Welcome back Dear Readers! This is for my dear friend Jennifer! I love you!

* A weight based drug used to treat seizers and for euthanasia in animals and people.

Chapter 1: Straying Into Trouble

A loud sneeze rang out through the alley, followed by a crash. The small Corgi, the source of the sneeze, shook himself roughly as he pulled himself back to his feet, dazed by the force of the bodily function. Shaking himself he went back to digging through the garbage to find himself an evening meal. Nosing through the bag he had torn open he was disappointed to find that it contained nothing edible. With a huff he began trotting down the alley, hoping the next bin might have something edible for his growling tummy.

Just as he began trying to tip over the next bin the roar of an engine drew his attention. His ears perked up at the loud roar and he scrambled for cover behind a pallet. Staying low in the shadows he watched the black car rumble to a halt before the noise died. Scooting forward a bit he raised his ears and paid attention to the two that got out of the car.

"Okay Sammy we do this nice and easy."

"Dean I know what to do. It's just a small nest." Sam said, coming to stand next to his brother at the trunk.

Dean scoffed. "Look I'm just saying that I don't want either of us to get hurt okay?"

Sniffing hard the dog slowly crawled its way out and over to the two. He sat down, cocking his head as he looked up at the two. When neither of them noticed him the dog let out a whine. Both men whirled, guns drawn as they looked around. The Corgi, noticing that they still didn't see him, let out a small bark that had the guns pointing at him.

"It's… It's a dog." Sam said, lowering his gun.

"What the hell is a dog doing out here?" Dean asked.

Sam put his gun up and knelt down, hand extended. "It's okay. Come here. We won't hurt you."

The Corgi ran straight to Sam, licking and rolling around at his feet. Sam couldn't help but smile and pet the dog. Dean shook his head, knowing his brother would do anything for a dog. Sam looked over the dog before looking up at his brother.

"It's a Corgi Dean." Sam said. "It's an expensive dog. Looks like its thin and dirty but it seems unhurt. Doesn't have a collar. Where's your owner at huh?"

"Sam we don't have time for this." Dean said in agitation. "Let's go."

Sam gave the Corgi one last belly rub. "Stay here okay? Can't have you getting hurt. We'll be right back okay?"

The Corgi rolled over quickly and stared. He watched as the two got out their weapons. As they started in he began to follow them. He reached the door first only to yelp as he was grabbed by his scruff and lifted into the air.

"Oh hell no!"

"Dean! You can't do that to a dog!" He said, grabbing the dog from his brother. "Do you want to hurt him?"

Dean scoffed. "It's a furball Sam. Just make sure it doesn't follow us. It's make a nice snack for a vamp."

The younger hunter set the dog down carefully and gave him a scratch behind the ears before rushing after his brother, shutting the door behind him. The Corgi, realizing that he had been left, rushed to the door and scratched. When he realized he couldn't get in he went running, looking for way in. Gun shots rang out followed by a scream and the dog froze. Looking around frantically he finally spotted a way in.

He climbed up and a rickety stack of pallets and into the building through a broken window. He yelped when he fell to the floor. Getting to his feet he shook himself and took off running towards the sounds he could hear. When he got into the room where the sounds were coming from he froze again. Dean was being held by two vampires, as was Sam, while a third was taunting the two. It wasn't until the leader turned towards Sam with the machete that the dog moved.

With a growl he rushed in and latched onto the ankle of the first vamp, making her yell. Dean broke free and managed to tackle the leader, getting the blade back. The female vampire kicked the dog off just in time to lose her head. The Corgi wasted no time and went after the other vamps. However the leader, who was getting to his feet again, kick the little dog hard, sending him flying where he slammed into the wall and hit the floor.

Sam, seeing the Corgi go flying, broke free and the other vamps were quickly dispatched. Sam rushed over to the dog, noticing the pool of blood seeping out form under him. Panic and fear filled him; was he dead? He reached out and touched the fur and the dog let out a whimper. Dean came over and took in the sight of the dog and cursed.

"Sam! Quick! Use your jacket! I saw a vet hospital on the way in." Dean said. "I'm going to get the car." He said, running out, his phone in hand.

Sam tried not to cry as he quickly stripped, wrapping the bleeding pup up in his jacket, holding the whining dog close to his chest. "Please don't die."

The hunter rushed out to the car where his brother was waiting with the door open, car running, and on the phone. The minute Sam was in and shut the door, he floored it. Sam laid the pup down in his lap, stroking the fur and keeping pressure on the wound, not knowing if it would help at all.

"Yeah I'm still here!" Dean snapped into the phone. "My brother said it's a Corgi. We saw some guys kicking it and chased them off. We're on our way in now. He's bleeding because he was kicked into a wall!"

Sam was starting to shake. "Dean he's not whining anymore!"

Dean cursed. "He stopped making noise! Look we're pulling up now okay? Black car outside! Help us!"

The Impala slid to a halt outside the animal hospital and two people came rushing out. They yanked open the door and reached in and yanked the dog from Sam, quickly rushing in with him. Sam wasted no time in following them. The nurse stopped him and began asking information about the dog as they took him in the back. Sam began answering questions as best he could, his worry for the small dog clear.

A few moments later Dean came in and, seeing that his brother was occupied, slipped into the back without anyone noticing. Just as the nurse was finishing up the paperwork there was a commotion in the back; angry shouts and a female's scream. Sam and the nurse rushed into the back to find Dean, holding the terrified night shift doctor at gunpoint. Sam and the other nurse were shocked by the sight so bad that it took them a minute to comprehend what they were seeing was real.

Dean was glaring at the smaller doctor, a young man who looked barely old enough to be a vet, and a broken syringe was on the floor. "I am only going to say this once you understand asshole? If I think ever for a minute you are doing to try the shit you just pulled again then I will shoot you in the leg. Is that clear? Now you are going to save that dog because that dog's heartbeat is the only thing keeping you alive. Understood?!"

The doctor nodded frantically and rushed to save the dog before Dean turned to look at the front desk nurse that was behind Sam. "You! Get the doctor that owns this place here now. I have a bone to pick with this place."

The woman looked terrified. "Who should I say is calling?"

"FBI Agent Bennington. The man next to you is FBI Agent Shinoda. I want to talk to your boss about the animal cruelty going on here!" Dean snapped. "And you better hope that I don't start arresting people!"

As she rushed off Sam turned to his brother. "What the hell Dean?!"

"That bastard tried to give the dog a triple dose of pentobarbital*! It's a seizure medication that's weight based. It's also used for euthanasia. The dose he had was enough to kill the dog." Dean said. "That damn mutt saved our asses! No way in hell I'm going to let some asshole doctor kill him. He saved us so I saved him."

Sam smiled. "Thanks Dean."

"Agent Bennington? I have the owner and head veterinarian on the phone. She said she's on her way in. She's going to oversee the operation." The nurse called, coming back in, her cell phone pressed to her ear.

"Good." Dean said. "I suggest you start pulling records. If this asshole did it once then he's bound to have done it before too."

The nurse nodded and rushed off to do as he said. Sam turned and looked towards the operating room where the Corgi had been taken. Looking around he noticed that this office had theater. Smiling he turned and headed down the hall to the operating theater so he could keep an eye on the brave little dog that had saved them.

SSSSS

"Well gentleman all I can say is that little guys is a fighter." Doctor Kim Holmes said, coming into the waiting area to speak to the two. "He was very lucky. And I must thank you for calling out my step-son's actions. He'll be losing his license over this. And since his father is the Chief of Police, you can be sure that things will be handled properly. My husband wrote himself a ticket for speeding once."

"Your husband sounds like a great man." Dean said. "I'm just sorry that I caused such a scene in front of your employees."

"Don't be. They were terrified of him firing them. Someone had to do it and that someone was you." The doctor said.

"So the dog…" Sam said. "How is he?"

"Some broken ribs and some internal cranial bleeding but we managed to stop it. He'll be fine in a few days." The doctor assured. "Then he can go home."

"He's not actually ours." Sam admitted. "Some guys were kicking him around and we saved him."

Doctor Kim blinked and turned to look at the Corgi through the window where they were doing stitches. "A stray then? It's rare to see such an expensive dog as a stray. We'll check to see if he's microchipped or if someone has reported him missing."

Sam looked upset. "What will happen to him if no one claims him?"

"Unfortunately because there really isn't a shelter here we can only keep him for a week. If no one claims him then I'm afraid that everything we've done will be in vain because he'll have to be put down. We can't keep him here." The vet explained. "I'm sorry. They're taking him into recovery. You can go see him if you want. They're moving him to recovery."

Sam looked near tears again but nodded and rushed out to be with the dog. Dean waited until he was sure that his brother was gone before he turned back to the doctor. She was looking sheepish and Dean was sure now that he knew exactly what the doctor was doing.

"You wouldn't really put that dog down would you? You are just trying to get us to take him aren't you?" Dean asked with a smirk.

Doctor Kim flushed. "Look… That dog… Everyone knows it's a stray. Everyone around here has seen it. It's a strange dog. I've seen that dog vanish and reappear like it's nothing. Those injuries it had should have killed it but instead it was healing even as I was working on it. That dog has never taken a shine to anyone. So what really happened? Does it have anything to do with all the deaths? I know they weren't animal attacks."

Dean frowned. "All you need to know is that we took care of it. That dog is the only reason we survived tonight. It's why we saved him. That dog is a hero."

"You and your partner seem to handle strange just fine. What can I do to convince you to take this dog?" The doctor asked softly.

"What makes you think I want that furball?" The hunter asked with a frown.

"Because I saw the way your brother looked. He loves that dog already." The vet said softly. "So I'm begging you…Take the dog. I won't charge you for the surgery or the medicine for him. I won't even charge you for us keeping him until he's better so I am begging you. Please take the dog."

Dean stared at the vet and weighted his options.

SSSSS

Sam watched as the Corgi slowly made his way through the grass, ball held tight in his mouth. He took the ball and gave it a gentle toss and watched as the dog went after it. It sucked that he and Dean were leaving today. When the Corgi brought the ball back Sam picked him up and held him close, ruffling that soft clean fur.

"I'm sorry little fella. Today is goodbye. I'm sorry I can't keep you." Sam said kissing the top of that fluffy head.

The Corgi let out a whine and began kissing Sam's face.

"Sammy! Come on! Let's go!" Came Dean's voice.

Sam sighed and picked up the whimpering dog and held him close. He walked over to his brother and the dog was now softly whining constantly making Sam rush to soothe him. Dean watched the two and shook his head.

"Just give me a minute Dean. I have to take him back inside." Sam said. "I have to say goodbye to him."

Dean frowned and held out a bag of food and a manila envelope. "Why? You had better open that. It's important."

Sam set the dog down and opened the envelope. Out of the envelope slid a dog tag and a collar. Sam stared at them before he noticed the card and papers inside. Pulling them out he read the paper and realized that it was ownership papers and a birthday card. The hunter was startled to realize that they were papers for the Corgi. Opening the card it just said 'Happy Birthday'.

"Are you serious Dean?! I can keep him?" Sam asked. "That means he needs a name."

"Get your dog and get in the damn car." Dean said taking his bag of food with him.

Sam picked up the now excited dog. He grabbed his envelope and the bag of food and got in, setting the dog down next to him. Dean started the car and they headed out, happy that he made his brother smile. Reaching for his bag of food he was startled when his hand hit fur. Looking down he couldn't help but growl at the furball that seemed to be grinning at him.

"Son of a bitch! Sam! Your furball just ate my biscuit!"