Wow. I honestly didn't think so many people would be into this story, but I'm glad you are. Here's another chapter!

November 2, 2005

Dean had been right about the doggy senses. He knew something was coming, could feel it in the air. He could remember that feeling, hot and oppressive like a fire, from his youth. Even if he wasn't exactly sure what had killed his mother all those years before, he knew that it was in Palo Alto, and that scared him.

As soon as Sam had walked through the door, Dean was at his feet, jumping around and letting out little barks of warning. Sammy, apparently didn't get it. "You got to go out, boy?"

Dean sat down at stared at him, flicking his tail back and forth in annoyance. "No? Well, what, then?"

Fortunately, the older man had been prepared for that. He'd had all morning to think about ways to let Sam know he was in danger, after all. He got up and bolted into the bedroom Sammy and Jess shared, little brother tagging close behind. He stopped in front of the shelf that housed the picture of their parents standing in front of the house in Lawrence and looked back up at Sam.

"Mom and dad?" Sammy asked, taking the picture from its place, "what about them?" Barking once, Dean ran from the room and into the kitchen, where he scratched at the cabinet under the sink. Sam pushed him out of the way and opened the door, revealing bottles of cleaning solutions and a small fire extinguisher. "Mom and dad," he repeated slowly, "and a fire extinguisher." He looked back at Dean. "Are trying to say what I think you're trying to say?"

If Dean had been able to roll his eyes, he would have. A full-ride to Stanford, and that was all Sammy could come up with? Pathetic. "You think it's back? The thing that killed mom?" Dean nodded. "What are we gonna do?"

As much as he hated to do it, Dean put the top of his head against the back of his brother's leg and started pushing the younger man toward the door. "You want me to leave?" Sam asked. He was on a roll. "No. Not without you and Jess." Dean stopped pushing long enough to give him a 'duh' look.

"Where are we gonna go?" Sammy questioned as he stepped away from his brother and started shoving his and his girlfriend's belongings into a small duffle bag, "how long should we stay gone?" Dean just shook his head, unsure of how to answer. Who knew how long the thing would stick around?

"Maybe only a couple of days," Sam said, thinking aloud, "yeah, and then we can come back. If you can sense it, you can tell me if it's safe." He nodded, liking the plan. "It's decided, then. We'll head out as soon as Jess gets back.

And that was that.