, knowing what she's thinking, grabs Juliet's hand from underneath the table and interlocks their fingers as he looks between the boxes filled with books and his brother. "So, this is how you spent four good years of your life, huh?"

Sam smirks at his older brother, his voice holding a teasing note.

"Welcome to higher education."

The three hunters begin reading.

• • •

Juliet sighs as she finishes reading another list of arrest records. She groans as she adds it to the pile of the other lists she's already read.

They've been at it for a few hours at least, she feels her back starting to ache from being in the same sitting position for hours on end. She looks to her daughter. She smiles at Harlow's sprawled out position, her head rests in Dean's lap, her brownish red locks, fanned out. She rests her legs on Juliet, she's had to dodge quick a few kicks to the face from her daughter, of course she's doing it without knowing. She's always been fidgety sleeper.

The huntress looks to Dean, her eyes immediately drawn to the pen lid between his lips. She bites her lip, she can't help but feel drawn to him. She shakes her head, trying to get rid of her thoughts which works, luckily. She can sort out the aching in her stomach later, and she'll keep that promise to herself. It has been a while since they've been intimate with each other. Maybe she can see if Sam can have his own motel room tonight, take Harlow for the night and give them some time together..alone.

Sam's voice snaps her out of her thoughts, his voice sounds relieved yet happy.

"Hey, check this out," Dean and Juliet peer at the book that Sam has open. He lays it at an angle where they both can see what he's reading, "1862. A preacher named Jacob Karns was arrested for murder. Looks like he was angry over the red light district in town that one night he killed 13 prostatutes. Uh—" Juliet watches as Sam points to somewhere on the page, "—right here, "Some of the deceased were found in their bed, sheets soaked with blood. Others suspended upside down from the limbs of trees as a warning against sins of the flesh"."

Dean, looking at the other page, points out what he's seen in the book.

"Get this, the murder weapon? Looks like the preacher lost his hand in an accident. Had it replaced with a silver hook."

Three words gain Juliet's attention, she's quick to point it out to the two brother's.

"Look where all of this happened."

The three hunters share a look as Dean reads the three words that has caught his girlfriend's eye.

"9 Mile Road."

Sam looks to both Dean and Juliet, "Same place where the frat boy was killed."

Dean looks to his brother, impressed. "Nice job, Dr. Venkmen. Let's check it out."

Juliet and Sam gather up all the information while Dean carries a sleeping Harlow in his arms.

• • •

Juliet sighs as she sits in Baby's passenger seat, Sam sits in the back with a sleeping Harlow next to him.

Dean drives down 9 Mile Road, the same place where the murder of Rich took place. Dean parks the car before the three hunters step out and into the chill air of the night. Juliet opens the back door of the Impala and shakes her daughter awake.

"Harlow, baby. You have to wake up."

Harlow lets out a little groan as she turns her head, falling back asleep. Juliet sighs as she looks to Sam and Dean. "She's gone back to sleep." She watches as Sam walks closer, "Want me to carry her?"

Juliet nods her heads and turns her attention back to Harlow, "Do you want Uncle Sam to carry you on his back?" The half-awake child sluggishly nods her head. Juliet steps back as Sam unbuckles Harlow and lifts her out of the car, setting his niece on his back.

The three hunters join Dean, who's at the back of the car. Juliet watches as he pops the trunk, lifting up the spare tire compartment, propping it up with a shotgun, revealing all the weapons that are stashed beneath.

Juliet smiles as she picks up her riffle and some shells and starts loading it.

Dean hands his brother another riffle, a grin on his face.

"Here you go."

Sam raises an eyebrow at his brother as he inspects the riffle that's in his hands.

"If it is a spirit, buckshot won't do much good."

Dean nods his head, agreeing with his brother before handing him some of the bullets that Juliet had picked up, "Yeah, rock salt." The younger Winchester sibling looks to the said woman as she holds up one of the bullets that's loaded with rock salt. Sam lets out an impressed huff, "Huh. Salt being a spirit deterrent."

Dean takes out a coil of rope before shutting the trunk closed. Juliet nods her head at Sam's observation, "Yeah. Unfortunately, it doesn't kill them, but it does stun 'em, slow them down." The three hunters start walking into the forrest, Harlow still asleep on her uncle's back. The said man turns to both Dean and Juliet, impressed.

"That's pretty good. You guys and Dad think of this?"

Dean looks to his brother, a cheeky smile on his face.

"I told you. You don't have to be a college graduate to be a genius."

A rustling amongst the trees brings Juliet to attention, she shares a look with Dean as she strains her ears to hear better. All three hunters tense as it sounds like it's getting closer. Dean looks at his brother and girlfriend, lowering his voice.

"Over ther. Over there."

Sam sets Harlow down on her feet, the five year old now being wide awake due to the noise. Him and Juliet aim their guns, cocking them as a figure steps out, only his silhouette being visible. As he takes more steps foward, Juliet realizes that it's a Sherrif, with a gun and a torch pointed at them.

"Put the guns down now! Now!"

Juliet and Sam do as he says.

"Put your hands behind your head!"

Two out of the three hunters do as they're told and of course the most reluctant to cooparate out of the three would be Dean.

"W-w-wait," The Sherrif just motions to the gun in his hand, "okay, okay!"

"Now get on your knees."

The three hunters share a look which angers the Sherrif.

"Come on, do it. On your knees."

The three hunters do as told but that isn't enough for the Sheriff.

"Now get down on your bellies."

Juliet rolls her eyes, "Would you like us to pat our heads and rub our stomachs at the same time, too?" Her sarcastic comment isn't appreciated as the Sheriff aims his flashlight in her face, causing her to squint her eyes at the blinding light.

"Don't give me lip. Come on, do it!"

Dean rolls his eyes, "They had the gun."

Juliet glares at Dean as they get on their stomachs.

"Wow, that's real heroic of you."

Dean rolls his eyes as the Sheriff and some of his officers grab him, Juliet and Sam, hauling them up as another cop gently takes Harlow's hand and leads her away.

Juliet groans in frustration.

"Balls."

—

Author's Note

Hello!

I'm so sorry that it's taken me a month and a bit to upload this episode.

Some things happened but I'm okay and ready to write and update!

I hope you guys enjoyed the first part of the episode 'Hook Man'. This episode is another one of my favorites! Dean in this episode, he's just wow. Also Juliet being iconic in this chapter with her sass, I love her. Also challenging her Bobby at the end has me rolling.

I should have a new 'metonia' chapter out tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that😌

As always, let me know your thoughts on this chapter in the comments and please don't forget to vote :)

Until next time...