Disturbia
Rihanna
2:09 ———————•——————
𝑨𝒊𝒏'𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆
𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒔
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 3 : 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 6
𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒌𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈

☆

2007

Jovi woke up to her father gently picking her up in his reassuring arms. They had a case to investigate and were, on their way to visit a family member of the victim for questioning. Still half asleep the child leaned against her fathers shoulder holding onto him as if he were her safety net. She drifted in and out of sleep the world around her morphing like scenes, from a dream. One moment they strolled along a dock bathed in the morning light and the next they found themselves inside the clutter of an elderly womans home.

Jovi barely noticed the discussion going on above her. She caught bits and pieces of the conversation — mentions of drowning in the shower and a ghost ship. She understood enough to piece together the tragedy: the lady's niece had met a watery demise after seeing a ghost ship.

After their serious talk, they walked back to the car. The bright sun was high in the sky, waking up the seven-year-old. She got out of Dean's arms, her eyes wide with wonder as she looked around. The marina was full of color and movement — the big yachts gently bobbing in the clear water, the sunlight shining off them. Below, schools of fish swam playfully, their scales sparkling like tiny rainbows. Everything was so vibrant and full of life that Jovi stood there, amazed by the beauty of it all.

Every so often, Jovi would dash ahead, peering eagerly over the barrier into the water at the swarms of colorful fish. Her face lit up with a joyful grin as she looked back at her father, pointing excitedly at the underwater spectacle. Dean kept a watchful eye on her, pausing his conversation with Sam to share in her delight, glancing at the shimmering fish that had captured her attention before they continued walking. Now, she held his hand as they approached the spot where the Impala had been parked — only to find it mysteriously gone.

Sam looked around in confusion while Dean stepped into the empty parking spot. "This is where we parked the car, right?" Dean asked, still searching the area for his beloved Impala. Jovi stepped beside Sam. "I thought so" Sam replied, his brows furrowing.

"Where's my car?" Dean asked again, his voice tinged with rising anxiety. Jovi glanced up at Sam. "He's gonna blow" she remarked with a deadpan expression. Sam shook his head slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "He won't" Sam muttered back before turning to Dean. "Did you feed the meter?"

"Yes, I fed the meter. Sam, where's my car? Somebody stole my car!" Dean yelled dramatically, stomping past them. "Told you" Jovi muttered to her uncle as Sam tried to calm Dean down. "Hey, hey, hey, calm down."

"I am calm! Somebody stole my car—" Dean doubled over, hands on his knees, taking deep breaths. Sam and Jovi rushed over. "Hey, hey, Dean. Take it easy" Sam said, lifting his brother back up while Jovi took her father's hand, trying to comfort him. "It's okay, Daddy."

"The '67 Impala? Was that yours?" A feminine British voice called out from a distance. Bela Talbot approached with a smug smirk, her dark brown coat flowing around her, brunette hair cascading in natural waves, and her makeup perfect as usual. "Bela" Sam spoke first, his eyes narrowing at the woman. "I'm sorry, I had that car towed."

"You what?!" Dean gasped, face turning paper white, eyes wide with complete shock.

"Well, it was in a tow-away zone," Bela replied, her tone annoyingly calm.

"No, it wasn't!" Dean yelled back, eyes flaring with anger as he glared at the woman. Bela leaned in, a smug smile playing on her lips. "It was when I was finished with it."

"What the hell are you even doing here?" Dean asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. Jovi glanced up between her father and Bela. She didn't know much about the woman, but she thought she was pretty and she liked her accent. "A little yachting" Bela said with a shrug and a fake smile.

Sam narrowed his eyes, suspicion hardening his features. "You're Alex. You're working with that old lady."

"Gert's a dear old friend"

"Yeah, right. What's your angle?" Dean snapped, still seething with anger.

"There's no angle" Bela replied smoothly. "There are a lot of lovely old women like Gert up and down the eastern seaboard. I sell them charms, perform séances so they can commune with their dead cats."

Jovi gasped. "I have a cat!"

Bela's eyes softened as they dropped to the little girl, a smile curling her lips. "I know, don't worry. He's safe" the woman assured her.

Jovi nodded, reassured, while Sam and Dean continued to glare at Bela, distrust written all over their faces. If anything happened to Salem, Jovi would be heartbroken, especially with Dean having less than a year left to live.

"That cat better be okay. But let me guess — it's all a con, none of it's real" Dean said, his eyes glaring daggers at Bela.

Bela met his gaze without flinching. "I'm not that heartless, Dean. But the comfort I provide them is very real."

She then began to walk away. "How do you sleep at night?" Sam asked her spitefully.

Bela turned with a smile. "On silk sheets, rolling naked in money. Really, Sam, I'd expect that attitude from him, but you?"

Sam scoffed, his eyes narrowing to slits. "You shot me."

"I barely grazed you" Bela replied dismissively. Sam looked away in annoyance while Dean shrugged. Jovi, meanwhile, just wanted to know where her cat was...

"Bit of a drama queen, yeah?" Bela mocked Sam, who continued to pout.

"You do know what's going on around here — this ghost ship thing, it is real," Dean told her, glancing down at his daughter momentarily. Jovi was now playing with the ring on his hand, her attention span wandering.

"Thanks for telling Gert the case wasn't solved, by the way" Bela added.

"It isn't" Dean retorted.

"She didn't know that. Now the old bag's stopped payment and she's demanding some real answers" Bela spoke in a low tone, glaring at Dean. She then sighed. "Look, just stay out of my way before you cause any more trouble. I'd get to that car if I were you, before they find the arsenal in the trunk."

Bela turned on her heel and walked away. "Ciao!"

"Can I shoot her?" Dean questioned his eyes not leaving the woman
"Not in public," Sam responded. Jovi looked up at Bela's retreating figure, a frown on her face. She pulled away from her dad and ran after her. "Jovi!" Dean yelled after his daughter, but she stopped in front of Bela. "What about Salem?" Jovi asked, her big, puppy-dog eyes sparkling with hope, adding a pout for good measure.

Bela wasn't a monster. She had saved the cat before having the car towed. Salem was currently in her car, snacking on some food she had left for him. Even though Bela didn't know Jovi Winchester well, she recognized the child's innate ability to be a weakness for those around her. There was something so pure and innocent about Jovi that made it hard for Bela to believe she came from Dean.

"I almost forgot. He's in my car. Let me go get him, okay?" Bela's tone was much softer than when she spoke to Dean and Sam. She couldn't bring herself to be rude to this child.

"Thank you" Jovi said, offering a small smile. Bela returned the smile before locking eyes with Dean, who looked slightly surprised by her gentle interaction with his daughter. Bela walked off to her car while Sam and Dean headed over to Jovi. Dean immediately took her hand, not wanting her to run off again.

A minute later, Salem came rushing toward the Winchesters. Jovi gasped in joy, "Salem!"

The brothers watched with smiles as Jovi broke away from Dean just as Salem bounded up to the small blonde. She scooped him into her arms, cuddling him tight as the cat let out contented meows.

☆

Sam and Dean had asked the brother of the next victim some questions outside his house, where they once again ran into Bela. Jovi waited in the car, laying down on the backseats, staying out of sight of the policemen patrolling the area. Salem lay beside her, his paws in the air as he snored softly. Jovi hadn't even known cats could snore until Salem came into her life. That was one thing Dean actually found amusing about the animal.

Now, Jovi stood beside her dad while he and Sam loaded up their shotguns, her eyes wide with curiosity as she watched their practiced movements.

"Will I get to shoot a gun?" she asked, looking up at Dean with eager eyes.

Dean shook his head, casting a brief glance at her. "Not if I can help it."

Jovi sighed deeply. She had grown up watching her dad, her uncle, and even her grandfather John shooting guns, so she had assumed that one day she would too. But Dean had no intention of letting her near one. He didn't want her in this life at all, let alone handling a gun at the tender age of seven. It didn't sit right with him; it felt like putting a piece of his innocence into the harsh, unforgiving world he fought every day.

Dean only wanted the best for her. He hoped that once he was gone, Sam would continue to take care of her, protecting her from the darkness that had shadowed their own childhood. He prayed Sam wouldn't let his death turn him into the kind of parent John had been, driven more by vengeance than love.

Jovi watched them intently, the weight of Dean's unspoken fears and hopes hovering in the air like a storm cloud. She didn't fully understand why she couldn't join them, but she trusted her dad. For now, she would be content with her place beside him, safe from the dangers lurking just beyond the horizon.

"I see you got your car back" Bela Talbot said, her voice smooth as she approached the Winchesters from behind. She sent a small wave to Jovi, who smiled and waved back.

Dean glanced over his shoulder, his expression darkening. "You really want to come near me when I've got a loaded gun in my hands?"

"Now, now, mind your blood pressure" Bela replied with a sly smile. "Why are you even still here? You have enough to I.D. the boat."

Sam and Dean put their guns back in the trunk, the metal clinking softly. "That guy back there saw the ship" Sam said, closing the trunk as the three of them turned to face Bela.

"Yeah? And?" Bela raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Sam sighed, exasperation evident in his voice. "And he's going to die, so we have to save him."

Bela's eyes lit up with mocking amusement. "How sweet."

"You think this is funny?" Dean's voice was a low growl, his eyes narrowing at her.

"He's cannon fodder" Bela replied, her tone dismissive. "He can't be saved in time, and you know it."

Dean glanced at Sam, whose jaw was clenched in frustration. They turned back to the Impala, heading for their doors. "Yeah, well, see, we have souls, so we're gonna try" Dean said, reaching to open Jovi's car door.

"Yeah, well, I'm actually gonna find the ship and put an end to this, but you have fun," Bela shot back.

Dean paused, his eyes darting between Bela and Sam before settling back on her. He strolled back towards her, leaving Jovi by the car door, watching the interaction with wide eyes. "Hey, Bela. How'd you get like this, huh? What, did Daddy not give you enough hugs or something?" Dean's words were laced with spite as he stopped in front of her.

"I don't know. Did your daddy give you enough? Do you give that little girl enough?" Bela responded, her eyes dangerous and sharp.

Dean played off her comment with a mocking smile, but her words clearly struck a nerve. "Don't you dare look down your nose at me. You're not better than I am."

"We help people," Dean insisted.

Bela scoffed, the sound cutting through the tension like a knife. "Come on, you do this out of vengeance and obsession. You're a stone's throw from being a serial killer, and I seriously feel bad for your daughter."

Dean glanced back at Sam, who looked just as annoyed and frustrated. "Whereas I, on the other hand, get paid to do a job and I do it. So, you tell me — which is healthier?"

"Bela, why don't you just leave? We've got work to do" Sam interjected, his patience wearing thin.

"Yeah, you're 0 for 2. Bang-up job so far" she commented before walking away, her heels clicking on the pavement.

The two brothers stood there, glaring after her, the weight of her words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. Jovi, sensing the tension, stayed close to her father, her small hand finding his in silent support.

☆

Jovi had slept through their failure to save the next victim, it was something she wasn't that sad about missing. They'd found an abandoned house nearby to squat in while they solved the case, The flickering light bulbs cast a dim glow, revealing the worn but not forgotten furniture. The table in the living room was adorned with a collection of weathered books, each page a silent witness to Sam's relentless pursuit of truth.

Dean sat in a chair behind Sam who was at the table looking through his phone. Jovi's laughter, added a touch of warmth to the cold surroundings, her carefree spirit a stark contrast to the seriousness of the investigation. Salem, danced around the room, his antics a playful distraction from the weight of the case. His unexpected leap onto Dean's groin, a clumsy yet comical gesture, brought a moment of chaos and unexpected humor to the tense atmosphere as Dean doubled over in pain groaning out a "damn cat"

As Jovi swooped in to rescue Salem from Dean's frustrated and hateful gaze, her gentle touch and affectionate gesture added a touch of tenderness to the scene. "Got you!" Jovi giggled pressing a delicate kiss to her companions head. The soft meow of the cat, a soothing melody in the midst of chaos, served as a reminder of the simple joys in the middle of the complexities of their mission.

The sudden knock on the door shattered the temporary peace, casting a momentary hush over the room. Even Salem, the usually carefree observer, turned his attention towards the unexpected interruption, his feline curiosity peaked. Dean's pained expression met Sam's concerned gaze, creating a silent exchange of unspoken understanding between the brothers.

"Stay here" Dean told Jovi before standing up grabbing his gun before walking over to the door, he opened the small peephole only to find Bela stood there. Dean shot a glance at Sam, a silent understanding passing between them, before swinging the door open to welcome the woman inside. "Dear god...are you actually squatting? Charming" Bela remarked, her British accent oozing with disdain as she surveyed the surroundings. Sam released a weary sigh, sinking back into his seat, while the woman exchanged a subtle wave with the child, who eagerly returned the gesture.

"So, how did things go last night with Peter?" Bela inquired, her gaze fixed on Sam, who averted his eyes, choosing silence as his response. She turned her attention to Dean, who met her gaze with a steely glare. "That well, huh?" she remarked, picking up on the tension in the air.

Dean's irritation was palpable as he warned her, "If you say 'I told you so', I swear to god I'll start swinging." Bela, unfazed, suggested, "Look, I think the three of us should have a heart to heart" her smile contrasting Dean's scowl. Dean retorted sharply, "That's assuming you have a heart" as he moved past her to join Sam at the table. Jovi, puzzled, tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows, seeking answers from her pet.

"Dean, please. I'm sorry about what I said before, okay? I come bearing gifts" Bela offered, trying to make amends. Jovi, intrigued, approached her father and Sam, standing between them. Sam, curious, inquired, "Such as?" Bela revealed the leather folder in her arms, announcing, "I've I.D'd the ship" placing the folder on the table and displaying some pictures.

Salem climbed out of Jovi's arms and up onto the table, leaving Jovi standing there. To entertain herself, she playfully put her hands on her dad's shoulders, jumping up and down. Dean, accustomed to her energy, simply went along with it, recognizing that there wasn't much to do in that place, so he let her amuse herself. At least this way she burnt out her energy which meant she'd sleep quicker.

Bela handed him a picture, saying, "It's the Espírito Santo, a merchant sailing vessel. Quite a colorful history" as she reached out to pet the feline. Dean passed the picture to Sam as Bela continued, "In 1859, a sailor was accused of treason. He was tried aboard ship in a kangaroo court and hanged; he was 37."

"Which would explain the 37-year cycle" Sam added, glancing up at Bela, who smiled. "Aren't you a sharp tack? There's a photo of him somewhere" she said, sifting through the pictures until she found one. "Here," she handed it to Dean, with Jovi leaning over his shoulder to look. "His coat looks like a skirt" Jovi commented with a grin, her arms wrapping around her dad's neck. "Isn't that the customer we saw last night?" Dean asked Sam as he passed the picture over. Bela looked at Dean in surprise, "You saw him?"

"Yeah, that's him. Except he was missing a hand" Dean told her, Jovi grimaced. Safe to say she was glad to have been asleep for that one "his right hand?" Bela questioned, Sam looked up at her "How did you know?"

"The sailors body was cremated but not before they cut off his hand to make a hand of glory"

"Ew" Jovi mumbled squinting her eyes as she looked up at the woman who smirked in amusement "a hand of glory? I think I got one of those at the end of my Thai massage last week" Dean said immaturely, laughing at his own joke, but he only received a glare from Bela and a confused look from Jovi. "What's that mean?" his innocent daughter asked, tilting her head and looking up at him. "Nice one, Dean" Bela commented, shaking her head in disapproval with an eye roll, making Dean's face drop. "Don't worry about it" he told her, patting her arm gently, sometimes forgetting to think before he speaks. "Dean, the right hand of a hanged man is a serious occult object. It's very powerful" Sam informed his brother, placing the picture down as Salem walked over to Sam, climbing into his lap. Dean narrowed his eyes at the cat. He seriously wanted to know what beef the animal had with him.

"so they say"

"And officially counts as remains" Dean said looking over at Sam, jaw clenched acting as though his brother's relationship with the animal didn't bother him "none of this explains why the ghost is choosing these victims" Sam responded now petting the animal whilst looking up at Bela "I'll tell you why, who cares? Find the hand, burn it, and stop the bloody thing"

"I don't get it. Why are you telling us all this?"

"Because I know exactly where the hand is" Bela told them

"Where?"

"At the Sea Pines Museum. It's a macabre bit of maritime history, but I need