"Bo. BO! Get off of that poor man, and sit."
The creature lanced up, paws still pinning Sam to the ground.
"Back ya mangy mutt."
The creature whimpered, stepping back and sitting, its head cocked to the side in a fashion that was far too familiar to the hunter.
He scrambled to his feet, finally getting his first good look at the dog, amazed by the sheer size of it.
With it sitting, it came past his waist, its fur nearly concealing it's ears and eyes.
"What is this thing."
Mathis scratched the dog's head, his hand nearly disappearing in the fluff.
"This is Bo, he's the unofficial guard dog up here. Completely harmless, but he'll scare the shit out of anything breathing."
Sam nodded, still trying to recover from the shock of being physically overpowered by a dog.
"Miss Sheryl down at the vet said that he was probably some sort of Tibetan Mastiff, Great Dane, something-er-rather mix. Personally i say he's just my polar bear."
The hunter nodded, reaching out to tentatively pet the creature.
It leaned into the touch, panting happily.
"He likes you Agent."
Sam chuckled, leaning down and ruffling the dog's fur. playing with his ears.
"Er, now ya might-"
The dog jumped up, his front paws resting on Sam's shoulders.
The hunter stepped back in surprise and the dog, barked loudly, leaving the hunter's ears ringing.
"Gees. Hey there fella, Er, Bo, umm-"
The dog licked his face, earning laughter from the other man and a disgusted groan form Sam.
"Yea."
He pushed the dog down, petting him gingerly before wiping his face on his sleeve, the trail of drool earning more laughter all around.
"Oh he really likes you. Must think you're a dog person Sam."
The hunter nodded, still scratching the dog's head.
Trooper Hines shook his head, nodding in the direction of the forest.
"Let's get to work."
Mathis pulled a chain leash from the side of the shed, clipping it to the dogs collar.
"You wanna walk him, Agent?"
Sam looked down at the massive creature and shook his head.
"I think I'll leave that to you."
The man simply nodded.
"Do y'ins have anything that belonged to who y'all are searchin' for? A hat, jacket-"
Sam patted his jacket for the journal.
"I, uh, have this."
The man stretched out his neck, scratching it nervously
"I reckon that'll be a long shot, but we can try it."
He took the journal and set in on the ground, where the dog went to work sniffing at it.
"Now y'all got remember, he ain't no blue tick hound. More'n likely he'll just run after the biggest thing in the area."
The dog perked it's head up and barked.
"Alright boys."
Sam snatched up the journal and the dog raced forward, jerking Mathis behind him.
"Shit he;s got something."
Sam and the trooper sprinted after them as the dog ran-not to the woods, but deeper into the prison grounds, through an open segment of gate and around the front of the building.
The hunter stumbled over broken chunks of stone and gaping holes in the pavement, Trooper Hines falling flat on his face at one point, before scrambling back to his feet.
They followed until the dog cam to a halt at the side of the prison, each and every one of them panting for breath.
"Jeese... Mathis your dog can run."
The man nodded, dropping to sit on the pavement wit his head between his knees.
"You going to be alright there man?"
The guard nodded, fumbling to pass the leash over to the hunter.
Sam obliged, patting the man's back reassuringly as he let the dog lead him-now at a walk- to a rusted door.
The hinges hung oddly, but it was firmly shut.
Sam and the Trooper shared a confirming look and the trooper drew his gun.
A solid kick and the door swung open, whatever had been holding it in place screeching across the floor.
Bo barked and jerked forward, muscles tense, a viscous snarl in place.
There was a tense moment as everyone listened, searching for a hint as to what they were after.
There.
A squeak of rubber against the concrete floor.
Bo bolted, and Sam release the leash, simply sprinting after the massive creature as his chased it's prey.
They clambered up rusting staircases, their boots crunching the fallen plaster and the occasional scrap of paper as they chased through the building.
Rusting metal bars whirred past as they ran, the monotony of the scenery switched abruptly at a curve.
Sam lost sight of the dog, coming to s skidding halt as he peered around, trying to figure out which direction it went.
Finally they heard a thump and a pained yelp.
The trooper and the hunter sprint towards it, finding a terrified old man sprawled on the ground, Bo standing over him protectively.
When the dog saw Sam it barked, earning another yell from the man.
"Don't hurt me. Please."
The man was begging, tears streaming down his face.
The hunter gestured for the dog to heel, and it did so, surprising Trooper Hines.
"I'll be damn'ed you are a dog person."
Sam simply smirked, crouching down beside the man.
"Are you Ansdale Young?"
The man's eyes widened, before he covered his face with his hands, sobbing in earnest.
"Dear Heavenly Father yes I am."
He took a shuddering breath.
"You're here ta kill me right?"
Sam sighed, waving for the trooper to get the dog.
"Sir, My name is Sam Winchester, and I'm here to help."