Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you like this chapter.

Disclaimer: There is ownership. But it is not mine.

"Dean, you're lucky most things in this town are all within walking distance from the motel," Sam said as they walked (or, in Dean's case, wheeled) into the kitschy diner for lunch. The brothers had strayed in their motel for three days straight after Dean's accident. Perhaps it would have been much longer had Dean not announced the pain in his leg had receded and he was ready to face the demands of the outside world. The reality that Dean's leg was hurting him worse than ever was living testament to the fact that most guys will go to great lengths for a good burger and a side of fries.

Which was exactly what was on Dean's mind has he manoeuvred his chair into the awkwardly shaped doorway of Miller's Diner. Sam had given up attempting to help Dean as help was never accepted gratefully - though help was required less and less as Dean became accustomed to using the squeaky wheelchair.

"No, Sam, I think you're the lucky one. Another day trapped in that room with you, geekboy, and you'd have been chucked out on your ass."

"Not if I pushed you over and you couldn't get up," Sam replied quietly. Dean's face flushed a little at the memory of his first day in the motel room when he fell off the bed. He'd urgently needed to use the bathroom and had to ring Sam's cell phone so he could help him up. Sam had come home early from grocery shopping and helped Dean into his chair - neither had said a word about it since.

"Bitch."

The diner was painted light-blue in an attempt to capture a nostalgic 50's feel but the random assortment of artwork on the walls and the mismatched tan seats ruined the effect and made the diner look like the place that good taste forgot.

As he sat down at a hideous booth Sam noticed Dean was having considerable trouble sliding into the seat - despite the fact that he had spent days managing, somewhat awkwardly, to manoeuvre himself. It was clear to Sam why when Dean sighed heavily, a look of utter helplessness on his face, and glanced at a dark-haired waitress who immediately rushed over in concern.

Sam exhaled and roughly pushed Dean into the seat with a plastic smile on his face.

"Thanks, Sam…" Dean said through clenched teeth.

"That's so sweet, helping your friend out like that," the waitress said in her high pitched voice. She was wearing a blue uniform that matched the walls and a nametag that read 'Hi! I'm Nicki!'.

"Yeah, he's my brother," Dean said, kicking Sam under the table.

"Aww, that's so nice! When my roommate had a knee reconstruction I got so frustrated helping her hobble around. You are so good to put up with it like that," she said, beaming at Sam as Dean glared to himself. "So what'll it be?"

"I'll have the classic beef burger," Sam said, glancing at the laminated menu. "With extra onions. And a coke."

"Well, Nicki, I'll have the double beef burger with extra fries, a large chocolate thickshake and a bowl of spicy chicken wings," Dean said, sounding irritated. Nicki repeated the order, winked at Sam and left the booth. Sam stared at Dean.

"What? You're paying…" Dean said in response to Sam's expression. "This is my first shot at real food for three days!"

"I made you eggs for breakfast!"

Nicki soon came over, balancing the large amount of food on a worn-looking silver tray. She placed a large chocolate nut sundae in front of Sam.

"For you, sweetie. It's on me," she said in a whisper, giving Sam another wink. Dean gaped at Sam as Nicki walked away bouncily.

"That is not fair! I break my leg and you get free food!"

"Fracture of the talus, Dean - and I didn't even have to put on 'the ol' puppy dog eyes'," Sam said, looking triumphant. Dean scoffed.

"It's just 'cause of this chair. She couldn't see my ass," said Dean lightly. "If I wasn't temporarily disabled it would have been me getting that free sundae."

"Hey Sam! Dean!" The brothers turned to see Jennifer, dressed in a blue waitress's uniform, walking towards them. "Dean, how's the leg?"

"Peachy."

Jennifer looked at the untouched sundae sitting in front of Sam. "Did Nicki give you that?" she asked with a smile.

"Yeah. Oh… I can pay for it if you want-"

"No, don't worry about it. So... hows the hunt going?" Jennifer's expression changed from perky to serious.

"Oh, we've been, uh, researching for three days," Dean said quickly. "The working theory is demon possession, but we found no traces of sulphur. We'll have to question people who were with Annie that day. And anyone who was with Tom too."

"Oh, yeah, of course. Nicki was working the same shift as Annie and I that night. And I think my boyfriend, Dylan, was with Tom the day he disappeared."

"Do you know where we could catch him?"

"He works as a manager at the mall during the day. Tonight his friend's having a Halloween party – that's where I'll see him next. Maybe you two could come? Starts at eight-thirty. The house is opposite mine on Blake road."

"I'm not really that into Halloween…" Dean said wearily.

"Oh, it's a costume party, but you don't have to dress up. It should be fun! I bet you two have been starved for fun doing all that research."

"We'll see if we can make it," Dean said in a non-committal way. Jennifer left and Sam and Dean finished their meals (Dean ate Sam's complimentary sundae). Nicki came over to take their plates and Sam asked her if Annie had been strange the day she disappeared.

"No, she was fine," Nicki replied. "In fact she was excited. She had just got a job interview at the pet shop and was asking me what she should wear. She's always wanted to be a vet but she can't afford college right now. I told her that experience in that sorta field would-"

"Yes, thanks Nicki," Dean said abruptly. Nicki left carrying the silver tray now stacked with dirty plates. "So whaddya think, college boy?"

"About what?"

"The disappearances. The freak with super-human strength who's taking promising young adults and doing God-knows-what with 'em."

"I don't know, Dean."

"Yeah, that's what I was afraid of."

Dean's laughter echoed throughout the brick motel room. He was watching an old rerun of Hogan's Heroes on an outdated television set. Sam walked in the room, fresh out of the shower.

"Dean, what time do you want to get there?" he asked, pulling on a tee shirt.

"Where, Sammy?" Dean's attention was firmly on the television set.

"Jennifer's boyfriend's friend's party. We can talk to everyone who was with Tom before he went missing."

"What? We're not going."

"Why aren't we going?" Dean paused, obviously looking for a reason.

"Well I just thought we weren't going. I didn't think you were in a party mood. Just thought we'd stay here. Watch Letterman."

"I'm not staying home just to watch Letterman. Is your leg bothering you? Is that why you wanna stay home?"

"I don't wanna stay home; I just thought we… were."

"Fine. You wanna stay home? I'll go."

"What? No, I'll go if-"

"Do you need me to stay home? In case you need help?"

"Fine, go. You should get some questioning done," Dean said, facing the television again.

"I can stay home if you want me to, Dean."

"I said go. I don't need you to stay anyway," said Dean with a sigh. "Do you have a costume?"

"I'm not sure… I'd need to find it in here," Sam called from his bedroom.

"You can't just throw a sheet over your head Sammy. Not unless you want to go as a very stylish taupe ghost…"

"Found it!" Sam called. He walked through to the bathroom carrying something constructed from black fabric.

"Sam? Whaddya got there?"

Sam emerged minutes later wearing a Reverend's suit and collar. He had combed his hair back and put on a large gold cross pendant.

"You still have that?" Dean said, a smirk across his face.

"You never know when it might come in handy. How do I look?"

"You look hot." Sam glared at Dean. "Well I don't know, you look… Godly?"

"…Thanks."

"It's not very Halloween-ey though, is it?"

"Well it's this or a knife wielding murderer. And I thought that might be a bad idea. You know, considering…"

"Plus you could never pull off knife-wielding murderer, Sammy. You look much too innocent."

"It's Sam. And was that a compliment?"

"No. No it wasn't."

Thanks for taking the time to read this. And yes - the plot will be going somewhere soon. I'd really appreciate it if you reviewed! Should I include more angst, humour, romance etc.?