For This You Were Born

15. Something Wicked

The Impala drove down a country road. The Fastback followed behind.

"Yeah, you probably missed something, that's what," Dean said.

"Dude, Ali and I ran LexisNexis, local police reports, newspapers, we couldn't find a single red flag. Are you sure you got the coordinates right?"

"Yeah, I double-checked. It's Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Dad wouldn't have sent us coordinates if it wasn't important, Sammy."

Sam began getting frustrated. "Well, I'm telling you she and I looked and all we could find was a big steamy pile of nothing. If Dad's sending us hunting for something I don't know what."

"Well maybe he's going to meet us there."

"Yeah. 'Cause he's been so easy to find up to this point."

"You're a real smart-ass, you know that? Don't worry, I'm sure there's something in Fitchburg worth killing."

"Yeah? What makes you so sure?"

"'Cause I'm the oldest, which means I'm always right."

"No it doesn't."

"It totally does."

Dean glanced at Sam, then looked back at the road with a little grin. He glanced at his daughter and smiled and she smiled back. The Impala and the Fastback cruised past the sign for Fitchburg, population 20,501.

They reached Fitchburg and Sam leaned against the Impala, staring straight ahead. Charlotte was playing on the playground. Aliana sat on the hood of the Fastback. Dean and Caroline crossed the road to their brother/cousin and friend, the former holding two coffees and a hot chocolate from Glascow's Diner. Caroline also had two coffees from the diner.

Dean handed Sam a coffee. "Well... the waitress thinks the local freemasons are up to something sneaky, but other than that, no one's heard about anything freaky going on."

"Dean, you got the time?" Sam asked.

Dean looked at his watch. "Ten after four. Why?"

Aliana pointed to the park. "What's wrong with this picture?"

Sam and Alana had been watching the playground. It was deserted, only two children climbing around; one was Charlotte.

"School's out, isn't it?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," Sam confirmed. "So where is everybody? This place should be crawling with kids right now."

A woman sat on a park bench reading a magazine. Dean approached.

"Sure is quiet out here," Dean commented.

"Yeah it's a shame," the woman agreed.

"Why's that?"

"You know, kids getting sick, it's a terrible thing."

"How many?"

"Just five or six, but serious, hospital serious. A lot of parents are getting pretty anxious. They think it's catching."

They watched the little girl and Charlotte playing by themselves.

Dean walked up to his daughter. "It's time to go."

She stomped her foot and pouted. No. I wanna play.

"We have a job, Charlotte. You can play later."

She stuck her tongue out at him and he shook his head, giving her a warning look.

---

The five entered Dane County Memorial Hospital and approached the reception desk.