Chapter 21

The morgue was cold and sterile like all the other ones they had visited over the years. Dean and Sam walked into the autopsy room and looked around waiting for the coroner to finish his phone call.

"Can I help you?" the older man asked.

"FBI, Agents Styles and Young. We're here to see the four animal attack victims Dr. Poole." Dean explained as they both held out their badges.

"FBI, why would you be looking into animal attacks?"

"Just following up on a few leads doctor and we'll need a copy of the autopsy reports." Sam said trying to sound as official as he could.

"You're wasting your time; they've been ruled animal attacks and the game wardens are on the search for the animal responsible."

"And what kind of animal do you think it is?" Dean questioned.

"Bear, mountain lion, something big with good size claws."

"We still need to see those bodies and the reports." Sam insisted.

"Suit yourself, I'll get the reports the bodies are in two, three and five."

"Weren't there four bodies?"

"The first one has already been released to the family I'm afraid. You're actually lucky; the other bodies are being released later this afternoon."

"Thank you, if you'll get those reports." Dean said stepping to the drawers on the other side of the room. He looked at the tags and pulled out drawer number five first and found a young man who looked to be in his late twenties. After moving the sheet lower, they both looked at the wounds that covered his upper torso. Dean nodded toward one where distinct claw marks could be seen and Sam pulled his cell out to take pictures of the gapping hole where his heart should have been, along with the other wounds. Once they we finished with the first body, Dean pushed the drawer back in and pulled out drawer number three. This one was a young woman in her thirties that had similar wounds, but also had bite marks on her arms and her heart was missing too. The last drawer revealed a teenage male probably seventeen whose chest was shredded and heart missing.

"Here you go agents, not sure what you're gonna find but good luck."

"Thank you for your help." Sam said accepting the copied reports as Dean closed the drawer.

They left the morgue and headed back to their motel to change and go over the reports before heading into the forest to the spots where the bodies were found.

spn

Sam was looking through the photos he had taken of the victims as Dean drove back to the motel. He flipped back and forth for several minutes as he took in the tiny details while biting his lower lip in concentration. He didn't see Dean glance over at him a worried look on his face because Dean knew how obsessed Sam could get when something bothered him.

"What do you see bro?" Dean asked knowing how his brother thought and knew something was rolling around in that oversized brain of his.

"I'm not sure, but I think there's two of them." Sam finally told him. "The bite marks and claw marks are just too different."

"Alright, we'll go with that and lookout for two." Dean replied signaling to turn into a parking lot. He pulled around to the back and into a space in front of their room. "C'mon bro, let's go on inside?" Dean said when Sam didn't move from the passenger seat.

Sam looked around and realized they were already back at the motel and Dean was getting out of the car. He pulled in a deep breath before gathering the files, opening his door to get out and following Dean inside. Dean had two coffees poured and sitting at the table waiting for Sam to join him.

"We'll go over everything we've got and decide on an area to stake out tonight and see if we can catch whatever is out there."

"Yeah, sounds good." Sam agreed taking a seat and pulling out the reports to spread them out on the table.

The brothers put their heads together and reviewed all the information they had, going over every detail, rechecking the map, photos, using the laptop and combining their collective knowledge to determine where would be the best place for them to scout tonight. They hoped to catch whatever had killed those people and kill it before it could kill any more victims. Three hours later Dean sat back in his chair calling an end to their research.

"That's it Sammy, we'll go with this and see what happens tonight." Dean sighed rubbing his tired eyes as he rolled his sore shoulders.

"I agree, this is the best option with the information we have." Sam said rubbing his stiff neck.

"I'm gonna go get us something to eat so I can stretch my legs." he said pushing his chair back and getting up. "After we eat, we'll get some sleep and wait for dark so we can head out."

"Get me some hot tea and soup and a sandwich." Sam told Dean as he put on his jacket getting ready to leave.

"You got it." Dean replied but stopped and turned back to his brother. "You feelin' ok Sammy?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sam answered. He didn't want Dean to know he was still worried about his vision, but the stress was beginning to show and he knew it would almost be impossible to hide it from Dean. He let his body sag once Dean had left, then got up to walk around the room to loosen up his tense muscles.

spn

Dean checked out the area around the motel as he strolled toward a diner just down the street. He knew Sam wasn't telling him everything and was sure it had to do with his vision. He knew from past experiences how stressed Sam got after one of those, especially if it involved him. Sam was overly protected of him and could be a pain in the ass when he obsessed about it. Dean knew his visions were not precise and could be changed from its original version. He had a feeling there was going to be fallout and hoped he could get them through it.

Dean walked into the diner and up to the register to order their food and took a seat to the side to wait for it. He ignored the hostess and waitress that was eyeing him and whispering to each other before looking back at him and giggling behind their hands. They cast one last look at him before moving off to take care of customers. Dean stood when he saw his order being brought to the front and pulled his wallet out to pay. He had gotten them to add a couple of tea bags so Sam could make more hot tea if he wanted it. After accepting his change, Dean gathered the bags and drink carrier to head back to the motel and his brother.

Just as Dean got to the motel parking lot, his cell began to ring. He stopped at a waist high wall to sit his bags down and pulled his cell out to answer.

H'llo." Dean said.

"Dean, son." John spoke quickly.

"Dad?" Dean questioned, surprised by his call. "Is something wrong? Where are you?"

"Look I don't have much time, I'm close, real close Dean." John rushed. "You gotta look out for your brother son...Keep him safe...I hope I can end this, but if I can't you have to..."

"Dad...Slow down...I don't know what you're talking about...Dad..." Dean cried out but all he got was a dead air, silence. "Shit!" Dean muttered as he looked at his cell and saw the call had been disconnected.

Dean went over what his Dad had just said trying to make some sense of it. He didn't know what his Dad was close to and why was he so concerned for Sammy. He stowed his cell and picked the food and drinks back up and moved faster toward their room. Dean tossed around whether to tell Sam that their father's call and what he said, but he knew he was already stressed out enough as it was and decided to keep quiet about it until after they finished this hunt. He knew Sam didn't need anything else to distract him right now.

spn

"Foods here." Dean announced as he walked into the room not seeing his brother at first. "Sammy?" Dean called stepping further into the room as his body tensed as he automatically slipped into hunter mode, his father's words still in the front of his mind. "Sam?" he called ridding himself of the bags and drawing his gun as he swept the room.

"Hey." Sam said entering from the door behind him. "Whoa! Whoa! It's me!" he exclaimed when Dean quickly swung around with his gun zeroing in on his chest. Sam threw the towels he was carrying to the floor and held up his hands in surrender.

"Damnit Sammy! I could of shot you!" Dean fussed as he lowered his gun and put it back in the waistband of his jeans in the small of his back before stalking to the food bags to get them and deposit them on the table.

"What's wrong? Why are you so jumpy?" Sam asked picking the towels back up from the floor.

"I didn't know where you were." Dean huffed as he started pulling food from the bag.

"We needed more towels." Sam said holding up the towels before taking them to the bathroom. "Who were you on the phone with?"

"What?"

"I saw you talking on your cell while I was waiting for the towels." Sam replied as he took a seat at the table and pulled his food toward him. He uncapped the hot tea to add the packet of honey and stirred it before pouring in a small amount of milk from the small container.

"Nobody." Dean said quickly while unwrapping his burger and taking a bite. He wouldn't look at Sam as he took a sip of his drink not liking having to lie to Sam but knowing he had to.

Sam looked to his brother pursing his lips and catching the fact Dean wouldn't look at him. He knew Dean wasn't telling him something and knew the look on his face. He wasn't going to tell Sam anything else right now no matter how much he pushed. Sam sipped his tea and looked down at his food wondering if he could sneak Dean's cell to see who called him. He picked up half his sandwich and took a bite not really tasting the food. They finished the meal in relative silence before moving to the beds to lie down. Dean turned on the television and flipped through the channels before settling on an old movie. He lowered the volume and settled back on the bed to try and rest before the hunt. He glanced over and saw Sam had turned on his side facing away from him not moving. Dean knew Sam was pissed at him for not talking to him, but knew he would get over it. He turned back to the television and let his mind wander not really watching the program as his eyes grew heavy.

spn

The moon was at its fullest as it hung over the trees casting the world into different degrees of shadows. The brothers silently made their way through the forest listening and searching for any signs of their prey. Both had guns loaded with silver bullets, drawn and ready to use. Dean used hand signals to let Sam know what to do as he split off from him and faded into the darkness to the right. Sam didn't like splitting up but knew they could cover more ground that way and continued on the way he was going. He let his gun swing from side to side, his senses on high alert since the forest had gone silent around him. Sam froze and listened hearing movement ahead of him. He took off running when shots ran out and vicious growls and howls of pain broke the silence of the forest.

Sam broke into a clearing just as a body rolled down the hill ahead of him just like in his vision and he halted in his tracks when a figure stepped from the shadows to stand over his brother's body. He raised his gun taking aim as he spoke.

"Get away from my brother!" Sam growled fiercely getting ready to fire at the stranger.

Before Sam could pull the trigger, deep growling and chuffing caught his attention on either side of him. Sam glanced to the sides to see huge silver wolves stalking him from both sides. Their hackles were standing up and their lips were stretched back from huge, sharp, glistening teeth. Saliva dripped from their mouths as they snapped and rumbled deep, warning growls in their chests.

"I'd put that away if I was you." the male said as he watched the uncertainty on the hunter's face while he tried to decide what to do. "You can shoot me, but I don't think they will be happy and what about your brother? He's needs medical attention if you want him to live."

Sam stood there his body so tense that his arms trembled slightly. He knew if he shot the guy, the wolves would attack and he knew if he tried to take out the wolves he could only get one before the other took him down, then what about Dean. Scenarios rushed through his head, but none of them ended well. Sam took his finger off the trigger and slowly began to lower the gun when suddenly the world around him went black...

A/N: So the hunt didn't quite turn out like expected. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope it is entertaining. The brothers find something they never expected. Thank you for following, favoring and reviewing. Your thoughts are welcome, please review. NC