*side note: Im just going to refer to shifter Dean as Toby since now you know his real name now. Same as for Mathis.*

*Also I hope this chpt. makes sense. I'm pretty tired, but I'll fix it if it doesn't. Thanks.*

*Again no beta.*

Dean couldn't stop pacing around the motel room him and John were currently in. They should have done more research and realized that there were two shifters involved instead of one, Dean should have had Sam in front of him instead of in back of him.

When their dad was gone Dean was so used to charging ahead, going in front of Sam so he was between him and danger, that when John was back in the picture he charged ahead again leaving Sam behind.

None of the men knew the shifters real intent, but Dean knew he shouldn't have taken his eyes off of Sam for a second.

Kind of the same thing happened when Sam was fifteen and Dean was nineteen. Sam was still growing into his legs so he was very uncoordinated, so when Dean got over-zealous and flew ahead of him side by side with John, he never noticed when Sam fell and hit his head on a rock. Then instead of just lying there he got up, was very confused, and started walking aimlessly threw the dense forest. It wasn't until Dean and John killed the werewolf that they actually noticed Sam was missing. They blamed each other, but Dean knew Sam was ultimately HIS responsibility, and he lost him.

They easily found him that time staggering threw the forest, not knowing what the heck was going on and needed stitches in his forehead. Dean didn't leave his side for a long time after that.

At least that time he wasn't knocked out and then taken by a couple of dam creatures that didn't care if he lived or died. And what was killing Dean was he didn't know what they were actually doing to Sam. Were they hurting him? Was he already dead…? He didn't even want to fathom that last question.

Then the whole incident with the 'Dean' shifter in St. Louis. That one was still fresh, way too fresh. The dam thing was going to kill Sam using Dean's face. But once Dean saw himself chocking the life out of his little brother, those silver bullets couldn't fly fast enough to kill him. And the second he found out that this case was another shifter case, he should have just let John and another hunter handle it. But of course he insisted he put on a strong front and convinced himself he was over it, which made Sam ok with the whole thing. And now look where they are? Sam is in the hands of two dangerous shifters and he didn't know if he could get to him in time.

Hopefully the shifters would let him talk to Sam when they called in….10 hours and 23 minutes. But who was counting?

John finally looked up from the files and peered at Dean.

"Dam it Dean pacing won't do anything to help."

Dean looked up from his pacing and glared at his father.

"Neither is sitting here but that's exactly what you're doing."

Dean knew he was being out of line, but John didn't know what the hell they went through. The first night after the first shifter incident, how Sam would flinch when Dean would make any sudden movements towards him. It just about killed him. John stood up and walked towards Dean.

"Dam it Dean this was a set up. This wasn't some random shifter killings, they killed to lure us here, so that they could get to Sam, so they could make us do whatever they wanted us to do. This was well planned on their part so we need to be careful. Any sudden movements from us and the shifters could panic and just kill him. We need to wait and see what the hell it is they want first."

Deep down he knew his father was right. These bastards planned this, which meant they were already two steps ahead.

Dean settled down on his bed and put his head in his hands. He was at a total loss, not in control of this hunt, and his brother was in trouble. Never a good combination.

Dean looked at his father.

"I'm going to the bar."

Without another word Dean left. He didn't even take the impala, he just left. He needed time to walk and clear his head.

He had his gun with him. He always did. He could go into the sewers right now and look around. But it's possible they wouldn't be there and he would have wasted all that time.

For now Dean was going to walk, and get drunk, and count down the minutes until those bastards called him.

~*SPN*~

Toby couldn't help but keep looking over to Sam every now and then. He had some time before Mathis got back, so he was hoping to talk to the kid. Maybe even come to a conclusion as to what to do when Mathis did come back. He wasn't downloading the real John's memories as he should. Not as fast or as much as Toby.

Maybe that's why Toby felt such a pull towards Sam. He was trying to download as many as Dean's memories as possible to see why his personality has taken a full 180. After a while he started to get a headache.

He ran his fingers threw his hair, and was tempted to go for a walk when he heard a moan coming from Sam. He stayed seated watching the younger man finally start to wake up.

Finally hazel eyes met hazel eyes. Toby didn't know exactly how to react in this situation. Could Sam notice right away that this isn't the real Dean just by looking into his eyes?

"De…" Sam's hands went to his head and Toby stood up.

"Ummm…Hey. How do you feel?"

Toby was trying to not act awkward around Sam, but it was hard.

"My head hurts and everything is fuzzy."

Right away Dean got up, get some strong muscle relaxers and a glass of water, and sat down on the bed next to Sam, who drank the water and took the pills without question.

He tried to sit up when Toby held him back down.

"Whoa I'm pretty sure you have a concussion there. Just relax for a little while."

Sam was confused. Not just concussed confused, but drugged confused. But Dean was only giving him something like extra strength Tylenol right? That's all they only really needed. Yet the extreme fog in his brain and the extreme cotton mouth was telling him otherwise.

"Dean what are you giving me?"

"Just something stronger than Tylenol."

All Sam did was nod in confusion. He would get a straight answer once his head felt better he was sure.

"Where's dad?"

Toby swallowed and couldn't make contact with him. He just looked away and down.

"Out to the bar."

"Ah." Was all Sam could manage to come out with. Then he really start to think about it.

"What happened with the shifters?"

Toby thought about it.

"We killed them. They knocked you out but me and dad got them."

He was playing into this 'Dean' role quite nicely. Granted the only real reason why Sam was truly buying into it was because of the head injury and because he was drugged up, but if Sam accepted him, this could be ok.

Maybe he could keep Sam drugged until the real Dean and John got them what they needed, then he could come clean with Sam and they could be cool with each other. But again he downloaded a lot of Dean's memories, and knew Sam wouldn't just run away with him. Not to mention when the real Dean caught up he was a dead man…or shifter. Whatever.

It would make things so much simpler just to wait until Sam was asleep again and change into a random skin. That way he didn't feel such a protective pull towards Sam, and they could get the job at hand done.

But he didn't want a different skin. He actually liked being in Dean's skin. And he liked the pull towards Sam. Everything seemed so right for the first time. But he knew he needed the amulet.

There was the amulet being held in the local museum that wasn't VERY important to people, but it was valuable to the supernatural realm. And Mathis wanted it more than anything. That's why he enrolled the help of Tobias.

He knew one shifter against 3 Winchester's were bad odds, but 2? He may be able to pull it off. And he did. And now that they had Sam, they knew John and Dean would do whatever they could to get Sam back. Including breaking into the museum and stealing the amulet for them.

The amulet gave the supernatural possessor the ability to do whatever it was their hearts desired. It went as far back as pirates trying to use its powers, but because it was useless to them it never worked and was lost in the museum rounds.

But Mathis somehow learned of its trick, and wanted it. For what Toby didn't know, but he certainly didn't like it.

The only catch was the supernatural couldn't actually touch the dam thing. It had to be bathed in human blood and then could be touched by something other than human hands. Hence why they needed John and Dean to steal it. They couldn't touch it…yet.

So once they got the amulet covered in blood, the Winchester's got Sam back…That was the 'plan.'

But Toby knew Mathis was going to use Sam's blood to use dam thing, and that's what scared him. He was going to bleed the kid dry.

Toby was brought out of his thoughts as Sam yawned and saw as his eye lids started to get droopy.

"Man whatever you're giving me is making me sleep like crazy. Maybe change up the meds a little."

Toby felt bad for always having to drug Sam, but he knew if he didn't that he would fight, and Mathis would kill him.

"Sure dude. I'll look for something less potent."

That was all Toby said as he watched Sam fall back into the pillow and bury his face into it. Sure he wanted to talk to Sam, but it was getting to dam dangerous.

Finally he made a decision. He was sick and tired of Mathis calling the shots. He didn't want Mathis to lay a finger on Sam.

Toby packed up his meager belongings quickly. He needed to be as fast as possible.

Next he looked out into the parking lot and saw an older car that would fit a 6' 4" sleeping Winchester. Perfect.

He quickly picked the car door and threw his things inside.

Next he went into the room. He carefully wrapped a still falling asleep Sam in the sheets, and started to carry him to the car in a rush.

"De…"

Toby looked down while speed walking and then looked back up.

"Uhhhh yeah."

"Are you…are you carrying me somewhere?"

"Uh yeah Sam I am. Just trust me on this ok?"

"Oh sure ok….hey Dean?"

"Yeah."

"Since when are you able to carry me like this?"

Toby was going to answer when he noticed Sam had passed out. Thank god for potent drugs.

'Good. No more questions.'

Toby put Sam into the backseat of the car. He was willing to make a run for it to save Sam from whatever Mathis had planned, but he knew he had to hurry.

And hell maybe if he even talked to John and Dean they could all take down Mathis and stop him from getting his evil grubby hands on that dam amulet…IF they listened to him AFTER he got Sam to a safe location.

Once Sam was securely in the car Toby hot-wired the it, and took off in the opposite direction than Mathis. This wasn't the best plan he has ever come up with, and he certainly wasn't used to 'saving' someone. But right now, this is how his body was responding. All his mind was saying was 'Save Sam.'

Toby was sure he was in the clear, until he saw a pair of high beams behind him. He thought it was a normal car until it sped up faster and actually rammed him from behind making him jolt.

"Son of a bitch!"

At first he thought it was the impala, but no way would they try to ram a car off the road that Sam was in.

It was Mathis.

The son of a bitch somehow figured out Toby wouldn't let this whole plan go down, and didn't travel as far as he said he would. Hell he was probably waiting outside the motel road somewhere to see if he could trust him.

Toby looked back at Sam and saw him stir but not wake up. Then he felt something else come over him. Something stronger than he has ever felt.

The phrase 'Over protective big brother mode' came into his thoughts, and he smiled.

This was a different kind of adrenaline. He was running away protecting someone rather than running towards something trying to kill them. It was different, it was over powering.

For the first time in his life he was responsible for someone, and he liked it.

Of course once he lost his skin he wouldn't have the same urges, but for now, while he was in Dean's skin, he had to get away.

Unfortunately Mathis was right on his heels, and without warning got bumped from the side back, which made him slid the car right into a tree.

Toby hit his head on the steering wheel, but he could somewhat tell what was going on around him.

He was dazed and confused now himself, and couldn't heal or move fast enough.

He heard a car door squeak open and looked out his left driver's side window. He saw an angry Mathis standing over him with a gun.

"I knew I couldn't trust you. Should have done this shit alone."

With that Toby heard a gunshot, and felt a hot pain in his abdomen, and it took him a minute to realize he was shot. He flinched and closed his eyes, also trying to breath threw the pain.

He didn't open his eyes until he heard another door creaking open, and when he looked again he saw Mathis with Sam cradled in his arms.

He wanted so badly to fight him, but the pain from the car wreck and gun would was too much to bare.

"I'll take care of everything from here. I hope you bleed out slowly." Was all Mathis said as he readjusted his hold on Sam and started walking away.

Toby wanted to give chase, but he knew he wouldn't win. He not only failed as a shifter, he failed as a second Dean.

'Dam. This is what Dean felt like losing Sam'

His breathing became heavier, until finally he closed his eyes, and passed out from the pain.

~*SPN*~

Dean was so lost in thought he walked right past the bar and just kept walking down the deserted road. He would get a drink on his way back to the motel, but right now he needed a clear head.

He walked for what seemed like a few hours before seeing something weird. He saw the tail lights on of a car, and said car was wrapped around a tree.

Without thinking he took off at a sprint to see if the occupant was still alive.

He pulled open the driver's door and noticed someone very familiar behind the wheel…himself.

"What the fuck.?"

He was going to investigate further when a pair of familiar green eyes sudden locked on his. It was eerie seeing himself in a car, with a head wound, and blood everywhere. He got closer to his doppelganger and checked for Injuries.

"Man what is going on? What are you?"

Toby coughed and looked up at the real Dean.

"Sam in trouble…gatta…find him…"

That was all the shifter said as he passed out again.

Dean cursed. This must have been one of the asshole that took Sam in the first place, but nothing else was making sense.

He took the shifter by the shoulders, and shook him.

"Wake up you piece of shit! Now where the hell is Sam?"

Toby opened his eyes slightly and peered at Dean.

"Taken…blood amulet…find him fast."

Then Toby collapsed again.

Dean cursed under his breath, pulled out his cell, and called his father.

"Yeah dad it's me. I have one of the shifters that took Sam, and it's not a pretty sight."

It was then that Dean noticed the bullet wound. This was going to be another long night.