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6.1 No Exit

"Los Angeles, California," Dean said shutting the trunk of the Impala down after we put our things in. We had been staying at the Roadhouse for a couple of days, but were now heading out. 

"What's in L.A.?" I asked with a confused look.

"Young girl's been kidnapped by an evil cult," He replied as we moved to our doors. "Yeah? Girl got a name?" Sam asked. "Katie Holmes," Our older brother replied with a very cheeky smile.

I shook my head as Sam and I laughed. "That's funny." I said. "And so bitchy," I heard Salem add from the inside of the air condition Impala.

Before I could say anything we all looked at the Roadhouse when we heard some noise of breaking glass and shouting. Dean turned back to me and Sam, "Or of course, on the other hand- catfight."

I shook my head as I started walking towards the bar, "Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually the youngest," I mumbled knowing they were following behind.

We slowly walked inside seeing Ellen and Jo fighting. "What are you going to do, are you going to chain me up in the basement?" Jo spat as she followed Ellen as she was flipping chairs off the tables. "You know what, you've had worse ideas than that recently. Hey, you don't wanna stay, don't stay. Go back to school," Ellen said.

"I didn't belong there! I was a freak with a knife collection," Jo responded.

"Yeah, and getting yourself killed on some dusty back road, that's where you belong?!" Ellen snapped. Jo's eyes flickered to us, where we stood behind her mother and it took Ellen a second to turn slightly to see us. I gave a small awkward little wave, "Hi."

"Guys, bad time," Ellen pointed out.

"Yes, ma'am," Sam and I replied at the same time. "Yeah, we rarely drink before ten away," Dean said before we started to walk towards the door.

"Wait," Jo said, making us stop as she walked towards the three of us. "I wanna know what they think about this."

I glanced to my side to see a family of four walking in wearing bright yellow shirts that had "Nebraska is for Lovers" on them.

"I don't care what they think!" Ellen yelled.

"Are you guys open?" The father asked. "No!" Jo yelled at the same time as Ellen, "Yes!" The man awkwardly glanced at his wife before looking at us, "We'll just...check out the Arby's down the road." They slowly walked out as me and my brothers attention was back to the mother and daughter's arguing.

The phone started ringing and Jo turned around to glare at it then at Ellen and she walked over to answer it. "Harvelle's. Yeah. Preacher."

Jo grabbed a file folder from the counter and turned back to face us, holding the folder to Dean, "Three weeks ago a young girls disappears from a Philadelphia apartment." Dean glanced down at the folder then back at her, not moving to take it. "Take it, it won't bite."

"No, but your Mom might," He pointed out.

She pinched her lips, still holding out the folder. I rolled my eyes and nudged his side, "Scared cat," I teased as I took the folder.

Jo shot me a smile before looking at each of us as I started flicking through the pages, "And this girl wasn't the first. Over the past eighty years six women have vanished. All from the same building, all young blondes. Only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the pattern. So we're either dealing with one very old serial killer, or─"

"Who put this together?" I interrupted looking up at her.

"Of course it would've been Ash," Dean said. "i did it myself," Jo informed. I turned my head a little looking at her impressed before moving back to the file.

"I gotta admit. We hit the road for a lot less," Sam said, hearing Ellen put the phone down. "Good," Ellen started walking up to us, "You like the case so much, take it."

"Mom!"

"Joanna Beth, this family has lost enough. And I won't lose you too," Ellen said, she glanced at us before back at her daughter. "I just won't."

💽

We got to Phil and snuck in the apartment building that Jo was talking about. I bent down to pick the lock and once I got it opened we walked inside, looking around.

"I feel bad for snaking Jo's case," I said letting a small sigh out, and Sam pulled out a EMF reader. Dean made a face, "Yeah maybe she put together a good file. But could you see her out here working one of these things? I don't think so."

"I think I'm doing good so far, and I'm what a couple of years younger?" I said, shrugging looking out the window towards the fire escape for Salem.

He glanced at me, "I said 'her' -- Okay? I-I," I turned to him, glaring at him raising my brows. "You're different. You've got more experienced, plus you're a Winchester. And our kid sister so...shut up." He said before pulling out his EMF reader.

I rolled my eyes before pulling my makeshift EMF. "Y'all getting anything?" I asked sighing after a moment. 

"Nope." Dean replied.

"No, not yet," Sam replied.

I grazed my reader over a light switch and it buzzed. I frowned, flipped over the light switch over to see some black gooey substance leaking from it's corner. "What are you?" I spoke a loud.

"What?" Sam and Dean asked at the same time and walked over to me. I touched the black goo and pulled it back, studying it as Sam reached the goo too and touched it before looking at it on his finger, "Holy crap." Dean touched the goo as well as he frowned and looked at it, "That's ectoplasm," He stated.

"Dudes, I might know what we're dealing with," I said looking at my older brothers, "It's the burnt Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man." Sam rolled his eyes and Dean shook his head.

"Carm, I've only seen this stuff, like, twice, I mean, to make this stuff you have to be one majorly pissed off spirit," Sam retorted.

Dean bit his lips and then gave a small nod, "Alright, let's find this badass before he snags any more girls." 

Sam and I nodded in agreement before walking out of the apartment and walked down the hallway. Suddenly hearing some voices and quickly pulled ourselves into a corner.

"It's so convenient," A woman said.

"Yeah, it's a great building, fixed it up real nice. All the apartments come furnished, too," A man informed. "It is so spacious," She replied.

I frowned before looking up at my brothers and we exchanged the same frown. That woman's voice sounded so familiar. 

"You know, my friend told me I absolutely have to come check it out, and I have to admit, she was right. You did a really good job with this place."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean asked as we stepped out in front of Jo and a larger man.

"There you are, honey," Jo said as she grabbed Dean around his waist, tugging him to her side with a smile that said 'go with it'. "This is my boyfriend Dean, his buddy Sam and my sister Carmen."

"Good to meetcha. Quite a gal you've got here," The landlord said to Dean, shaking his hand. "Oh yeah, she's a pistol," Dean comment, smacking her ass.

"So, did you already check out that apartment?" Jo asked and we all froze. "The one for rent."

"Yeah. Yesm Loved it. Heh. Great flow." Dean said after letting out a chuckle, "How'd you get in?" The landlord asked.

"It was open already," I spoke up.

"Now, Ed, um, when did the last tenant move out?" Jo asked. "Oh, about a month ago," The landlord, Ed replied. "Cut and run, too. Stick me for the rent."

"Well. Her loss, our gain! Cause if Dean-o loves it, it's good enough for me," Jo said. "Oh, sweetie," Dean said faking a smile, smacking her ass again. Jo pulled out a wad of cash, "We'll take it."

Ed's eyes grew wide and he took it. "Oh, okay," He agreed and gave her a seat of keys.

💽

Dean came back to the apartment with our bags and set them on the table. I was sitting criss crossed on the countertop next to the opened window that leads to the fire escape. "Salem!" I called before turning back to Sam who was sitting down at a table cleaning his gun. 

Dean sat on the edge of the table, taking out his gun. "I'll flip you for the sofa," Jo said, standing in front of my older brother. He looked at her, "Does your mother even know you're here?"

"Told her I was going to Vegas," She replied.

"You think she's gonna buy that?" He asked. "I'm not an idiot. I got Ash to lay a credit card trail all the way to the casinos," She informed.

Dean shook his head, "You know, you shouldn't lie to your mom. Shouldn't be here either," He comment.

Jo glanced between Sam and I before back at him, "Well, I am. So untwist your boxers and deal with it," She said.

"Salem, come on!" I shouted.

"Where'd you get all that money from, anyways?" Sam asked. "Working at the Roadhouse," She replied. "Hunters don't trio that well," Dean comment.

"Well, they aren't that good at poker either," Jo said, smirking. I smirked, "Neither are them," I muttered pulling out my ringing phone. "Yeah," I answered.

"Is she with you?" Ellen asked and I straightened up hanging my legs down. "Hi Ellen," I said staring at Jo and getting all their attention.

"She left a note she's in Vegas. I don't believe it for a second," Ellen explained as I hopped off the counter starting to pace. "Hang on for one sec-Salem I swear to god!" I called pulling the phone away. I turned around to her, keeping the phone away from my ear. "I'm telling her."

"Don't," She whispered.

"What happens if she finds out?" I whispered back. "Carmen, don't you dare," She whispered back. 

"Carmen?" Ellen asked.

"Salem tried jumping out the window, something about wanting to fly? But, I haven't seen her," I lied as I pulled the phone closer.

"You're sure about that?" Ellen asked.

"A hundred percent sure," 

"Well, please. If she shows up, you and your brothers will drag her butt right back here, won't you?" She asked. "Absolutely," I replied glaring at Jo. "Okay. Thanks, hon," Ellen said and I waited for her to hang up before closing the phone.

Jo grinned cheerfully but I grinned. "You so owe me," I said before walking back to the window. "I owe you my life," She said and I shook my head before sticking it out the open window.

"I swear to god Salem you will go to bed hungry if you don't get your ass in here now!" I screamed before slamming the window shut. I turned back around, "I'm already feeling better," I remarked noticing their shocked expressions.

💽

After a few hours, Sam, Jo and I were sitting at the table with the blueprints of the building. Dean was pacing behind Jo, who was flipping a small knife as she spoke, "This placed was built in 1924. It was originally a warehouse, converted into apartments a few months ago."

"Yeah? What was here before 1924," Dean asked.

"A big old empty field of nothing," I informed, shrugging. "So, most likely scenario, someone died bloody in the building, and now he's back and raising hell," Sam pointed out, reading through some reports.

"I already checked," Jo informed. "In the past eighty-two years, zero violent deaths. Unless you count a janitor who slipped on a wet floor." She glanced at Dean over her shoulder, "Would you sit down, please?"

I smirked lightly with Dean as he sat down beside me, "So have you checked police reports, county death records…"

"Obituaries, mortuary reports and seven other sources. I know what I'm doing," Jo shot back. 

"I think the jury's still out on that one," Dean said before she started twirl the knife again. "Could you put the knife down?" She looked at him and slowly placed it on the table as Sam spoke, "Okay! So, uh, it's something else, then. Maybe some kind of cursed object that brought a spirit with it."

"Well, we've got to scan the whole building. Everywhere we can get to right?" Jo asked. 

"Right. So. You and me, we'll take the top two floors," Dean told her before getting up. Jo got up as well and stood in front of my older brother, "We'd move faster if we split up." 

"Oh, this isn't negotiable," Dean said, giving her a look. She gave him back and crossed her arms, "If in pairs, I'll take Carmen then."

"I said, this isn't negotiable," He repeated.

"Um, while you two can continue that, Sammy and I will go scan the two lower floors," I said as Sam nodded in agreement as we got up.

"Fine," Dean and Jo said at the same time.

Sam and I glanced at each other before he cleared his throat as he looked back at the blond girl and our older brother, "Okay, so...we'll just go."

Sam grabbed our readers and guns, and I grabbed my jacket before walking out of the apartment as Dean let out a sigh.

"They're that whole couple thing a little too far," I muttered as I closed the door. "You're telling me?" Sam muttered back and we walked towards the stairs.

💽

We started scanning the hallway, holding them towards the walls and doors, or whatever we passed by. "You think they are okay up there?" I asked suddenly.

He let out a small chuckle, knowing who I was talking about. "Hope so, unless they already killed each other." I let out a laugh, "Hope not, cause Dean has the keys to the Impala." Me and Sam looked at each other and started to laugh only to go back to the EMF readers. 

As we soon calmed down, he let out a small sigh, "It's been so long since we laugh like that."

"Yeah," I said slowly, letting out a sigh, "I didn't realize how much I missed those moments."

"Yeah, me too," He agreed. "Hey remember that cat stuff animal you had?" I had to think for a moment before remembering and laughing at bit, "Yeah...when I was-7-6?"

He laughed, "Yeah, once Dean won it from that claw machine it never left your side." I shook my head smiling widely.

"I remember we were putting you to bed and you said 'You wouldn't sleep without Mr. Whiskers?'. We pratley tore the whole room apart looking for the darn thing." He said I looked at him confused not remembering it. "Where was it?" I asked with a frown. "Dad come back that night and we searched the Impala and got nothing. One of us had to move the nightstand for something, and there it was. You had dropped it between the bed and the nightstand." I smiled widely as he told the story.

He then let another sigh out, "Good times," He muttered. "Yeah," I agreed as my smile turned into a grin. "I wonder what happened to that stuffed animal?" I asked only to get a shrug.