strangevisitor7 | Ghost Town - Magnificent 7/Supernatural

Title: Ghost Town (4/8)
Author:

pen37
Rated: PG-13
Fandom: Supernatural & The Magnificent 7 (TV series)
Characters: Sam and Dean Winchester; The Seven: Chris Larabee, Buck Wilmington, Vin Tanner, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Josiah Sanchez, JD Dunne; OMC – Mathew Tanner
Disclaimer: The characters you know and love all belong to their respective creators. Mathew Tanner is mine

Summary: Sam and Dean Winchester investigate the town of Four Corners and find that the ghosts of six men have been protecting/haunting the town for over a century.

Chapter Summary: In which our brothers attempt to salt and burn a few graves. Unfortunately there are some pretty stubborn ghosts haunting Four Corners.

Chapter List:
Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8

A/N2: For those of you unfamiliar with the characters of the Magnificent Seven, brief profiles can be found here which should tell you all you need to know or just ask

lyl_devil who will use her mad powers of persuasion to turn you into a Mag7 fan as she did me.

JD, Josiah, Vin, Chris, Buck, Nathan & Ezra

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Chapter 4

After stopping at the hotel to change out of their suits and into comfortable shirts and jeans, the Winchesters left Cornerstone and headed fifteen miles due south to where the town of Four Corners stood.

Dean pulled the Impala up the dirt road leading to the small graveyard and parked. When they’d driven by, Sam had pointed out the yellow police tape that still cordoned off the north side of Main Street where the explosion had occurred. Luckily, Cornerstone didn’t have the manpower to keep a guard on the site, so they had the place to themselves.

“A marker for the seven?” Dean said indicating the three foot high stone monument which dominated the small cemetery illuminated in the car’s headlights.

“Town really must have respected those guys,” Sam replied. “That kind of adoration could explain why they haven’t moved on.”

“Death bed promises can contain powerful mojo, too. I’m guessing we may have to burn Tanner’s body too, just to be sure.”

Sam nodded and grabbed his flashlight before exiting the Impala. Dean turned off the engine, plunging the graveyard into darkness again.

Supplies and flashlights in hand the brothers trudged into the cemetery.

“This looks relatively new.” Sam said as he swept his flashlight across the headstone. The names of the seven were inscribed on both sides. “It’s a tribute to all seven and we know Vin Tanner didn’t die with the rest.”

Dean knelt down beside the monument. “There are brass plates set in the ground here,” he said as he brushed aside some debris from the one on the end to reveal the name Ezra Standish.

Sam turned and played his flashlight across the ground illuminating the line of brass plates. “They’re all here. Where do you want to start?”

Dean pointed to Standish’s marker. “I’ll start here. You start at the other end. This is going to take some time.” He stood, setting his flashlight on the stone and began to dig.

Sam nodded and placed his flashlight to shed light on the grave of Buck Wilmington.

The brothers worked without talking; the sound of shovel hitting dirt the only noise breaking the silence in the graveyard.

**********************
Mathew Tanner had watched the two ‘agents’ leave in a car no government official should be driving. The old Chevy hadn’t been hard to track down in a town the size of Cornerstone. Now, as he stood watching them from the shadows, it was clear the two were impostors just as he’d suspected. Mathew felt his anger rise as he watched them desecrate the graves of the town’s heroes.

“Don’t do anything foolish, Matt.” The quiet voice pierced the darkness and made him jump.

He turned to see the man in black standing next to him. “Chris. I have to stop them.”

The ghost shook his head. “We’ll handle it. 'Sides it’s not the first time some crazy idiots have tried to dig us up.”

When Mathew had been a teenager his father had brought him out to Four Corners to share with him the real story of the ghosts that haunted the town. The Tanners, he’d said, could always see them and it was their job to help the six keep the town safe as a testament to their legacy.

“That explosion, Chris. Someone could have gotten hurt,” Mathew said. The destruction of the bulldozer was the first time he’d been privy to any violence on the part of the six. Usually it was the spooking of wayward teenagers who drove out to Four Corners to do what ever it was teenagers did in deserted towns. That would start the rumors up again about the town being haunted and keep others away.

“We do what we have to do,” Chris replied.

Mathew shivered at the coldness in the ghost’s voice. As much as he wanted to see the town preserved, Mathew knew that he couldn’t allow the six to hurt anyone. If it came to that, then he supposed he’d have to figure out a way to stop them himself.

“Well, I have to admit that you did get the demolition delayed. Now let me handle it legally. No more explosions,” the lawyer begged.

“We won’t ever hurt anybody,” Chris assured him.

Mathew inclined his head toward the two still working on the graves. “What about them?”

“I think we got this covered.” Chris smiled as he looked out toward the graveyard.

Following his gaze, Mathew noticed that the grave robbers were no longer alone. He smiled as he imagined what they must be thinking at the appearance of the spirits. “I can see that,” he chuckled and wondered how he’d let himself become such good friends with ghosts.

*************************

“Can’t a man rest in peace?” The sound of a heavy southern drawl cut through the silence.

Dean looked up from the grave he was digging. “What the hell?” He heaved himself out of the hole, grabbed his salt-filled shot gun and aimed it at the ghost.

The ghost threw up his hands in surrender. “There is no need for violence,” Ezra said. “I am simply trying to save you from continuing in the futile effort to desecrate my grave site. I assure you that there is nothing of value to be found.”

“Sam,” Dean called over his shoulder. “Looks like we found our ghosts.” He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t blasted the apparition but there was no indication that he was in any imminent danger. Maybe they could convince the spirit to move on and save themselves a bunch of digging.

Sam appeared at his side; gun aimed at the ghost. “It’s Ezra Standish, Dean. I recognize him from the picture.”

The man favored them with a lopsided grin. “So nice to be recognized. Now if you gentleman don’t mind, I would prefer it if you would depart from these premises immediately.”

“Aw hell! They’ve been digging at mine too.”

The brothers swung around to see another spirit standing beside the grave that Sam had been working on. “Buck Wilmington.” Sam whispered as he eyed the big man in the floppy cowboy hat.

“You guys do know that you’re ghosts?” Dean asked. He tracked their new arrival with his shot gun as it moved to stand next to Ezra.

The big man gave a hearty laugh. “Course we do, boy.”

“So why haven’t you moved on?” Sam asked.

“Got work to do,” Buck replied as if the answer should have been obvious.

“Guess we do this the hard way then. Sam keep digging,” Dean ordered. “I’ll cover you.”

Nodding Sam jumped back into the hole that Dean had started and proceeded to finish the excavation.

“I am intrigued, Buck. They know we are ghosts and yet they do not seem the least bit perturbed by our presence.”

“Think we may be losing our touch?” Buck asked.

Ezra shrugged. “Shall we call for reinforcements?”

“Hi, Buck, Ezra” A young man in a suit and bowler hat appeared acknowledging the other ghosts. “Chris said you might need some back up.”

Ezra rolled his eyes. “JD, I was hoping that Mr. Larabee would join us. No offense but he is significantly more intimidating than you.”

The young man smiled. “S’okay Ezra. He’s busy.”

“Busy?” Dean asked.

“Oh hey there. I’m JD Dunne and you are?” He asked holding out his hand.

Dean stared at the proffered appendage but didn’t move.

“Now JD, you know he ain’t gonna shake your hand,” Buck admonished playfully.

“Oh right.” The kid pulled his hand back and looked at it before shoving it into his pocket. “I forget sometimes,” he said sheepishly.

Ezra stifled a laugh but then frowned as he watched the intruders continue to empty his grave. “I must repeat JD’s inquiry. Who are you gentlemen and what do you hope to accomplish in our little graveyard this evening?”

Dean stared at the three and yet found himself answering, “Dean Winchester and that’s my brother Sam.”

“Just like the rifle?” JD offered brightly.

Dean rolled his eyes. “Yeah, just like the rifle.” He’d come across many types of ghosts over the years but one that reminded him of an over eager puppy – well that was just wrong. “Sam, you almost done there. I’m feeling the need to shoot something.” His gaze settled on JD.

“Mr. Winchester, I assure you, JD meant no offense,” Ezra said “As I mentioned before we simply wanted to save you the trouble of all that physical exertion.”

“Well thanks there, fancy pants, but I think we know what we’re doing. You’re ghosts and you need to move on. We’re here to make sure you do just that and don’t hurt anyone else.”

Buck’s eyes grew dark. “No hold on a minute. We ain’t never hurt no one.”

“Well none that didn’t deserve it,” JD reminded him.

“Sure.” Buck shrugged. “There was some that did but that was a long time ago before this,” he said indicating their undead state.

“The clang of metal hitting wood stopped all conversation. Sam laid his shovel along side the grave and grabbed his flashlight. “Uh, Dean this casket is relatively new; certainly not the original.”

Dean grabbed his own flashlight and shone it into the hole revealing a modern coffin. “What the hell? Maybe it’s not him.”

“I assure you sir, that it is me,” Ezra said.

“Or what’s left of ya,” Buck snickered.

JD peered into the open grave from the opposite side. “Gee Ezra, that’s a nice one. Do you think we all got such nice ones?”

Buck chuckled. “Nah, kid you know Ezra, nothing but the best.”

“Will you dig mine up next?” JD asked the brothers. “I want to see what color it is.”

Dean glared at the annoying youth without responding. “Open it up and let’s get this over with,” he said to Sam.

Sam nodded and pried open the lid. Looking at the contents he sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

“That don’t look right,” JD observed. “Is it s’posed to look like that? What happened to the body?”

“You,” Dean said pointing at Buck. “Can you shut him up?” He’d had enough of the kid’s irritating questions.

“I’ve been trying to do that for over a century. Can’t shut down JD’s mouth. It just keeps going-,”

“That’s not true. I just got questions Buck. Don’t think I need to be told to shut up so much,” JD interrupted.

“Kid, you ain’t stopped talking since we died,” Buck replied. “Think a man could get some peace and quiet when he’s dead, but no.”

“I ain’t a kid no more Buck,” JD groused. “Wish you’d stop calling me that.”

“I said, shut the hell up,” Dean shouted as he fired his weapon and JD dissipated in a waver of smoke.

“Now that was downright unfriendly,” Buck growled.

Ezra put a hand on the big man’s chest to stop him from charging Dean. “Buck, you must admit that JD was becoming a bit of a nuisance to our guests and if I am correct it was only rock salt.” He looked to Dean for confirmation. “Therefore, young Mr. Dunne will return shortly if he so desires. In the meantime, I suspect that these fine gentlemen have a few questions for us.”

Dean ignored the ghosts and addressed his brother. “If someone already burned their remains and then reburied them, how are they still walking around?”

Before Sam could answer Dean went flying backwards away from the grave. Sam jumped out to see the ghost of a large African-American man looming over his brother. Sam picked up his rifle and was about to shoot when Ezra intervened. “Please Mr. Winchester let me speak to my companion.”

Sam nodded and lowered his weapon.

“What the hell did you do to JD?” the ghost shouted down at the elder Winchester.

“Nathan. Calm yourself. We are attempting to have a friendly conversation with the Winchesters. There is no need for violence.” Ezra assured him as he pulled the healer away from Dean. “JD was just being JD,” he added as if that explained everything.

“He had no call to shoot the boy,” Nathan insisted “And why are you letting them mess with the grave site, anyway?”

“Seems these fellers aren’t really bothered by the fact that we’re dead,” Buck explained. “Little hard to scare ‘em off if they won’t spook.”

“Sam, I am really starting to hate this hunt,” Dean growled as he stood, dusted himself off and retrieved his shotgun. “Why don’t I just shoot them all so we don’t have to listen to any more of this crap?”

Nathan crossed his arms and glared at Dean. “You shoot me and I promise we’re gonna have a problem.”

“Dean, let me handle this,” Sam said as he stepped in to stop his brother from dissipating the only sources of information left to them.

“Finally, a man of reason,” Ezra said. He smoothed the lines of his red jacket as if removing ghostly dust. “I am ready to answer any and all of your questions, Mr. Winchester.”

“Your bodies. They were burned before?” Sam asked

Ezra nodded. “Yes. They was another man such as yourself many years ago who believed he could rid the town of its protections by burning our bodies. We did not allow let JD come around for that so he wouldn’t know.”

“Too bad you didn’t keep him away now,” Dean said. The kid had really gotten under his skin for some reason. To have died so young and yet he seemed so alive for – well – a ghost.

“Called hisself a hunter. We did get nice new burials after that and the local historical society put up this here marker.” Buck patted the monument that he had come to lean against. “Real pretty, don’t ya think?”

“That explains the new caskets,” Sam said. “Obviously, the hunter didn’t stick around to see if he’d got it right.”

“Damn sloppy of him.” Buck grinned.

“Obviously,” Dean repeated as he glared at the big man. “So, how are we going to get rid of them? We can’t burn them, they won’t go willingly and god knows they won’t shut up.”

Ezra chuckled. “I see that the truth has begun to penetrate. We will not be displaced. If you had heeded my words in the beginning, you could have saved yourself a significant amount of effort.”

“You done yakking Ezra? Because I believe we’ve been more than polite.” Chris Larabee had appeared along with Josiah. JD made his return as well glaring at Dean and fingering the gun in his holster.

“I was simply attempting to explain -.”

“Save it,” Chris said holding up a hand to stop the gambler in mid sentence. “You boys are finished here.” He smiled at the Winchesters but the grin never reached his eyes.

“We just wanted to help you move on,” Sam said wary of the newcomer. “It really would be in your best interest.”

“You’ll find that we won’t be moved and we will protect this town,” Chris said coolly.

“The good lord has seen fit to bind us to this place and here we will stay,” Josiah explained.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, town’s dead. There’s nothing to protect.” Dean gestured toward the deserted main street.

“Don’t matter,” the former preacher insisted. “We will stay until the powers that placed us here are finished with us.”

“Dean, we should go,” Sam said. There was nothing more they could accomplish at the grave site tonight and he wanted to look into more of the history surrounding the six.

“So what, we’re just supposed to leave them here? They may be friendly now but we both know that ghosts don't stay that way. They could hurt someone.”

“Hey, you’re the one who shot me. How’d you like it if I shot you?” JD said pulling the gun from his hip.

“You’re fine. Stop your whining,” Dean said dismissively. “You can’t shoot me with that anyway.”

Frustrated by the truth, JD returned the gun to its holster. “I don’t like ‘em. Why don’t they just leave?”

Buck came up behind the boy and clapped him on the shoulder. “They will. They just have to figure it out for themselves. Seem a little thick to me.” He grinned as he pointed to his head.

“I don’t know what else we can do here,” Sam said. “We should go.”

“You can’t be serious?” Dean stared at his brother. A silent conversation took place between the brothers as the six ghosts watched.

Finally, Dean nodded his understanding. “Guess you beat us guys,” Dean said cheerfully as he began gathering up his gear. “You win, we’ll be moving on and leaving you all to your protecting.”

Ezra snorted. “Sir, if we were at the poker table, I would have cleaned you out with bluffing like that.”

“No way I lose to some fancy pants like you, and where’d you get that fake accent from anyway?” Dean said responding to the challenge.

“Dean what are you doing?” Sam asked. “You gonna play poker with a ghost? We need to go.”

“Oh right,” He said and looking at Ezra added, “Next time.”

“I look forward to what is sure to be an exhilarating experience.” Ezra tipped his hat at the Winchesters and disappeared.

One by one the other five copied the gesture until the brothers were standing alone in the graveyard.

“What the hell just happened?” Dean asked.

Ghost Town - Magnificent 7/Supernatural - 4/8

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