At sunup they found a roadside motel and checked in for a few hours' sleep. They were all disappointed after a long night of nothing. No wild animals, no monsters. Just no sleep and cold air and way too much coffee. All three were feeling more refreshed and ready to face the day after sleep and a quick breakfast. They took separate cars to Amy's house, Sam still riding in the Intrepid. He and Gwen were laughing as they stepped out of the car parked on a rural street.
"Looks like you two enjoyed yourselves." Dean commented as he climbed from the Impala.
They glanced at each other and just began laughing harder. Dean shook his head, "So where's Amy?"
All signs of levity dropped from her face as Gwen turned to look up at the sprawling house. She looked from one brother to the other, and then headed for the front door, "Up here."
They walked up the cement steps and crossed a small lawn, stopping on a porch that was in dire need of a repaint. Gwen rapped on the door, and smiled when it was opened a minute later, "Amy!"
"Gwen!" The girl was short and blonde, with petite features. The girls embraced and Gwen gestured to the two behind her.
"This is Sam and Dean Winchester. They're friends of mine."
"And … they know? … What you do, I mean." Amy looked up at them questioningly
"We're working with her," Sam answered.
"They're good guys," she said reassuringly. "Do you mind if we come in?"
"Of course," Amy stepped aside, and welcomed them in.
After they were situated in the living room, Dean spoke, "So … you think your boyfriend's a werewolf?"
Amy nodded, "I'm sure of it."
Gwen's voice was soft, "I know that what happened last year scared you..."
"It's not that. … I just know." Amy sighed, nervously picking at a cuticle. "It's been going on three months now. When the first guy died … Well the papers called it an animal attack. I wanted to believe it. I couldn't bear to think that I would encounter another wolf. Then the second month came. Four people died in three days. I started to get scared. I told Paul that we should leave town, but he refused. And then last night someone else died."
"Well, it sounds like a werewolf," Sam looked to Gwen.
She nodded, leaning forward to gently take Amy's hand, "Why do you think it's Paul?"
"He disappears at night. I ask him about it, and he pretends he doesn't know what I'm talking about."
"And it's only around the full moon?" Dean asked.
Amy shook her head, "No, he's been doing it a few times a week. … But I think that's just as an alibi or something. … To make it look like it's not just at the full moon?"
Gwen exchanged a glance with the brothers, "Amy, it's possible that this could be someone else. Some people who have been bitten, well they don't even know what happens to them once a month. Maybe Paul got a second job?"
The blonde shook her head again, emphatically, "No." Her voice wobbled, "I know it's him."
As tears spilled from blue eyes, Gwen rose to her feet and moved over to the guys, who stood to join her, "Why don't you two go down to the morgue, find out what you can about the latest bodies. I'll stay with Amy and see if she can give any more concrete evidence."
Displeasure shone in green eyes, "And what if it is her boyfriend? What if Paul comes back while you're still here?"
"He's at work, and will be until later this afternoon." She brushed off the question, but noticed that her answer did not seem to satisfy him, "We can't waste time here. We've only got one night to take care of this, since last night was a bust."
Sam nodded, "Agreed. Come on, Dean."
Strong jaw tightened, lips pinched firmly together. He knew he couldn't press without seeming too overprotective. "Call us the second you find out anything."
"Same to you guys," She turned away quickly, fighting to stop the flush in her cheeks. It was the damnedest thing, that something so small as a muscle flex in his jawline could throw her stomach into knots. Attraction gnawed at her gut, filling her mind with distracting thoughts. How was she going to continue working with them if Dean's displeasure turned her on?
"Just ignore it," she thought to herself. "You've got a job to do. Now get your shit together and fucking do it!"
As the Winchesters left the room, she settled herself back down in the seat closest to Amy, "The guys are going to go find us some answers, ok? While they're doing that, why don't we talk a little more."
The girl nodded shakily, taking Gwen's hand again. When blue eyes sought brown ones for assurance, they found warmth and sincerity, "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, Amy. I promise."