Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"Sam, look out!" Sam turned to see the object of their hunt charging right for him. He scrambled to get out of its path, but he wasn't moving fast enough. Suddenly a dark figure slammed into the zombie, knocking it off balance right before it was able to tackle Sam. Sam tracked the two figures with his eyes and once they hit the floor, he could see Dean's wolf wrestling with the zombie. He had no idea his brother could change that fast, Dean had been avoiding changing in front of Sam, choosing instead to go off alone to transform. Sam couldn't understand why Dean was ashamed of his condition. It was the same when they discovered Dean's ability to heal; he tried to hide it or to shrug it off as nothing.

Dean latched his powerful jaws on to the zombie's neck and started dragging it towards the grave they had dug up earlier. Sam followed, quickly grabbing the stake so they could pin the zombie in its grave and finish it off. With some effort, they managed to complete the job. After staking the zombie, Sam looked up at his brother who was standing at the edge of the hole; his paws not much help in driving in the stake.

"Thanks Dean," Sam said, breathing heavily. Dean snorted, getting rusty Sammy? "Shut up, Jerk," Sam retorted. Bitch. Sam laughed as he hauled himself out of the gaping hole. The brothers started walking back to the car with Dean still in his wolf form. "You sure do come in handy," Sam said teasingly with a Southern accent. Dean's response was a toothy wolf grin. "Dean," Sam started hesitantly, "Why do you always run off when you transform?" Dean stopped walking and Sam almost bumped into him. They stood in silence and Sam back pedaled, "I'm not afraid of you—," Dean flinched slightly and Sam tried to fix the situation again, "Err—I mean, you don't have to be ashamed—," Dean interrupted the tirade. Don't, Sam just don't. Dean trotted off behind the car and swiftly changed back to his human form.

"Let's go," he said shortly before climbing into the car. Sam followed more slowly, first throwing the tools into the trunk then dropped his tired body into the passenger seat.

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"Bobby, I don't know what to do. He's not the same."

"Of course he's not the same Sam; he got bitten by a werewolf. That takes a little getting used to."

"I know, but he was happy with it, and now…" Sam trailed off.

"You're going to have to talk to him about this," Bobby advised.

"Don't you think I've tried? Bobby, he won't say anything anymore. All I get are one word answers and grunts," Sam halted his rant and took a deep breath. "Maybe he's just sick of having to rescue me," Sam concluded miserably.

"Don't be stupid Sam; your brother has been looking after you your entire life. I don't think it's going to start bothering him now. Just talk to him, maybe it's time for you boys to take a vacation."

"I'll talk to you later Bobby," Sam hung up the phone, feeling no better than before he called their old friend. He sighed and walked out of the motel room to stare at the tree line. They always chose motels as close to a forest as they could get. Dean rarely slept inside anymore; he couldn't stand being confined like that all night. Even in the winter, he insisted on sleeping outside. As he watched, Dean emerged from the woods having already changed back into his two-legged shape. Sam watched his brother with hooded eyes as he approached the motel. "Ready to go?" he asked when his brother stopped in front of him. Dean nodded his head once and walked to the impala. Sam went back into the room to grab his things then followed his brother to the car.

They rode in silence for about an hour before Sam tried to start a conversation.

"I talked to Bobby today," he started. Dean just glanced over and then turned his eyes back to the road. "He thinks that we should take a vacation," Sam tried again. Dean responded with a noncommittal grunt. "Dean, come on man, talk to me. What's wrong?" Sam gave in to his worry and frustration. Dean shot his brother a sharp look.

"I'm fine."

Sam sighed heavily and shook his head.

"Fine, I found a hunt," he said, discouraged.

"Where?"

"Oklahoma," Sam answered. Dean didn't say anything else and Sam didn't try to engage him in conversation again.

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Sam looked over at the passenger side briefly to study his sleeping brother. Whatever problem Dean managed to keep to himself when he was awake showed through when he was asleep. He looked tortured and he fidgeted constantly. As they drove through Kansas, Sam noticed that Dean's sleep became more peaceful and he was still for the first time since falling asleep.

"Dean, wake up," Sam said softly to his brother. He had learned to be careful when waking Dean. It could be painful as he learned the hard way. Luckily it didn't take much and Dean was already sitting up. "We're there. I'm going to get some sleep and we can start on the hunt tomorrow." Dean nodded his understanding and got out of the car, immediately walking towards the forest near the motel. "See you in the morning," Sam called after his brother's receding back. Dean waved his hand in the air as he disappeared.

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"Sam!" Dean growled, his eyes practically glowing. They were wrong about this one, it wasn't their usual playmates; this was just some screwed up humans. He hated dealing with humans, they didn't make any sense and now they had Sam at gunpoint.

"Calm down, boy, and maybe we'll let Sam here live to see tomorrow," the man holding Sam sneered. Sam watched as Dean crouched predatorily, he knew what would come next.

"Dean, don't!" he warned, "There are witnesses!" Dean hesitated for a moment before springing at the man restraining Sam, changing in mid-air. He ignored the gasps of the human bystanders as they watched him go from human to wolf. They would just have to deal with that problem later; right now Sam's safety was at stake.

Dean collided with Sam and his captor, taking all three of them to the ground. Sam was able to roll away as Dean ended the tumble on top of the man. He lowered his head for the kill but his brother's voice stopped him.

"Dean," the one word contained so much emotion that Dean stopped and raised his head to look at his brother. This scum deserves to die. "Maybe, but not like this," Dean was about to argue when his sensitive ears picked up the sound of sirens. Run! He thundered in Sam's head, his voice so loud Sam winced. Run now! Dean said urgently, with a little less volume. "What about you?" Dean just gave him a look and Sam took off with one last glance at his brother. The gathered crowd was gaping at the seemingly one sided conversation between Sam and Dean. Dean waited until Sam disappeared before moving away from the man. Have fun with the cops. He projected to the man who was staring at Dean with terrified horror. Dean turned to run but found himself surrounded by men armed with whatever they could find. He snarled softly. Out of my way. They looked spooked but held their ground.

"I don't know who or what you are, but you are going to wait for the cops." Dean snorted, like hell I am, he's the bad guy. Give him to the cops and move out of my way! Dean started advancing on the gathered men when he heard a gun cock, followed by multiple others. He turned to face the police that had arrived on scene. He was surrounded, and there was no way to avoid all those bullets. Sure, he'd heal, but not before they caught him. Damn, Dean cursed to himself as they police closed in on him and the man cowering at his feet.