--Disclaimer: I do not own Sam and Dean Winchester (I wish I did, if even for a little while), and am not affiliated with the show in any way. However, I do own this idea and the other characters in the story.--

Present Day…Approximately 3:30 pm.

"Screw it! I don't give a damn if this siren gets what she wants!" Dean would have thrown something if he'd had something to throw. As

it was, he and Sam were standing in the middle of a dirt lane with nothing but a stand of trees and the Impala in sight. Sam was a bit

surprised by Dean's outburst; after all it had been Dean's idea to do this job.

"What the hell's your problem, Dean?"

Dean faced his brother, frowning, angry. "My problem? My problem is that this job ain't worth dyin' over. This life has taken Mom. It's

taken Dad. It's even taken you."

"But I'm back, Dean." Sam couldn't understand what was making his brother act this way and he didn't know what to say to make him

snap out of it.

"Yeah, only because I traded my life for yours…Don't get me wrong, Sammy, I'd do it again. But I can't do this any more. I'm done;

count me out. I don't have anything left to give." There was a tired quality to Dean's voice that spoke of more than the family business

taking its toll on him. Dean turned and walked down the dirt lane to the waiting Impala, leaving Sam staring at his back.

It was the first time Sam had ever seen his brother willingly walk away from a job and it made his blood run cold.

Two and a half months earlier…4:58 pm.

Sam glanced at his watch for the fifth time in the past hour. Dean should have been back by now. He worried a lot more about Dean

now and him being late wasn't helping matters any. Finally, Sam pushed aside his 17th century Latin book, pen and paper, and strode to

the window. Relief poured through him as soon as he saw the Impala stopped at the four-way stop down the street. He turned around in

the small room and went back to his book. He didn't want Dean to know he'd been worried; it would only earn him another "sissy"

crack. Sam had settled into the dingy, battered chair and just grabbed the Latin book when a car door slammed outside. Seconds later

the room door swung open, admitting Dean, and was slammed shut behind him.

Muttering under his breath, Dean crossed the room to his bed, stooped to grab his duffle bag from under the bed and flung it onto the

rumpled covers. Still muttering, Dean began tossing items in the bag, ignoring Sam. Confusion marred Sam's features as he watched his

brother. Tired of being ignored, he got up, walked up behind Dean and smacked upside the head. Ignoring Dean's "Oww!!," Sam

spoke. "What the hell are you doing, Dean?"

"What's it look like I'm doing, Sam. I'm packing. I suggest you do the same." A glare accompanied his words. "We're leaving."

"Dean…What? No. We're not leaving. We are staying here and figuring out how to get you out of your deal."

"Can't. Just got a call from Jackson DuBois."

"Dad's old buddy?" The look of confusion was back. "What did he want?"

Dean elbowed Sam out of the way and grabbed a few things from the table and returned to the bed shoving them inside his bag. "He

caught wind of a job for us in his area. It sounds serious. At least Jackson sounded serious." Sam finally got his ass moving, packing up

his laptop and the stack of books sitting on the table.

"Where are we heading?"

Dean finished zipping his duffle, then looked straight at Sam.

"To Costco."

"What the hell!?" Sam let his backpack drop from his shoulder, furious with Dean for his stupid joke. Then he realized Dean was dead

serious. "You're serious?" He asked, just in case.

"The Costco we're going to is in Spokane, Washington." They both picked up their bags and headed for the door. It wasn't until they

were on the road that something occurred to Sam and he had to ask, although he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer. "Dean,

how do you know about Costco?" Sam watched his brother mumble and squirm before Dean finally answered. "They got the best

muffins. I love me some muffins."

--A/N: I appreciate reviews, both good and bad. Thanks for reading and if you like it, there will be more.--