Chapter 4
That night over dinner, they discussed the case. And by "dinner" I mean, they all got takeout burgers. Sam was sitting on his bed with Jackie on the floor, and Dean and Carly were on the other bed.
"So what do you guys think it is? Demon possession?" Carly asked.
"Maybe. I wouldn't rule it out. We'll find out more when we inspect Bethany's place tomorrow," Dean answered.
"Oh, by the way, very smooth with the reason why the FBI are involved," Jackie commented. "I thought we were dead."
"I'm sorry, you underestimated my skills?"
"Well this is my first hunt. I didn't know what was going to happen."
"Rule number one sweetheart, I am awesome."
"Eh." Dean kicked her lightly on the arm. "Ow!"
"Oh, that didn't hurt, you baby."
"Saaaaaaaaaam, Dean hurt me," Jackie whined.
"Do you want me to kiss it better?" Sam asked.
"Yes." She got on the bed and held out her arm. He kissed her from her hand all the way up to her neck.
"You two are disgusting," Carly said with her mouth full. Sam and Jackie just looked at her. "What? Oh, Jackie, you already knew I was gross!"
"And that's why she's my girl," Dean followed proudly, putting an arm around her. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"Anyway, back to the case," Sam brought them back on track, "Mary also said that Bethany didn't know anything about the attack. That usually doesn't happen with demon possession. The person who is being possessed is still present in their body and can watch what's happening. So it's not likely that it was a demon."
"Shifter?" Dean suggested.
"Possible."
"What's a shifter?" Jackie asked.
"A shape shifter is exactly what it sounds like," Dean explained. "It's able to take the shape of whoever it chooses just by looking at them."
"So if the shifter had just seen Bethany one day, it could just...become her?" Carly clarified.
"Yep."
"But why would it want to ruin the relationship between Mary and Bethany?" Jackie wondered.
"Shifters start out as humans, and are very lonely, isolated creatures," Sam answered. "It probably wants everyone to feel like it does. That's if this is in fact a shifter."
"I think that's our best bet for now. But we should also talk with Bethany's husband, get a better look into her before the attack," Dean stated.
"Mary said she was perfectly normal in the days before," Jackie protested.
"Well, Mark might've seen her the day of, or just hours or minutes before. I think it would be good to get his insight. So while Jackie and I talk to him, Sam and Carly, you two do a sweep of Bethany's house."
"Wait, why can't I go with Sam?"
"Because Mary thinks you and I are a couple, and she probably spoke to Mark today and told him about us."
"Ugh, I don't want to spend alone time with you."
"Need I repeat rule number one?"
Jackie turned to Sam and poked him in the chest. "When this case is over, you and I need to get some quality time in."
"I couldn't agree more," Sam agreed, kissing her head.
Dean took Carly's hand and interlocked his fingers in hers. "You know you're my girl, right?"
Carly gave him a little bit of an uneasy, but convincing, smile and just said, "Of course."
The next morning, Sam drove Jackie and Dean to Mark's work. They had gotten the information from Mary.
As Sam and Carly drove to Bethany's house, Sam asked, "So, when you and Jackie are alone, like when you two were at school, did she talk about me?"
"Talk about you? I couldn't get her to shut up about you."
"Did she ever talk about Dean?"
She paused and then went on, "Look Sam, I know what you're feeling right now. But I can promise you, Jackie has no feelings for Dean. She is 100% in love with you. They're only acting like a couple to keep up with Mary's assumption."
"It was just their fighting last night, it was almost...flirty."
"Jackie and I talk about everything. And we've talked about this. She has assured me that she is not into Dean that way at all. And he's not into her. At least I hope he's not." She said that last part under her breath. Sam hadn't heard her.
He breathed out a sigh. "Okay, that makes me feel better. I just can't stand to lose her."
"I get that. I feel the same way about Dean."
"You love him, don't you?"
"Love? What, are you nuts? We've been together for a month."
"Jackie and I were together two days before we said it."
"Yeah, but that's you guys. Dean and I are much more practical." Carly knew she was lying through her teeth. She was madly in love with Dean. She just didn't want to say anything because if she told Sam, he would pressure her to tell Dean and she knew he was no way in love with her; at least not yet. And telling him would just ruin everything.
Meanwhile, Jackie and Dean were talking to Bethany's husband. He was the manager of an E Mart grocery store. Right now they were in his office.
"There was nothing off about her behavior in the days before," he told them. "Even that morning she seemed completely fine."
"She never brought up the idea that you were having an affair?" Jackie asked.
"Never. We were-still are happily married."
"Still? You're not going to end the marriage?" Dean questioned.
"Absolutely not. If anything, she needs me now more than ever. And I don't believe it was really her. Something had to have been wrong."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, when I got home that night, in our room, there was a pile of clothing and blood and what looked like melted flesh. I don't know what it was, but it was almost as though it might've been something that looked like her and shed it's skin. But of course, that's impossible."
"Right, right. Impossible."
When their interview was over, Dean and Jackie were waiting outside for Sam to pick them up and were talking.
"So, is it a shifter?" Jackie asked him.
"Definitely. Shifters shed their skin when they take on someone else's look. I gotta call Sammy and let him know." He took out his phone and dialed Sam's number. "Sam. Listen, when are you two getting here? We gotta talk. ... What do you mean it's not gonna be for a while? ... Stupid morning rush hour. ...I don't have money for a cab!"
"I do," Jackie said. :It's in my...Damn it! I left my purse in Mark's office. I'll go get it." She went back inside as Dean finished up the phone call.
"You guys find anything at the house? ... I figured there would be no sulfur or EMF. It's definitely a shifter. We got the confirmation from the husband. Look, we'll talk more when we're all together." And then he hung up. A couple minutes later, Jackie came back out. "Alright, I called the cab. You got the money?"
She held up her purse. "Right here." He nodded and they waited for the cab. When it arrived, Dean opened the door for Jackie to slid in first. "Thanks babe." She hit his butt and winked at him.
Dean looked very confused, then realization hit him. "Oh, I see what you're doing. You're still pretending we're a couple."
She smiled innocently at him. "That's exactly what I'm doing."
"Okay then, sweetie." He slid in next to her and the cab took off.
All during the ride, Dean noticed that Jackie was acting peculiar. She kept inching herself closer to him and giving him looks. She even put her hand on his thigh. He just pulled his leg away and looked out the window. But he could still feel Jackie's gaze on him.
As soon as they got to the motel, Dean jumped out of the car and ran up to the room. But he wasn't alone for long. Jackie had quickly paid the driver, and was then in the room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, still staring at the man in front of her.
"Okay Jackie, what's up?" he asked, very confused. He took off his jacket and tie and walked closer to her. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Oh, I think you know why Dean," she answered, moving towards him, taking off her own jacket and tie as well; just throwing them on the floor. "But if you really don't know, I'd be happy to explain." She shoved him so he fell onto the bed. Before he could push himself up, Jackie was straddling him and crashed her lips onto his. Dean made a surprising noise and quickly pulled back. He went to say something, but she interrupted him. "Come on Dean, we both know why you really went along with the story that we were a couple, and why you wanted me to come with you today. You want me. And I want you." She kissed him again, forcing her tongue in his mouth. She pulled form him and leaned down to whisper in his ear, "Why would you want that little prude anyways? She won't even put out. But you know with me, you can get lucky whenever you want." She started sucking on his neck. Suddenly, an idea hot Dean. He reached under his pillow for his silver knife and slashed it across her arm. "AH!" she cried in pain. It had not only cut her, but was burning her.
"You're not Jackie, you're the shifter," Dean stated. He raised the knife to stab her, but the shifter stopped him and twisted his arm, making him cry out and drop the knife. He tried to push her off, but she just pinned him down. With a smirk, she attacked his mouth again.
At that moment, the motel room door opened and both their heads snapped that way. Seeing Sam and Carly standing there, Dean's face looked guilty and Jackie just kept her smirk. Without saying anything, Carly turned and ran out. Dena used all his weight to push the shifter off him and chased after her, calling her name. Sam just stood there, facing who he thought was his girlfriend. He was speechless.
Shifter Jackie just got off the bed and walked over to him.
"Sorry Sam, but we all knew I'd come to my senses sooner or later," she said as she walked out of the room, leaving him alone.
Told you I wasn't giving up! Please review!
