~1~

The forest was quiet as Dean slowly moved forward. He had his gun pointed down in front of him and he was listening for any thing. It wasn't his intention to hunt any thing today. He'd only brought his gun, because he'd been taught to always be prepared. He'd simply come out here to enjoy being in nature.

It hadn't snowed in a few days, so the ground was visible through the fading white carpet. The layers he wore kept him plenty warm and it helped that the wind wasn't blowing. There wasn't much to see at this time of year, but it didn't spoil his mood. He smiled as he inhaled the cool, crisp air and raised his head to look up at the sky. The sun was getting higher in the sky and a wide strip of orange was just becoming visible through the trees to his left.

He kept moving forward. Normally, it took him ten minutes to get to the creek, but today he took his time and it only took fifteen minutes. He was't surprised to see the water frozen over and he knelt down to poke at it with a stick. The stick easily went through the top layer of ice and he smirked. It wouldn't be long now and the season would be changing. He'd come out here a couple of weeks ago and the ice had been completely solid.

As much as he liked Winter he couldn't wait to be able to lose a few layers. Plus, he missed swimming. Sighing, he rose to his feet and turned around to go back the way he'd come. He shouldered his gun and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. His brother picked up on the second ring.

"Dude, where are?"

Dean smirked. "I'm just leaving the creek, Sammy." His smirk turned in to a smile as he heard Sam scoff.

He sounded annoyed as he said, "I told you I was almost there and you decide to go in to the woods. Now, I'm sitting here freezing my balls off. I am so making another key. You better be glad I just got here."

"Quit bitching, Samantha. I'm on my way. I'll be there in ten."

"What ever."

A sound to his right made Dean stop walking. He pulled the phone from his ear and listened carefully. He waited a good few seconds before he put the phone back to his ear and started walking again. Sam was still complaining about being cold. "Sam," he said. He quit talking and spun around when he heard the unmistakable sound of twigs snapping all around him.

"Dean, are you there?"

His heart was beating quickly and the hair on the back of his neck was standing on ends. He closed his phone and swiftly stuck it back in his pocket. More twigs snapped behind him and he spun around to face the sound. His eyes were wide as he stared straight ahead. "Whose there," he yelled.

Carefully, he worked his gun around his shoulders and clicked the safety off. A small gasp left his mouth as he heard the deep rumble of an unmistakable growl some where in the trees to his left. He turned around, gun aimed at the trees. His hands tightened around the barrel and his mind instantly cleared as his training kicked in. Breath deeply, keep your hands steady. Think about what's going on.

Act or react. He exhaled sharply as another growl sounded behind him and he spun his gun around. Act or react. He repeated the mantra over and over as he realized that what ever was growling at him was getting closer and there was more than one. Act or react.

He couldn't shoot more than one thing at a time with this gun and he certainly couldn't do it at such a close distance. He needed to get higher. There was no higher ground any where near here and this situation was immediate. React! He spun on his heels and tore off in the direction of his cabin.

Snow, leaves and dirt flew up behind him and his leg muscles strained against the resistance. He allowed the gun strap to hold the weight of the gun as he ran. The thunder of growls grew louder and he realized that they're was more than just two of what ever was after him. As he ran he tried to place the growls. They were very deep, booming, which meant large.

The sound had power and the force behind it was... primal and he was the prey. Wolf. He leaped over a fallen tree trunk and huffed as he struggled to regain his equilibrium. With a growl of his own he pushed his body forward and thankfully his legs cooperated. A movement to his right made him look over and he glared at the very obvious shape of a wolf running along the embankment beside him.

He picked up speed. Quickly, he reached out to grip on to a tree and used it as leverage as he spun around it and kept running. The sound of running feet behind made him panic. They were getting closer. The hair on his arms stood up and on instinct he came to a complete stop and used the momentum to grab his gun and swing it around.

The butt of the gun connected with something big and solid. The sound of a wolf yelping had him scrambling backwards. The wolf that had been keeping up with him from the embankment had come through the tree clearing and was now stalking his way. It wasn't as big as the wolf he'd just knocked out, but it was the height of a normal sized dog. It's coat was a mixture of grey and black.

It wasn't any of that that made his blood run cold. It was the wide red eyes that seemed to pulse like a heart beat as it made it's way closer. "What the fuck?" He tightened his grip on his gun and pulled the trigger. The wolf's head snapped back and it took a few steps back before collapsing on to it's side.

A movement to his right had him on high alert again and he snapped his head that way to see two wolves coming his way. He quickly aimed at one of them and pulled the trigger.

The wolf collapsed forward and the other wolf charged at him. He managed to get it in his sight, but when he pulled the trigger nothing happened. There was no time to prepare as the wolf's body plowed in to him. There was a sharp burning sensation as it's claws ripped through his shirt and cut through his chest.

Dean's huffed as his body hit the ground and he quickly used his legs to keep the wolf back.

It was growling and snapping and he grit his teeth as he felt his muscles straining against the wolfs strength. He couldn't keep this up. "Uuuh... get the fuck off of me you fluffy ass licking fuckerrrr..." he growled out as he pushed harder. The wolf snapped it's teeth forward and Dean's eyes widened as he realized how close it'd been to his neck.

He was getting weaker and he didn't know how much longer he could do this.

Desperately, he grabbed the wolf by the throat and gripped it as tightly as he could. The wolf quickly wiggled out of his grasp and Dean gasped as he lost his hold on the wolfs body. There was no warning as the wolf shot forward and sank it's teeth in his neck. He punched at it and it's teeth snapped down in his chest and he cried out in pain and lashed out with his fists and feet.

The thrashing surprisingly made the wolf take a good few steps away from him. Dean gagged and he realized that blood was draining in to his throat. He turned over to his side and wearily watched the wolf as it circled around him. He gagged again and blood poured from his mouth. He tried to pull air in to his lungs as his head started to spin.

Blackness began to crawl in to the corners of his vision. His eyes fluttered closed and his head dropped to the ground.

The wolf relaxed slightly and took a step towards it's wounded prey. It yelped as something solid hit it in the side and the force was enough to send it flying.

/

There was a dull pounding noise all around him and at first Dean was too weak to pay attention to it. Slowly, he found himself moving towards the sound and the further he went forward the louder the noise got. Suddenly, there was light ever where and he had to throw his arm over his eyes to shield it from the shock of sudden sunlight.

"Dean, Dean!"

He felt hands circle around him and he curiously he opened his eyes. Sam had him pulled to him and he was crying. "Sammy?"

"Dean!" He lifted his head back and his cheeks were completely wet with tears.

"Dude," he asked weakly. "What's going on?"

Sam pulled him against him tightly and said, "You're alive, Dean. That's what's going on. I love you. God." He pulled back to plant a big wet kiss to his check, which made Dean wrinkle his nose up.

"I know. I know," he said letting out a little laugh. "No chick flick moments."

Dean groaned and pushed against him. He realized how weak he was and unashamedly asked, "Help me up."

Sam carefully helped him to his feet and helled on to him. "Can you walk," he asked, sounding concerned.

Dean focused his attention in to his legs and he realized he couldn't. Not alone. "Help me."

Keeping a firm grip on him, Sam helped him walk through the forest and it only took them a few minutes. Dean blinked rapidly as he got a weird feeling. What had happened to him? He tried to remember, but stopped when he started to feel weaker. His legs went still and Sam was dragging him a few feet before he realized what had happened.

"Dean?"

"I'm good, Sammy," he said. His head swam and his inside cringed as he fought to stay awake. "So weak."

Sam tightened his grip around him and some how managed to not drag him or carry him inside. He guessed he managed to help, but he couldn't remember walking any more after that.

/

Dean's eyes popped open and he sat straight up. The sounds of growls and the image of red pulsing eyes surrounded him. A firm grip on his shoulder snapped him back to reality. He whipped his head around and stared wide eyed at his brother who was looking down at him with concern. "Sammy."

"I'm here, Dean," he said calmly.

He looked down at the blanket that was over him and he blinked a couple of times as he realized he was in bed and the smell of coffee made his stomach grumble. He ran his tongue around in his mouth to moisten it. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days."

He quickly looked back at him. "I was attacked by wolves, Sammy." His brother's eyes widened. He looked back at the blanket around him. "I don't understand how I'm still alive."

"What do you mean?" He sounded scared.

He grit his teeth as he remembered the feeling of choking on his own blood. "I knocked one out and shot two of them, but there was this one. I ran out of bullets and it attacked me and..." He swallowed.

"When I got out there I didn't find any wolves."

"What?" He looked at him and studied his face, confused for a second. The reality that he'd almost died was doing something to him. It was hard to focus. He shook his head and turned his body to face him better.

"I only found you. You were covered in blood, but that was it. There were no wolf tracks. Nothing."

"How is that possible?"

He shook his head. His demeanor changed and he went stiff as Dean gasped and looked down at his chest. "What?"

Dean quickly pulled his shirt off and ran his hands down his chest and then back up again.

"Dean, what is it?"

"It bit me," he said immediately.

"It..."

"It bit my neck," he cut him off, carefully touching the right side of his neck. "Then, it bit my chest, but before he did that he scratched me. It was huge scratches, Sammy." He splayed his fingers open against his chest and his eyes dulled over.

"Dean." Sam shook him gently. Dean shook his head a few times before he looked at him. "I don't understand what's going on."

"Do I need to take you to the hospital?"

He thought about it for a few seconds before he said, "No. There's no marks. They'll just think I'm crazy." He was silent for a few seconds before he asked, "Do you think I'm crazy?"

Sadness flickered in Sam's eyes for a second, then was replaced by something solid. "I know you're not crazy. I have the proof." He turned away and motioned for him to follow. "And even if there wasn't proof I'd still believe you," he said over his shoulder.

Dean took in a deep breath before he smiled at his brother's words. "Thanks, Sammy."

/

Sam was holding up the jacket he'd word in the woods and it was shredded. Stuffing was falling out of it and blood covered the entire front of it. The flannel button down shirt from that day was in as bad of shape. There were huge claw marks down the front of it and it was also covered in blood. The jeans he'd worn that day were stained with drops of blood and the knees were all but shredded.

Dean eyed the clothing reverently. "How is it possible for me to go through something like that and not have any marks?"

Sam shook his head.

They looked at each other, both of them sharing the same expression.

Sam cleared his throat before he said, "What now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. This isn't normal. What if there's something... I don't know, strange going on and it's not safe for us to be here any more."

Logically, he couldn't argue with that. They had no idea what was going one, but one thing was for sure. Something other worldly strange had happened to him and neither one of them could explain it. It didn't mean that they could just pick up and leave. Where would they go and what would be the point of leaving if they had no idea why or for how long they had to stay away.

It was absurd. "Where are we going to go? There's no point. We don't know what's going on," he said.

Sam shrugged. "I know it's all so crazy, but it makes me feel uneasy being here." He looked around before looking back at him. "Can we at least just go back home?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, yeah let's go."

It only took them fifteen minutes to pack up and get on the road. They made a unanimous decision to burn Dean's bloody clothes before they left. Dean stares out the front window as they pull out of the drive way. A movement out the passengers side window makes him snap his head that way and press his forehead to it and stare intently. His heart is beating rapidly as they turn right.

He keeps an eye on that same spot until he can't see it any more.

Sam watches his brother carefully. His heart beats wildly and he frowns as Dean starts to shake. "You ok," he asked gently.

Dean turns quickly to look at him. "Huh? Yeah. I think my minds playing tricks on me."

"Why do you say that?"

"I just..." He seemed frustrated for a second. "I didn't see any thing. I just... it's not important. I'm really ok, Sammy."

Just the fact that he kept calling him Sammy told Sam that he was not ok. He usually only called him that when he was having a rare heart felt moment or when he wanted to piss him off. This was neither of those moments.

He nodded his head in acknowledgement and it didn't matter if Dean thought he believed him. What was important was that Sam was going to keep an eye on him. Something bad had happened in those woods, but his brother had survived it. That meant that something good had also happened. He may not know what it was, but he was grateful that Dean was alive.

He leaned over and flipped the radio on. The drive home was only four hours away and he couldn't wait to get there. Dean needed normal. Maybe it would help him clear his head and stop acting so out of it.

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~Demitria Teague