remember i'll be shifting between a POV of the shapeshifer as Dean and Andy. you'll be able to tell when it's the shapeshifter.

0o0o0o0o

Chapter 13: Skin Part 2

Dean and I made our way back to the house and Sam was sitting on the couch in the living room talking with Rebecca.

"Hey, hope its okay we just walked in. The door was open." Dean said motioning to the door.

I sat on the arm of the couch and Sam offered me a sip of his beer. I just looked at him. Was he serious? Were we not fighting twenty minutes ago? But I nodded and figured let bygones be bygones. I wasn't going to let a stupid little thing like that keep me mad at him. I took the bottle and took a short sip, passing it back to him with a small smile. He smiled back as Rebecca got up to check the door. I'm glad it only took a sip from a bottle and a smile to fix things with Sam. He was one of those people I could never stay mad at. Maybe it was because he was always so sweet and gentle all the time; whereas people like Dean were rough around the edges. Although rough wasn't something I had trouble dealing with…

"Sorry, I was pretty sure I locked that." Rebecca said returning. "Why don't I get you two some beers and I'll show you that tape."

We followed her into her other living room, yes she had like three, and popped in the security tape. We all watched closely as her brother darted across the street.

"22:04, that's just after ten. You said time of death was about 10:30." Dean said, looking at the bottom of the screen.

Rebecca nodded. "Our lawyers hired some kind of video expert. He says the tape's authentic. It wasn't tampered with."

I noticed Sam seemed to shift and notice something on the screen. "Hey, Bec, can you get me a refill by chance?"

She nodded and got up to head to the kitchen when Sam called her to turn around again.

"Maybe some sandwiches, too?" He smiled that dorky smile anyone could fall for. I knew by adding sandwiches he must have found something that needed discussing.

"What do you think this is, Hooters?" she asked and looked directly at Dean before turning around.

I scoffed as Dean smiled. She wasn't attractive or big enough chested to even mop the floor at Hooters. And there I go again. One little smile at Dean and I'm ready to pull the other persons hair out. What the hell was wrong with me?

"I wish." Dean said shaking his head and walked past me. He only brushed against me but my skin was instantly tingling. Like the way your foot or hand falls asleep. But this time it was my whole body and the tingling wasn't pins and needles. It was something that made my stomach twist into knots. "What is it?" he asked.

"Check this out." Sam said rewinding the tape. One of the frames showed Zack looking exactly at the camera, but his eyes were glowing silver.

"What the hell is that?" I asked, my face going closer to the screen.

"Maybe it's just a camera flare." Dean offered.

"Pretty freakin' weird flare."

Sam nodded in agreement. "That's not like any camera flare I've ever seen. You know, a lot of cultures believe that a photograph can catch a glimpse of the soul."

"Remember that dog that was freakin' out? Maybe he saw this thing. Maybe this is some kind of dark double of Zack's, something that looks like him but isn't him." Dean said looking at the screen again.

"Like a Doppelganger." I said smiling a little. It was kind of cool thinking that this thing could be anything it wanted. Could be any person it wanted. Although I guess the killing kind of took the shine off it.

"Yeah, it'd sure explain how he was two places at once."

I nodded. Wonder how in the hell we'd explain this to Rebecca. She was gonna run in the other direction, most people did when things like this happened.

0o0o0o0o

"Alright, so what are we doin' here at 5:30 in the morning?" Dean asked stepping out of the car. I just shook my head and lay down in the back of the Impala. I loved Sam to death but he was a morning person. And all morning people should be damned. He was way too awake and happy at 5:30 to be normal. Dean and I saw anything before ten as the devil and good morning was defiantly an oxy moron.

Dean tapped on the window. "Hey sleeping beauty, rise and shine. If I have to suffer so do you."

I grunted at him and rolled on my other side. I was still in my pajamas none the less. Dean basically had to pull me from bed. Thank god I was wearing sweats and a camisole, otherwise pajama bottoms with little ducks on them would be highly embarrassing.

Dean made one final attempt. "I'll give you the rest of my coffee."

I sat up. I didn't understand why I didn't have one in the first place. I heard Sam yell at me to get up and said he was going out to get coffee. I guess I skipped over the part that said, 'Andy get your ass out of bed or no caffeine IV'. Ergo, I had no coffee.

I got out of the car and he handed the coffee to me. "Maybe more sleep would be good for you. Ya know, more of the beauty kind."

I glared at him, ready to pour the coffee somewhere uncomfortable on his person. "That better have some kind of compliment or you're getting this coffee in a place that'll scar."

His mouth slowly formed into a grin and he looked away from me and at Sam, who was across the street looking at the back of Zack's house.

"I realized something." Sam said walking back over to us.

"That 5:30 is still in the AM and people need sleep to function?" I asked.

"The videotape shows the killer goin' in, but not comin' out." Sam said ignoring my anti early attitude.

"So, he came out the back door?" Dean asked.

"Right. So, there should be a trail to follow. A trail the police would never pursue."

Dean nodded, catching on. "Right, because they think the killer never left. And they caught your friend Zack inside."

"So two places at once." I said taking a whiff of the strong coffee. I wondered if caffeine could fuel you that way. Wow, off topic. "What are we thinking?"

Sam and Dean thought for a second. "Shape shifter?" Sam asked and Dean shrugged.

It seemed most likely. "Something that can make itself look like anyone?"

"Every culture in the world has shape shifter lore. You know legends of creatures who can transform themselves into animals or other men." Dean said shifting against the car.

"I picked up a trail around the corner. Someone ran out the back of this building and headed off this way. But the thing is the trail suddenly ends. I mean, whatever it is just disappeared."

Dean looked confused and I looked at the ground seeing a grate and manhole. "Well, there's another way to go." They both looked at me and I gestured to the ground. "Down."

0o0o0o0o

"I can't believe were heading into the sewer." I grimaced heading down the latter. I looked down at the Winchesters and Dean grabbed my arm helping me down the last few pegs.

"What afraid you'll break a nail?" Dean asked.

I rolled my eyes. "You're the one afraid of rats."

Sam laughed, opening up the duffel bag. "You can fight hell spawns but a little furry rat terrifies you?"

"I believe she used the word afraid. And rats are creepy. Little beady eyes and tails." Dean added a little disgusted.

I smiled and turned my flashlight on, rolling the ends of my sweatpants a bit. I was not getting sewer on the ends. "Right, and I'm the girl of this team."

Dean shoved a handgun into my hands and turned around to lead. I smiled and placed the gun in the waistband of my sweats and followed him, Sam behind me.

"I bet this runs right by Zack's house. The shape shifter could be using the sewer system to get around." Sam said looking around at the pipes and walls.

Dean stopped and bent down. I hadn't realized he'd done it and almost tripped over him. And looking at what he'd found, I'm glad I didn't. "I think you're right. Look at this."

"What is it?" Sam asked.

I bent down beside Dean and Sam towered over us. There was a disgusting mess that made me want to lose the coffee I had just drunk. It was mostly looked like milk and honey coated the floor. But it definitely did not smell that way. I guess it really couldn't when you figured out it was actually skin and blood. A big old pool of it.

Sam grimaced. "Is this from his victims?"

Dean took out a pocketknife and swirled it around in the liquid. Did he really have to play with it like it was silly puddy or something?

"You know, I just had a sick thought. When the shape shifter changes shape—maybe it sheds."

I nodded and stood up and let Sam step in front of me.

"That is sick." Sam agreed.

"Well, at least were sure of one thing, one thing I learned from Dad, is that no matter what kind of shape shifter it is, there's one sure way to kill it."

Sam smiled. "Silver bullet to the heart."

Dean stepped over the vile and Sam did also. Sam walked ahead while Dean paused to reach his hand out to help me. I took it and did the largest leap I could to avoid sliding in the mess. Unfortunately, I over stepped because I slammed right into Dean. He hit the wall and I landed against him. I couldn't tell whether it was moments or seconds we stayed like that; just holding my hand and looking at each other. There couldn't have been something there for him right? He still saw me when I was seven taking his monster trucks? Still saw me in pigtails and chasing Sammy around the backyard? A breath caught in my throat as he shifted and I pushed back from him.

"Sorry." I muttered.

I stepped back further and headed down the passage after Sam. I didn't want him to confirm my questions.

0o0o0o0o

"I think we're close to its lair." Dean said as we caught up with him.

"Why do you say that?" I asked and tried to get my voice to relax a bit. Just be normal. It was just Dean.

"Because there's another puke-inducing pile next to your face." Dean said motioning to the side of my head. I jerked back and screamed and Dean snickered. I punched him in the shoulder.

"Real funny jackass." I said shaking my head, like I had gotten it in my hair or something.

Dean just continued laughing and stepped ahead of me. Yeah, I was right. Just Dean. Same old jackass ass antics Dean.

"Looks like it's lived here for a while." Dean said observing the somewhat large room. It had clothes and jewelry spilled about. But it was still messy. It had skin every other place on the floor and large pipes attached to the ground. I guessed they were water pipes or duh, sewage.

"Who knows how many murders he's gotten away with." Sam said turning to look back down the passage. His eyes got wide and for some reason my eyes were glued on him. "Andy, behind you!"

I turned as quickly as I could but it was just in time for me to get slammed into the wall by the shifter. My back collided with the wall and it felt like my spine was shattering. I forgot how strong the damn things were. It headed towards Dean and Sam as I slumped to the ground trying to regain my breathing. It had knocked the air right out of me, not to mention my ribcage felt like it was in pieces.

Dean raised his weapon and shot. It ricocheted off the walls and the shifter looked around frantically, running in the other direction.

"Andy…" Dean started and threw the gun at Sam. "Run after it."

Sam took off and Dean came to my side, helping me stand. "I got it, I'm fine. Go after the damn thing." I grit my teeth as pain shot through my spine.

"You can barely stand." Dean said helping me once again. For once I didn't want him to touch me, I wanted him to do his damn job. I was always getting in the way.

"Go, I'll be fine." He looked at me unsure. "Go! You'll never forgive yourself if something happens to Sam."

That looked like it got him thinking and he nodded, taking off down the passage. I tried straightening my back and running after him but it took too much effort and I was pretty sure my spinal cord had turned an entire 360. I'd just have to walk. Its not like anyone was down here anyway, Sam had chased the shape shifter up through the manhole again.

I heard something shift behind me and I turned slowly. Where the hell was my pistol? I took the thing out from my waistband and pointed it in front of me. I slowly walked foreword to the thing's lair again and looked around. Nothing seemed to be there but rats. Until someone came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist and his hand over my mouth.

I screamed and jerked against it but all he did was hold me tighter. "Shhh." He whispered against my ear and I couldn't help but shiver. "Just need to borrow your skin for a while my dear."

Everything went black.

0o0o0o0o

I tried pushing myself against the far wall. I saw a car across the street. It shined with its black beauty against the sun's glares. It was a nice build too. 67 Chevy, midnight black. Hadn't seen a fine one in condition in a long while. I saw two men approach it, one tall and one short. They both seemed out of breath and looking frantically around them. I put my head to my hand slowly.

"Hey Andy." Dean said coming into the kitchen with a .45 in one hand.

Sam brought me closer to him and he stroked my hair. "He knew Andy; just like you know he loves you."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be focusing on this. We have a job to do and those people are in danger." I tried pushing the job in front of my emotions. Like I was supposed to do.

I nodded. "He passed it on to you. He wants you to pick up where he left off. Saving people, hunting things, your family business."

Dean walked closer to me and urged me to continue.

"I didn't know what was wrong with them, hell I didn't even know if there was an actual problem. So I said nothing. And you guys went on the hunt and my dad died."

My head ached as the girls recent memories filled my thoughts. This girl Andy was just as alone as I was. Her life was forced to be something that she never wanted; that she couldn't handle. But she had Sam and she had Dean, I had no one. How could her life be that bad? A slow smile spread over my face as I looked at the two boys. Maybe being Andrea Core was who I was meant to be.

0o0o0o0o

I looked at them for moment, deciding if it was the best time to move. They seemed like they were searching hard for this Andy girl, why not make an appearance?

"Did you see her come out?" the shorter one barked at the tall. He seemed highly upset. The girl must have meant a lot to him. But as I shifted through Andy's thoughts nothing seemed to alert that they meant more to each other. Maybe he was just worried about her.

The tall one looked worried too, but seemed to have a cool head. "Maybe she's looking for the damn thing. I did lose it."

"She would have come back to the car Sam. She was hurt. Damn it!" He kicked the tire of the car. "I should have never left her down there by herself. If anything happens to her, it's my fault."

Sam was the taller one, so the shorter was Dean. Had to get the names right if I was Andy now.

"Dude, calm down." Sam tried coaxing. "She'll be okay."

Hurt? That's right, I slammed her against the wall. I put on the fakest hurt voice I could muster, and grabbed my side a little. "Dean…" I muttered.

Dean's head jerked to me. "Andy!"

Both of them rushed to my side, trying to help me from falling over.

"Where the hell were you?" Dean yelled. "We were worried."

I could feel Andy thinking Dean was controlling and orderly. Always about the job, never about emotions or people. Maybe Dean and I weren't too far apart either. After I was done with Andy, I had to think about giving Dean's skin a test drive too. He as much of a loner as Andy and I were.

"You think he found another way underground?" Sam asked, helping me lean against the car.

I nodded. I felt like I could add to it. "Yeah, probably. You got the keys?"

I wanted to drive that car. Hadn't wanted things in a long while. Except for someone and a skin I could call my own. But the car was definitely something on the list now.

Sam looked at me oddly. "You know Dean always has the keys. It's his car."

"Oh right…" I said faltering. I shifted through Andy's thoughts as quickly as I could.

"Well even if I said no, it's kind of too late. Sam took the car." Dean said smiling.

I shrugged. "I keep thinking you had them since you drove this morning and when you were pissed at me yesterday. Remember?"

Sam nodded slowly and looked at Dean. "Hey, didn't Dad once face a shape shifter in San Antonio?"

Dean shook his head, looking at me oddly too. Maybe this skin wasn't going to stay mine for too long. "It was Austin. And it was a thought former, physic projection."

"He was pissed too. Thought he came all that way to kill a shifter." I smiled at the memory. Well it wasn't really my memory but it was enough to fool the boys. I wondered what it was like, to have original memories. I couldn't remember one time where I had a thought that was actually my own.

Dean smiled and took the keys from Sam. "Know you're all gung ho to drive the car but your back's gotta be killing you." He said putting a hand on my shoulder.

I swore at myself for throwing the damn girl into the wall. I nodded and leaned into his touch. He seemed a little surprised so I pulled back a little. But from what I could tell Andy and Dean were way past awkward gestures.

He opened the door and he and Sam walked to their seats ahead of mine. I stroked the leather of the seat and looked at the two guys briefly. Andy didn't deserve her life, her skin. She had no idea what she had. Had is past tense. It was mine now.

"Don't move!" One of them said and I looked up. Both of them had pistols aimed straight at me.

I stood and looked at them both warily.

"I said, don't move." Sam spat.

"Chill, what's wrong with you two?" I asked trying to make my voice shake with fear. Like I was actually terrified they'd shoot me.

"What have you done with her?" Dean demanded.

"What are you talking about? It's me Dean." I pleaded. I could tell it was affecting him. Him more than Sam, it just confirmed that Andy and Dean had a lot more going for them than they let out. So scared to end up alone and they had each other and didn't even know it.

"No, I don't think so." Sam took over, seeing as how Dean wasn't threatening anymore. "Where is she?"

"You're about to shoot her. Sam, calm down. Dean tell him."

"Your back doesn't even hurt. I saw the way Andy hit the wall, she could barely stand let alone climb into the car." Dean spat.

"Yeah, I'm better. What do you want me to do, cry?" I provoked. This wasn't working. I'd have to take care of it soon. Stash the brothers where I stashed the girl.

"You're not her." Dean said. Anger was basically dripping from his voice. It seemed acidic.

"Why don't you pull the trigger then boys?" I cried. They hesitated a lot longer then I thought they would have. Lucky for me they weren't sure.

"Don't." Sam threatened as I stepped foreword. They still hadn't made one move to cock their weapons. So I was no where near endangered.

"Or what?" I smiled. "You'll shoot me. Wait till they drop Sam, then try that line again."

I threw a punch and kicked the weapon from Sam's hands and caught it, back handing Dean with it. As Dean fell back, Sam reacted. It only took one hit to knock him to the ground and two hits to knock the other out. I shook my head and looked at both of them. Was that really necessary? I kneeled next to an unconscious Dean and ran my hand over his face. Too bad they'd never know, him and Andy, if they could make it. If they could even try. They'd never see each other again.

0o0o0o0

I shook my head and groaned. My back was killing me. And above that I knew when I got to Sam and Dean again, if my back didn't, they were going to kill me. I was so stupid letting the shifter get a jump on me like that. I got injured, I cried, got tied up to a pole in the shifters lair with a bag over my head. What the hell did I do well? Anything? Other then add comic relief and a feminine perfume smell to the Impala?

I heard someone approaching me and I prayed to God it was Dean or Sam. The bag was removed and I shook my head. My head was killing too. I was surprised I hadn't severely injured my chest, seeing as how everything else hurt and how I collided with a wall and landed with my chest against the concrete.

"Dean?" I asked, his blurred feature coming into form . I don't think I was ever happier to see him.

He just looked at me. "Well come on, untie me."

He stood and I shook my head. "No…where's Dean…and Sam."

It had to be the shifter. And if Dean and Sam weren't alright, I didn't care what lengths I had to go to. The thing would be dead by my hands by sundown.

"Your boys are a little hogtied right now." He said smoothly, leaning down closer to me.

"You son of a bitch." I muttered and he back handed me. The hit was quick and the sting was slow up my jaw. I didn't know what made it hurt more. The fact that the shifter was stronger than a man or the fact that I thought it was Dean hitting me. A tear escaped my eye and I shook my head angrily.

"Aw, hush now Andy." The shifter cooed. Dean's hand came up and rubbed my face and I jerked back disgusted.

"You don't even sound human." I said angrily.

"I sound just like Dean." He said cockily. "And honestly? I'd enjoy it if I were you. Because this? This might be the very last time you see or hear anything that remotely reminds you of him."

"What did you do to him? To Sam?" I asked. I tried keeping my emotions in check. But he knew they were my weak spots. Just like I was Sam and Dean's.

"You don't really wanna know." He said then chuckled. "Ya know, it's odd." He kneeled down close to my face. "I can't sift out how he feels about you. On one hand he can't stand you Andy. The fact that you're on the road with him and that you want a normal life. Jealous I guess. The fact that Sam and you are so close. Sharing things and budding up against him."

I shook my head. "That's not true."

"Isn't it? I was in your head too Andy. Can't lie to me."

I looked down as tears filled my eyes. "Where are they?" I asked again. It was my last attempt at anger. "Where's Dean?"

"I am Dean." He whispered sensuously. He leaned in and left a small kiss on my cheek. It made me furious, but I kept my cool. Ending up dead would help no one. "See deep down. I'm just scared. That you'll leave and I'll have no but myself. I need you Andy, more than I need anyone. I know I'm freak. And sooner or later you'll see it too."

Did Dean really feel that way? Did he really think I was going to leave him? No matter what would have happened, I would have never left him. I loved him, both of them. They were all I had left.

He then leaned in and kissed me hard. So hard I thought I felt blood seep into my mouth. When he pulled back and I opened my eyes he was gone.

The thing that scared me the most was that Dean had kissed me. Hard and passionate and I enjoyed it. It wasn't even Dean. Not the real one and I still felt like I was on fire.

0o0o0o0o

"That Andy is a pistol." I said still in Dean's skin. I approached the brother's slowly, gouging their reactions.

"If you touch her, I swear to God…" Dean threatened angrily.

I laughed, interrupting his banter. Andy was right in thinking he was full of hot air and not much else. "Oh I already did. Kissed her hard and shamelessly."

Dean's face was twitching with anger and I watched Sam watch him. Dean was now pulling against the ropes that held his wrists against the pole. Apparently no one knew about Dean's little crush. Oh, this was going to be fun. Always was more fun when people had secrets. Meant they had something to lose.

"And let me tell you Dean…" I said walking towards them. "She enjoyed it."

Sam and Dean both seemed a little surprised now. Couldn't hide anything now.

"I don't know why you're holding back on her." I said. "She's fine in all the right places."

Dean jerked against his ropes again and I smiled slowly. "Got a thing for her, don't you Dean?"

"Even if I did, we'd never happen."

I was interested even more now. Humans fascinated me. I never knew what drove a person to love or hate or to kill. I did everything out of instinct. Out of pure drive.

"And why not?"

"Not my type. And I don't date. You should know that since you're going through my head and everything." Dean added. He seemed furious and I could tell he was full of it.

Making Andy sound less and less appealing was just adding to the point that he was in love with her. Making her sound less to him so I'd back off and focus on something else.

I remembered Andy thinking something and looked back at Dean. He had pointed out a pressure point and I knew exactly how to push on it. "You're right. You don't date. Only screw right? That's all Andy thinks she's going to be for you. Just one late night screw."

Dean pulled against the ropes again and I smiled, throwing the bag over his head.

"Don't you dare go near her." He bellowed as I covered Sam's head as well.

"Oh, don't worry." I said as I went to head down the passageway to Andy. "She'll think its all you. I promise."

0o0o0o0o0o

:D did you enjoy? if not tell me why. i love hearing opinions and ideas.