Brown mountain

CHAPTER 1:- SOME DAYS IT WAS JUST TO EASY

Sam heard the key in the door and looked up to see Dean struggle in with their breakfast. He was starving, his stomach growled in anticipation. He quickly cleared a space on the small table and snagged one of the coffees, opened the lid and took a sip. Mmmm. Cautiously opening one of the bags he peered inside. Sam sighed, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Burgers! It wasn't that he disliked them just not for breakfast.

Dean picked up the bag Sam had discarded and breathed in the steamy aroma.

"Bought them just for you Sammy, know how much you like them." Dean grinned reaching in and retrieving the burger he took an enormous bite.

"Dean you know I don't eat burgers for breakfast" Sam whined.

"Which is why Francis, this would be yours." Dean held up another unopened bag and waved it under Sam's nose.

Sam grabbed it, inside was the eggs and toast that he'd requested. His older brother could be truly annoying at times. "Thanks," came the quietly mumbled reply.

Dean couldn't resist teasing Sam. He was such an easy target, with the exception of Donna; winding Sam up was the only pleasure to be had in the past few days. Needless to say he was bored. He knew he'd sunk to a new low when all the TV had to offer were programs on DIY and natural childbirth and he still couldn't bring himself to turn it off. Note to self: buy box of durex. Better still make that an extra large box. It always paid to be optimistic.

"Hey you find anything while I was out?" Dean finished the last of his burger and started on the fries...

"Yeah, I think so , give me a minute while I check it out," he replied sitting back in front of the laptop and scooping forkfuls of egg while scanning the screen , blissfully unaware of his brothers musings.

Dean finished his breakfast, dropped the now empty bags in the bin and in anticipation of a quick getaway started to roll up the jeans and shirts.

"Hey Dean, you heard of Brown Mountain in North Carolina?"

Dean frowned. "The place with the lights and Alien hunting wack jobs? "

Sam grinned. "That would be the one".

"Why?"

"Seems a hiker vanished while on one of the trails. Some tourists found him wandering about dazed and disoriented a week later. He claims to have no idea that he had been gone so long, or that his wife had reported him missing. It says here that the last thing he remembers is helping a tourist with directions.

Dean snorted. "Yeah, well he probably had a row with his wife and took off to cool down with a bottle of Jack then fell asleep".

Sam nodded. "Yeah that's what I thought until I read that the hike he was on was only supposed to take a couple of hours and there had been 3 similar cases in the last few months.

"Well it's not as if we've got anything better to do. I'll finish packing; you can find the best route and hand in the keys." Dean had a feeling it was probably going to be a waste of time, but at least it would be a waste of time in another motel in another state.

Twelve hours later found them in N. Carolina, in a fleabag of a motel with one bed, no TV and defective heating. Dean woke to the feel of a warm body spooned to his back and an arm draped across his stomach. He'd been having this amazing dream about Donna, his latest sexual conquest. She had the most fabulous legs and firm ass. Reaching back he ran his hand over a firm butt and murmured, "morning darlin'.

"Dean, what you doing?" a sleepy voice questioned.

"Jesus Sam! What the hell?" Dean yelled as he leapt from the bed, striding round the room and wiping his hands on his t shirt. "That's the last time I ever! And I mean ever! Share a bed with you! I'll be lucky if I'm not traumatized for life."

Sam hastily shifted to his own side of the queen-sized bed. All he could think was it had been freezing when they had gone to bed and his body must have turned heat-seeking missile during the night. Shit, this was embarrassing!

"Sorry Dean, but I can't be held responsible for what I do when I'm asleep," he mumbled rubbing sleep from his eyes and trying to hide the fact he was bright red.

"My point exactly dude, and if you ever tell anyone about this Sam you're dead!"

Sam couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. "Feeling confused and insecure Dean? Because you should know you can tell me anything bro."

"No … NO!" Dean's eyebrows hiked almost into his hairline as he realized what his brother had been implying.

"I was asleep, what was your excuse?" Sam continued.

"I…. um…" Dean scrubbed his hand through his hair in agitation " I was having this dream and …"

Sam smirked.

"Shut up Sam."

"I'm going to hit the shower, your turn to get breakfast. And none of that health food crap!" Dean stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door. He was in serious need of a shower.

Breakfast and the incident of the bed put firmly behind him, Dean had dropped Sam off at the library and made his way to the Sheriff's office, where he presented his latest ID, Special Agent Frank Bullitt. He soon found himself seated behind a desk with all the latest information on the disappearances, plus coffee and cookies.

Winchester charm strikes again! Dean was not unaware of his looks and unlike Sam certainly not above using them when the need arose or it suited him. He could just picture his brother leaning over some dusty book, scribbling away on a notepad with only a bottle of water for refreshment.

He glanced down at the rapidly disappearing pile of cookies. Perhaps he should save Sam some. Trouble was they were rather nice and there was only a few left. Ah well, he thought to himself, what Sam never had he wouldn't miss. Leaving the files on the desk he picked up the photo copied reports, made his excuses and left.

Parking outside the library he made his way swiftly inside, locating his brother, head bent over a stack of books. He pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning over to read Sam's notes.

"Get anything useful?" Sam asked, looking up from the book he had been studying on Cherokee Indians.

"Not really, but Angela had the most amazing…"

"Dean, I don't want to know. You were supposed to be looking for information not entertaining your downstairs brain."

"So you don't want me to share?"

"No! How much simpler do I have to make this for you to understand? I don't want to know and I certainly don't want to share your leftovers. Some things you've just got to learn to keep to yourself, Dean."

"Cookies?" Dean grinned baiting Sam.

"What?" Sam screwed up his face in puzzlement.

Dean reached into his jacket and withdrew the last cookie. "Seems this old lady makes them, had a whole plate to myself. Should have been there, Sam. Melted in the mouth." And with a self satisfied grin popped it into his mouth. Yep, some days it was just too easy.

Sam stared at his brother. "You did that on purpose."

"Not my fault you jump to conclusions and can't keep your mind out of the gutter Sammy," Dean chuckled, brushing the crumbs from his shirt

Sam snorted, shoved the notepad in his jacket pocket and gathered the books together before walking over and placing them on the counter. Not seeing the librarian he looked round and spotted her coming towards them. She was small, round and had a kind face. Sam thought she would have made an excellent Mrs. Santa Claus.

"Oh there you are, dear, all finished? Hope you found what you were looking for." She walked behind the counter and passed over a napkin wrapped parcel. "A little something to take home with you," she added.

"Dean," Sam couldn't help the grin that spread across his face," I'd like to introduce you to Mrs. Jenkins. She makes the most amazing cookies… and coffee cake I have ever tasted." Turning to face his brother, he picked up his present, thanked Mrs. Jenkins once again and walked out, leaving Dean with his mouth hanging open. Yes! Sam thought to himself. Some days it was just too easy.