Love Can Be Magic (Dean Winchester x OC)

32. Zero Contact

Season 2 Episode 2: Everybody Loves Clowns

3rd POV

ring... ring...

ring... ring...

ring... ring... "Hi, you've reached Arden Queen. I can't get to the phone right now but please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." beeepp...

From Floof (August 6th, 2006, at 11:55 PM): "Hey, Arden it's Sam again. Uh... we just burned Dad's body and...  and uh...* Sigh*... I just really need to talk to you. Dean's somewhere drinking himself into oblivion and I feel like I'm barely holding on. I'm sure you had your reasons for leaving, but um...  You know what never mind. Just call back when you get this."

From Floof (August 9th, 2006, at 1:32 PM): "Hey, Arden it's Sam. I thought I'd call and give you an update on what's going on. We're staying at Bobby's till we figure something out. I've been going through Dad's research trying to pick up where he left off, but it's sorta all over the place and Dean hasn't been much help. He's outback rebuilding the Impala and Bobby's currently on a hunt. Um... if you get the chance, call me back it'd be nice to hear from you."

From Floof (August 12th, 2006, at 10:02 AM): "Hey, Arden it's Sam. Um... I don't know why you aren't returning any of my calls and to be honest, I don't know why I keep calling... Maybe it's because I feel guilty for not keeping in touch after Jess. Uh... anyway I cracked into Dad's phone and I found a voicemail he saved for over four months from this woman, named Ellen. I didn't find anything mentioning her in his journal, but I wanted to know if maybe you have. I know you still come across hunters at your bar so I thought I'd ask..."

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SAM'S POV

I didn't know what I was expecting when we pulled up to the Roadhouse, but it certainly wasn't Ash. When Ellen and Jo said this guy could help, I envisioned someone like Dad, a hardened hunter, maybe ex-military. But Ash didn't fit that image at all. Like me, Dean wasn't impressed, especially if he was being compared to a genius. Dean's comment about Ash looking like a Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie was surprisingly spot on. A fitting description.

"Just give him a chance," Jo said while handing Dean and I some water.

Dean glanced at Jo, then back at Ash before shrugging. "All right...  Well, this stuff's about a year's worth of our dad's work," he said, sliding him Dad's research. "So uh, let's see what you make of it."

Ash started going through the materials, and after a few moments, he shook his head "Come on. This crap ain't real. Ain't nobody can track a demon like this."

Dean and I exchanged confused glances. "Our dad could," I challenged.

Ash shook his head before diving back in, attempting to connect the dots. "These are nonparametric statistical overviews, cross-spectrum correlations. I mean... Damn... They're signs," Ash said, impressed. "Omens, uh, if you can track them, you can track this demon. You know, like crop failures, electrical storms. You ever been struck by lightning? It ain't fun."

Can you track it or not?" I asked. 

"Yeah, with this I think so. But it's gonna take time. Ah, give me... 51 hours." Ash gathered Dad's research while Dean and I looked at each other, wondering if we should be impressed or skeptical.