Title: Mírë Chapter 1
The town of Sioux Falls was a quiet town, the kind of town that nothing much happened in or if it did it didn't take long before everyone knew.
Secrets and gossip had no place here.
Lady Toni Bevell-Davis was the Queen of Sioux Falls and that was a known fact. There wasn't anything that didn't happen that she didn't know first; so imagine her utter surprise when she was passing by the old Wesson place, shuddering as she did. Really, something needed to be done about that eyesore. 'I don't understand why they haven't torn this place down yet and build something new in its place. I will have to once again remind my husband to do something about this eyesore,' she vowed when she spotted movement from inside.
Now she never bought into the old legends that the Wesson Manor was haunted but she was suspicious. Only something or someone who was up to no good would be in such a rundown place. Hiking up the hem of her dress she picked up her pace, after all she was a lady and ladies didn't run, and there was only one place that was equipped to handle such hooligans.
She knew just the person to deal with this and she didn't care if she had to drag him here by his ear. Whoever was in this house would be dealt with quickly.
+*****+
Across town, Rowena MacLeod felt a smile grace her face as mischief spun in her eyes, "My, my this is going to make things in this town very interesting."
+*****+
Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Dean Winchester was utterly bored. There was only so many times that he could rescue the same cat from the same tree before he was ready to say screw it and let that English bitch, Lady Toni, get her own damn cat out of the tree. He was certain that she put the little terror up there before calling him, the woman was evil like that.
"Dean!"
"Speak of the devil and she shall appear," Dean muttered under his breath. He forced a smile on his face as he turned to face the pain in his ass that he longed to get rid of. "And what can I do for you, Toni?" Dean was happy that his voice didn't come out in a growl.
Lady Toni Bevell-Davis stalked into the sheriff's office like she owned it and given that she had more money than the whole town she could own this town if she wanted to. "I need to speak to you sheriff, right now!"
'Lord give me strength.' Dean thought as he struggled to keep the smile on his face. "You are speaking to me, just what is your issue today?"
Toni gave a sniffle for all of Dean's looks, and yes she fantasized about the man in her bed a few times. But, he was rather rude and uncouth. How he became sheriff she would never understand and why the people loved him was another thing she couldn’t grasp. "Someone is in the Wesson manor, I suggest you do your job and go check it out."
Dean forced back the sigh that wanted to escape his lips. "It could be just kids playing around and urging one another to explore the haunted mansion, it has happened before," Dean reminded her. He had lost count how many times he had been called out to chase some punk kid out there who wanted to cause mischief or someone who had been dared to go in there by their friends or people they wanted to impress by being brave and entering the supposedly haunted manor that once was home to their very own witch.
Toni glared at the man; she was used to having her demands obeyed in an instant and she hated that Dean dared not only to defy her but to question her. She was the wife of the mayor of this little town should be thankful to have someone as cultured as her around. "Still isn't that something you should be looking into, after all you are the sheriff aren't you?"
Dean did his best not to bristle at the way she sneered out sheriff. He knew that she thought very little of him given that he had a GED instead of a high school diploma. But he had earned this job and had proven himself whereas little miss rich kid came from money and privilege, a fact that she loved to hold over everyone, and never worked a day in her life. How Mick, who was a nice guy, ended up married to her no one understood. Of course, everyone in town knew that their marriage was in name only. Mick's relationship with his bodyguard Ketch was one of the worst kept secrets in town along with Toni's numerous affairs.
Dean knew that Toni had been interested in him and she had tried his very first week as sheriff to get him into her bed. Dean had turned her down flat and from that moment she went out of her way to degrade him. Benny, who was not only Dean’s deputy but also his best friend from the moment he arrived in this town, pointed out that Dean wounded her pride for not tripping over himself to fall into her bed and Dean had to agree; since then Toni had gone out of her way to treat him like he was less than nothing.
There were rumors that Toni had tried to get rid of him, but Mick had put his foot down and flat out refused to lose a great sheriff because he refused to sleep with her. Dean knew that it helped that he was good friends with Arthur Ketch who happily reminded Toni that refusing to sleep with her was not means for firing Dean.
Dean might dislike Toni but no one hated her more than Ketch and the feeling was very mutual. It was rather amusing to watch those two pass off insults as greetings.
Toni had that look in her eyes and she wasn't leaving until she got her way. Dean let out a sigh, "If I check out the place will you leave us alone to do our jobs in case an actual emergency happens?"
Toni gave a sharp nod. "But when I am proven right I will expect an apology from you," she declared turning on her heel and heading for the door expecting Dean to follow right behind her.
Benny, the traitor just waved at him as Dean glared at Toni's back and followed after her. 'I'm going to make him do all the paperwork for the next month.' Dean vowed viciously.
Smiling to himself, Benny climbed to his feet. He would be more than willingly to deal with whatever punishment Dean came up for him, no doubt it would be doing the paperwork for a month. Dean hated paperwork, and if it saved him from having to be in the same area as Toni, he would happily take the punishment he thought to himself and poured himself a cup of coffee.
+******+
The moment he arrived at Wesson Manor Dean could tell that something was different about the place. He just couldn't put his finger on it, but there was no way that he was giving Toni the satisfaction of seeing that she was right.
"Well, are you going to knock on the door or just stand there looking pretty instead of doing your job?" Toni asked looking at Dean like he was the dirt beneath her shoes.
Dean felt his jaw clench; oh how he hated that smug look on her face. "Well since I am here on a job I am going to have to ask that you stay behind the fence and by asking I mean ordering you. You are a civilian after all." Dean reminded her and the bitch face she threw him was well worth the lecture he knew she would give him about being the mayor's wife and being allowed to go where she wanted.
Pushing open the rusty old gate, Dean made his way up the path, stopping only once when he saw a shadow in one of the windows. 'Please don't let her be right she will be insufferable for months,' Dean prayed silently.
Reaching the door, Dean eyed the doorbell before shrugging his shoulders and decided it was worth a shot and pressed it. He was surprised when he heard the bell ring throughout the house. He was even more surprised when the sound of footsteps reached him. "Now this is very interesting," Dean murmured under his breath. If it was someone sneaking around they would be running away not heading toward the front door.
'Sunshine' That was the first thought that appeared in Dean's mind when the man who opened the door smiled brightly at him.
"Hi, I'm Sam Wesson can I help you?" Sam asked looking a little worn out and confused at the sight of the rather handsome man standing at his doorstep.
"Wesson as in the Wesson family; owner of this manor?" Dean asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes that Wesson. If I need to I have the papers to prove that I am the legal heir to this manor and thought it was the perfect place to raise my son," Sam informed him, his smile slipping away to a frown full of worry.
'That look doesn't belong on him.' Was the thought going through Dean's mind. He wanted to smile back on Sam's face. "No, there is no need to worry, you are not in trouble. This place has been abandoned for so long that people sneak into it and folks reported seeing some movement inside and as sheriff it is my job to look into those to make sure it's nothing serious," Dean explained.
"Oh, did that happen a lot?" Sam asked tilting his head in a way that Dean should not have found so hot.
"Teenagers and kids wanting to prove they are brave or impress someone usually while sneaking in. I usually just scare them off," Dean explained. "Oh, I'm Dean Winchester, sheriff of this town." Dean introduced himself when it hit him that he had never given his name to Sam.
A soft and gentle smile appeared on Sam's face. "It is really nice to meet you, Dean." A soft sound reached their ears. It was the sound of soft footsteps; that of a child and a moment later there standing behind Sam was a small boy who looked a lot like Sam.
Dean's thought was confirmed when Sam introduced the boy, "This is my son Jack." Sam picked up the small boy who stared at Dean with curiosity shining in his eyes as he studied the other man. "Jack, this is Dean, he is the sheriff of this town. That means he protects the people and keeps them safe," Sam explained to his son.
Jack's eyes widened. "Like Captain America?" Jack whispered in a low voice that was full of awe.
"That's right just like Captain America, Superman, and all your favorite heroes," Sam agreed and Dean felt his face heating up. He had never been compared to a superhero before.
"Well, I wouldn't say I am a superhero," Dean began.
Jack cut him off with a serious look that only a four-year-old could pull off, "Do you save people?"
Dean's lips twitched, he had a feeling where this was going but still managed to keep his face straight, "Yes I do."
"Do you stop bad people from hurting people?" Jack asked.
"I do my best to stop the bad people from hurting others," Dean promised.
"Then you are a superhero," Jack declared with a firm nod.
Well, there was no way that Dean could argue against that kind of logic. “Well if you say so then I happily accept the role as superhero,” Dean informed Jack with a smile.
"Good. Daddy put me down I want to go see Max he promised to tell me a story." Jack flashed his dad a set of puppy dog eyes that had Dean melting on the inside.
Dean wanted to ask who Max was but he didn't. It wasn't his place but he found himself feeling disappointed if Sam was taken.
"Remind your Uncle Max to keep all stories rated G or I will allow your Aunt Alicia to deal with him," Sam warned as he placed his son back down on the ground.
"I will daddy. But it is funny when Aunt Alicia whacks him on the head." Jack had a mischievous smile on his face before turning to face Dean. "Bye Dean, it was nice meeting you," Jack waved once at Dean before dashing off.
After watching Jack go and making sure he was heading in the right direction and not for the kitchen where he knew that Eileen had laid out fresh baked cookies, Sam turned back to Dean. "Sorry about that but while Max is my best friend and a wonderful uncle he does forget that Jack is still young and forgets to clean up his stories," Sam explained.
'Best friend he called this Max best friend, not boyfriend, husband or partner.' Dean was pleased that he managed to keep his cool and smiled at Sam. "He's a cute kid."
"Thank you, he is my whole world. That is why when the deed to this place came up I thought it was the perfect place to raise him, there is a kind of magic here. It is in the air. I also thought it was the perfect place for my friends and me to open up our own business," Sam explained his multicolored eyes reminding Dean of the wildflower that grew within the fields around here.
"And just what kind of store are you planning on opening, Mr Wesson?"
A very unwanted voice crashed over Dean like a bucket of water as he clenched his jaw and turned around to see Toni standing there, her hands on her hips as she smiled sweetly at Sam. But Dean knew her; she was like a shark sniffing around for blood and really that was an insult to sharks; they hadn’t done anything to be likened to Toni.
"I'm sorry but I don't think we have had the pleasure of meeting? I'm Sam Wesson and you are?”
Sam moved out of the doorway and was about to head down the steps when Dean put a hand on his arm and stopped him. Well actually it was the spark that stopped him in his tracks.
From the look in Dean's incredible green eyes, he felt it as well. Sam didn't know what to think. He had had never expected his magic to response to anyone, he had seen it between Alicia and Eileen and he would admit that he longed to find someone to complete him like they did each other.
"I am Toni Bevell-Davis, my husband is the mayor of this charming town and I have not heard of any new stores opening up," Toni promptly told Sam.
"Huh, that is funny. I met your husband and an Arthur Ketch. They were both very nice guys and seemed very happy with the new store me and my friends were bringing in," Sam informed her with a sunny smile on his face.
Dean had to bit his lower lip. He doubted that Sam realized that he had just shaded the self-appointed Queen of Sioux Falls.
Toni let out a sniff of disdain as if she found Sam beneath her. "Well we will just have to see about that now, won't we? And how do we know that you are really the rightful heir to the Wesson Manor and why just now have you decided to conveniently move here?" Toni didn't trust the man. She knew he was hiding something and she was going to find out what it was. No one kept any secrets from her. Secrets were power and the more she knew the more control she had.
"Like I told Sheriff Dean I can prove my claim. I decided that I needed a change in my life and some place to raise my son. I'm sorry but I really don't see how it is any of your business?" Sam was confused how such a nice guy like Mick could be married to someone with such an attitude.
"You will have to forgive me if I wish to keep my town safe and free of riffraff." And from the look she shot Sam it was clear what she thought of him. "I will be keeping my eyes on your Mr. Wesson." Toni vowed the moment she could she would have someone look into Sam Wesson and she knew just the man to do the job.
Dean and Sam watched as Toni turned on her heel and left. Once she was out of sight Dean turned his attention back to Sam who looked a little more amused than upset. "Sorry about her she can be trying and a handful; thinks because she is the wife of the mayor she has a right to know everything that happens in our small community and that her word is law."
A fizzle of worry filled Sam. He knew how dangerous some people could be when on the hunt for secrets and while he had done his best to ensure that no one would never find a trace of him, he couldn't help but worry that Toni might stir up something. Just enough that would allow him to be tracked.
"Hey, you have nothing to worry about. If she gets too out of hand please let me know. I do not allow anyone to harass others in my town not even if they are the wife of the mayor." Dean saw a flicker of worry in Sam's eyes and he wasn't about to let Toni run Sam off just because she didn't know him or wasn't consulted on him opening up a store.
Sam didn't know why but he trusted Dean and even though they had just met there was something about Dean. Dean reminded him of the knights of old and ones who, when made a vow kept it. He had a good and kind heart. "I trust you, Dean. And thank you I know that you will do your best to keep her in line and I don't envy you on that task."
Dean's heart pounded with joy as Sam told him that he trusted him. "Thanks, and it is not easy but I wouldn't give up this job for anything. That been said I better get back to work. I look forward to seeing you around town."
"Count on it." Sam knew that there was no way he would be able to stay away from Dean and that was not counting on the fact that Jack seemed taken with him.
+*****+
Benny looked up when Dean came walking back into the office. Dean didn't seem his usually growly self after being forced to do something by Toni, in fact his friend seemed happy. There was a sparkle in his eyes, the likes of which Benny hadn't seen since Cassie. well before she left Dean behind without a second thought as she took a job at a big city newspaper. Then it had become an unspoken rule that no one mentioned the name Cassie around Dean.
"So do I want to know why you are smiling? Should I be on the lookout for any unmarked graves?" Benny teased his friend.
"No Lady Toni lives to be a pain in my ass for another day. It turns out that someone has moved into the Wesson Manor, an actual Wesson. The heir to the manor and he’s is also opening a new store all which she knew nothing about," Dean explained as he removed his gun belt.
"Aah, and does this owner have a name?" Benny knew it, Dean was smitten with whoever had moved into the place.
A soft smile appeared on Dean's face. "Yeah his name is Sam Wesson. He moved in with his son Jack, the cutest kid you will ever meet and from the sounds of it his friends as well as fellow store owners."
Benny couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped him. He knew that there was no way that Toni would have liked that kind of news, someone opening something new without her knowledge. "I bet that went over well with her ladyship."
Dean grinned as he threw himself into his chair. "She did not. I just hope that she doesn't do anything foolish that will run Sam out of town," Dean muttered under his breath.
'My friend you are already so gone on this Sam you don't even know it yet.' Benny was happy for his friend he hadn't seen Dean like this since Cassie. After her he became a one night stand kind of man but that still didn't mean he wasn't going to check out this Sam for himself. "So I take it we will be keeping an eye on Mrs. Toni Bevell-Davis for the foreseeable future?"
"Damn right we will. I don't trust her. She doesn't like being kept out of the loop or surprised like this and the fact that Sam didn't trip over himself trying to gain her favor and met with Mick and Ketch not her really didn't endear him to her," Dean informed Benny.
Benny let out a low whistle, he knew Toni no doubt didn't take that well and she would be looking into Mr. Wesson. "Well for a small town we sure are never dull," Benny commented.
Dean could only agree with his friend. "I say we have more than earned ourselves a few beers tonight."
"Meg's?" Benny asked even though there was no doubt that was where they would go. Meg Master, after all ran the only bar in town and she never told them where she got it but she served some of the best damn beers anywhere.
"Meg's," Dean agreed.