Chapter One
Set between 4x04 and 4x05
Dean Winchester snapped awake and glared up at the monster that had interrupted his sleep. A monster named Sam Winchester. Sam laughed as he climbed into the passenger seat of the black 1967 Chevy Impala.
"Dude, haven't you ever heard of a simple knock?" Dean asked his younger brother.
"Where's the fun in that?" smiled Sam.
"Why are you back early?" asked Dean. "I thought you'd be in research mode for at least another two hours."
"I caught a break," Sam told him. "I'll tell you about it at the motel."
"Alright," said Dean. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
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Sam plopped his backpack on his bed as Dean shut the motel door. Sam flopped down onto the mattress.
"So, what'd you find?" asked Dean.
Sam poked his head up, a quizzical expression on his face. "What?"
"The case, Sam. What'd you find about the case?"
"Oh, that," said Sam as he stretched his arms behind his head. "Nothing."
Dean looked at him. "Nothing?"
"Yeah, Dean, nothing. Hit a dead end."
"You said you caught a break."
"Did I?" Sam asked, strangely calm. "Must've been mistaken."
Dean stared at Sam. "Are you okay?"
"Fantastic," Sam breathed.
Dean began unloading his duffel to clean his weapons, putting his flask of holy water on the table. As Dean began taking his .45 apart, he glanced up at Sam and froze. Sam was watching the flask of holy water intently, almost with fear. Dean remembered back to when they had entered the room. Sam had come in first, but only after the door had swept some of the salt away.
"Sam," said Dean. Sam looked over at him. "Let me see your tattoo."
Sam sat up. "What?"
"Your tattoo. Let me look at it."
"Why?"
"Dude, let me see it."
Sam sighed in annoyance and stood up. He pulled the collar of his shirt down to reveal the demon protection tattoo under his left collarbone. It was broken right down the middle by a pretty nasty burn. Dean's eyes shot up to Sam, who smiled as his eyes turned black, and he punched Dean, knocking him out.
