Chapter 1: Mean Little Town

"Hey, Dean, come check this out. I think I got something." Sam calls.

"De-yon?" Dean says, his mouth full of toothpaste.

"Yes, Dean, a demon," Sam replies impatiently. "What else would I be looking for?"

Dean spits into the sink, "Porn?"

"Funny," Sam dead-pans. "But back to the demon. There's some definite demonic omens. And here's an article documenting a man's death. No damage to the outside of the body, but the internal organs were shredded and there was a distinct smell of sulfur."

"Sure it's just one demon?" Dean says, coming to stand by Sam's shoulder.

"Is one not good enough for you, Dean? Still hyped up on Apocalypse buzz?" Sam jokes.

"Ok, where is the SOB?"

"River City."

"Where is that exactly?"

"Iowa," Sam says, like it is common knowledge.

"And I should know this, why?"

"'Music Man'?" Dean's stare says he is waiting for more information. "Classic Broadway musical? Never-never mind," Sam trails off.

"Dude," Dean sighs. Sam glances up from packing away his computer. "You are so gay."

"Just-just pack up all your stuff."

"Dean! Hurry up!" Sam calls from the Impala. Dean closes the secret compartment and then the trunk.

Dean slides into the driver's seat, reaches over Sam into the glove compartment, and grabs a cassette.

"Oh, Dean, don't-" Sam protests.

"Sammy. House rules," Dean warns him. "Don't worry, I won't play any Asia." He smirks.

"Jerk," Sam mutters as Dean starts the engine and Styx blares out of the speakers. Dean lowers the dial a notch.

You seem pretty excited to get going," Dean observes as he pulls out of the parking lot. "Something I should know about in Rock City?"

"It's River City," Sam corrects him automatically. "And I want to hunt something normal for a change."

"Yea, because what we do is definitely within the range of normal," Dean raises his eyebrows.

"You know what I mean."

"You want to hunt something that doesn't throw any curve balls."

"Exactly."

"Don't hold your breath," Dean mutters.

"Well... This is... Boring," Dean announces upon driving into the little town.

"It's quaint."

"Shopping for a house here, Sam?"

"And give up cheap motels and near-death experiences? Not a chance."

"Damn straight," Dean replies. "Motel first?"

"Then to talk to the police," Sam agrees.

The first motel in the phone book is a hole in the wall called the Angel Rooms.

"Cute," Dean remarks when he sees the sign. Sam pulls his best bitchface.

"Officer Johnson?" Dean asks.

"Yes?" The officer replies, looking up.

"Agents Rose and Daltrey," he says as they flip their badges.

"How can I help you, gentlemen?"

"You led the investigation into Jason Peters' death, correct?" Sam asks.

"That's right."

"Did you notice anything strange about the body?"

"Of course I did," Johnson replies. Sam and Dean raise their eyebrows. "He didn't have any external injuries, did he? No gunshot wounds, wasn't strangled, toxicology screen didn't turn up any known poisons. Jason just dropped. Mind you, I wouldn't expect anyone to survive those kinds of internal injuries."

"Did you know, Mr. Peters personally?" Sam asks.

"Sure did. Saw him the day before in fact."

"Would you say he was acting strangely? Anything out of the ordinary?" Dean asks.

"No. Jason was a good kid," Officer Johnson sighs. "I hope you can help us figure out what did this."

"Could you show us the body?" Sam asks.

"Didn't you read the coroner's report?"

"Of course. This is merely procedural. You understand," Dean replies.

"Right, I understand," the officer swallows before grabbing a ring of keys and leading them down to the basement where the morgue is. His hands shake as he unlocks the door and opens it. He holds it open as Dean walks in. Sam stops by the officer and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"You can stay out here. I understand this is probably painful for you."

"Right. Cooler 479... Thank you, Agent."

"We won't be long," Sam assures him. Officer Johnson closes the door behind them.

"You know, sometimes your pansy-ass attitude is helpful," Dean smirks from where he is leaning against the coolers.

"479. Hurry up, he won't wait forever."

"The body or Officer Johnson?"

Sam shoots Dean another bitchface. Dean slides the body out of the freezer and pulls back the sheet.

"A clean body. What a nice change," Dean remarks.

"Not a scratch on him," Sam replies, mouth corners pulling down into an upside down smile.

Dean leans in close, "Smell that?"

Sam takes a sniff. "Sulfur," he confirms.

"Definitely demonic," Dean replies.

"So, demon possesses the guy, trashes the inside, then jumps ship."

"Why'd he abandon a perfectly good meatsuit?" Dean asks.

"Because he got a better one."

"Hey, Bobby," Sam says into the phone.

"Hello, Sam. What trouble are you boys into now?"

"None yet. But we've got what we're fairly certain is a demon. Thing is, we don't know where it is. Or what it wants."

"Tell me what you know so far," Bobby tells him. Sam tells him about the omens and Jason Peters' shredded innards.

"That sounds like one severely pissed off demon," Bobby remarks.

"Or they just felt like screwing around."

"Maybe they realized the body wouldn't get them what they wanted, so they switched to someone else."

"As good a guess as any," Sam replies. "I'll look into the victim and call you if I find anything."

"Take care of yourself, boy. And that reckless brother of yours."

"Sure thing, Bobby. Take care of yourself," Sam says, hanging up.

"Sam, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. Let's go get something to eat."

The Shady River Diner is clean and friendly, a nice change from the usual dives Sam and Dean frequent. They seat themselves by the window and pick up menus.

"Hi, my name is Juliet," the pretty, brunette waitress says. "What can I-"

She stops as soon as she hears Dean's snicker.

"Think my name's funny?" She turns to him with fire in her eyes. This has the opposite effect she hoped for when Dean replies,

"I think it's a girly name," with a smirk that says he's not at all worried, and her attitude is a definite turn-on.

Juliet pauses for a moment before saying, "Word to the wise? Don't piss off the people who handle your food. Something might happen to it."

"Juliet!" an attractive, older woman calls out before hurrying over. "I'll handle this," she says, shooing the girl away. "I'm sorry about my daughter, gentlemen," she turn to them. "I'm Agnes Monroe. Your drinks are comped seeing as you're agents of the law, but I'd like to offer you some free dessert later as an apology. What can I get you, boys?"

They order and Agnes goes to get their drinks and place their orders. She returns quickly with their drinks.

"I imagine you are here because of Jason Peters' death?" She asks as she sets the drinks down.

"That's right ma'am," Sam replies.

She sighs, "Jason was a good boy. It's a shame this happened to him."

"You knew him well?" Sam asks.

"Of course. Jason worked for my husband's office."

"And where is that?" Dean asks.

"I'm sorry?"

"Where is your husband's office?" Dean repeats.

"Oh, I forgot you wouldn't know. My husband is Thomas Monroe, the mayor."

"Do you know if there's any chance we could catch him in his office today and speak to him?" Sam asks.

"Probably not, but if you wait a moment, he's walking in the door now," Agnes smiles and gestures over their shoulders, before waving over the man who had walked in the door.

"Hello, dear," he says, kissing her cheek. Sam and Dean stand up.

"Thomas, these gentlemen are FBI agents investigating Jason's death," Sam and Dean flip their badges open. "They wanted to ask you some questions."

"If you don't mind," Sam adds.

"I don't mind, gentlemen," Mayor Monroe says, sinking wearily into a chair. "Anything to catch whoever did this."

"Then you suspect it was murder?" Sam asks.

"Can't imagine what else it could be. Hardly natural causes, was it?"

"No," Sam replies. "We haven't ruled out the possibility of suicide."

"No," Mayor Monroe responds forcibly. "Jason was not the type. He was very happy. And he had such a bright future."

"You knew him well then?" Dean asks.

"He worked in my office for four years. He would come over to our house and play with the kids."

"Did you see him in the days leading up to his death?" Dean asks.

"No, he was out of town last week and I was out of town the day of. I have an alibi, if that's what you're asking," the mayor informed them.

"No, we just wanted to ask about his behavior in the days preceding the incident. Was there someone who was with him?" Sam asks.

"Yes, actually. He went with my assistant, Nina. They were inspecting the conference space in Des Moines. I'll be holding a press conference there next week. I'm running for governor. This is her number," he pulls out a business card, "And here," he flips it over and writes an address on the back. "Her address. Here's my card as well. If I can be of anymore help, please let me know."

"Thank you, Mr. Mayor," Sam replies.

"Please, Thomas. I-" Mr. Monroe breaks off when he catches Dean's gaze towards Juliet. "Think my daughter's very beautiful, eh, son?"

"Oh- I-" Dean looks alarmed.

"Be careful, boy. Not because of me, but she's… a bit of a wild card. Have a nice day, you two," he nods and stands up, kisses his wife goodbye, and leaves.

"Let's go check out this Nina," Sam says. "Excuse me? Check please."

"Can't I interest you in some dessert? Maybe some pie?" Agnes asks.

Sam doesn't even have to glance at Dean to see how his face lights up.

"We'll take it to go," he sighs.

"I bet the demon thought Peters could get close to the mayor, then lost his temper when he couldn't," Sam says in the car on the way to Nina's. He glances over at Dean in the passenger's seat, stuffing his face with pie.

"My question is, what does he want with the mayor? He doesn't seem the type to run with that crowd?"

"And why didn't the demon go straight for the mayor?"

"Maybe he has some kind of supernatural protection?" Dean asks. "Hex bags? Enochian sigils?"

"Where would he have gotten ahold of those? Like you said, he doesn't seem the type."

"Maybe he's like us? You know… 'friends in high places'?"

"Maybe."

"Did Jason seem strange at all?" Sam asks Nina.

"Actually, yes."

"How?" Dean asks.

"He seemed… rushed. Like he was in a hurry to get back."

"Did he say why?" Sam raises his eyebrows.

"He said he had a date."

"Did he mention with whom?" Dean asks.

"Yes," Nina replies. "Juliet Monroe."

Her final remarks are lost on Sam and Dean as they race out the door.

"The family should have been our first priority," Dean growls as they run to the Impala. He cranks the ignition. "We knew the demon was after the mayor, the family makes sense. Oh shut up!" He shouts, slapping his palm onto the power button on the stereo, which had been blaring "Devil Inside" by INXS.

"Take a right up here," Sam offers, praying they'll get there in time.

You know why I'm doing this don't you, Juliet? Why I'm making you kill this adopted family? whispers the voice in my head.

Maybe I am the voice, since the demon has control of my body.

You can't erase family, Jules. it murmurs viciously. But you can murder them. And that's what your daddy did to my family. Your real daddy. So now, I'm going to kill your family, while you scream inside your own head. I'm going to use your own hands to do it.

The demon walks my body down the stairs, grabbing my father's gun from the safe in his room. I know where my family is, the living room. My father will be doing paperwork, and my mother and little brother will be reading. If I was with them, we'd be playing board games. But I'm not with them. I'm walking down the stairs to kill them with my father's gun, a prisoner in my own body.

My mother looks up when I enter the room.

"Juliet! I'm so glad you decided to join us."

"So am I," I hear my voice say as I watch my arm raise the gun to shoulder height. My body automatically shifts into firing stance, just like my grandfather taught me.

I don't need extra bullets. I know I won't miss.

I take two deep breaths and pull the trigger.

One down, two to go.

The Impala tears into the front yard of the old farm house. Sam and Dean burst from the car as they hear a man exclaim.

Another gunshot, and he is silent.

The door slams behind me, and I feel my body turn around. There are the two agents from the diner.

"Sam, Dean," I hear my voice say. "So glad you two could make it."

"Juliet? Is she alive, you black-eyed bitch?" the shorter one says.

"Yes, she's alive, Dean. I want her to live with what she's done. But I don't care so much about you."

The two men move as one, each grabbing one arm and pinning me against the wall, their knees holding my legs down to keep the demon from kicking them. The tall one starts chanting in some foreign language.

The demon starts laughing.

"What? Feeling homesick, you fucking demon?" the short one, Dean, asks.

"You think that Latin crap works on me?" my body asks.

"Oh, I'm counting on it."

Suddenly, the tall one's incantation changes. My body stiffens.

"No," the demon gasps. No.

"Oh yes," Dean tells her. "Burn in Hell, you possessive skank."

The demon shrieks inside my head, and I feel like something is gathering in the pit of my stomach. My head tilts back.

And everything goes dark.

The girl goes limp and Dean and Sam lower her to the ground.

"Is she okay?" Dean asks.

"She's alive. Are any of the others?"

"Kill shots. Every one," Dean tells him.

"That's going to be rough when she wakes up."

The girls stirs and moans.

"Welcome to our world," Dean mutters, with a significant glance at Sam.

Juliet opens her eyes, takes in Sam and Dean kneeling over her, and sits straight up, looking around. She takes in the bodies on the floor.

"I did that, didn't I?" she asks, appalled.

"No. You had no control over what you did. It was the demon," Sam tells her.

"You guys aren't FBI, are you?"

"Not really," Dean says.

"Do you have anywhere you can go?" Sam asks.

"My nearest family lives in Maine."

"Someone in town?" Sam suggests.

"Bad idea, Sammy."

"He's right," Juliet agrees. "I'm wanted for… for murder," she adds, choking up. She takes a deep breath. "Don't worry about it. I'll figure something out."

She stands up and looks around.

"I'll pack up some things and get out."

"We'll take this," Dean says, picking up the gun.

"Here," Sam scribbles something on a piece of paper. "These are our numbers… In case you need something. We're staying at the Angel Rooms, room 324, for the next couple of days."

"Thank you. For everything," Juliet says. The Winchesters nod before turning to go. "Wait! What are your names?"

"I'm Sam. This is my older brother, Dean."

"Do you guys do this for a living?"

"Something like that," Sam replies.

"Guys, we need to go," Dean reminds them. "Cops will be here any second."

"Right," Sam says. "Take care of yourself, Juliet."

"You too."

Juliet turns and races up the stairs to pack her belongings, while Sam and Dean run to the Impala.

"Let's go, Baby," Dean says, starting the car and pulling away from the house.

A/N: The title of this chapter is a song by The Howling Diablos. It played in the Season Two episode "The Magnificent Seven". For those sticklers to detail, River City is the alternate name of Mason City in Iowa. It's the setting for Meredith Willson's musical "The Music Man". I just made up The Angel Rooms and The Shady River Diner. I have absolutely no idea who the mayor is. Will be posting new chapters (hopefully) every five days.