The remaining drive flew by quickly as they reached the large town. The Winchesters had a finely tuned motion of picking their motel and moving the mandatory items inside for a hunt. Both brothers organized information, summed up what they knew, and suited up for their FBI agent roles. Sam handed Castiel one of the leather bound IDs and Dean raised a brow.
"Sam," Dean said and Sam rolled his eyes.
"We're not having an argument, Dean." Sam straightened his own tie and dug out a pen from his bag. "Cas wants to help, so he get's a badge." Castiel opened the leather to see the FBI letters. He found his own picture there and he recognized it from when Dean took him on the investigation for Raphael. Castiel grimaced bitterly at the voice that still haunted him and threatened his child, "Here, just sign the name that's on the badge and you're good." Castiel slipped out the paper and carefully signed the name Danny Tanner.
"Just let us do all the talking," Dean advised.
"I will observe." Castiel took another long look at the badge before he tucked it into his trench coat pocket, "Perhaps I will improve my communication skills."
"Yeah, you need it." Dean stepped forward and his face contorted in annoyance before he straightened Castiel's tie and buttoned his suit jacket. Since Jimmy's suit pants had been stretched from severance, they had to purchase him some new dress pants, but the rest still fit and Castiel put his tench coat on, perhaps to add back a little of the weight that had left his back. "You still look like a holy tax accountant." Castiel allowed the primping and Sam watched with raised brows of amusement. "You screw us up and you're spending the rest of the time in the room." Castiel frowned.
"I will not 'screw you up'," Castiel said dryly as Dean gave him an approving nod, once his suit looked decent enough to pass as a Fed. Castiel didn't think he'd done so badly while they were searching for Raphael so he saw no reason for Dean to be so strict with the operation.
"Good to hear. Remember, we got 3 hearts missing in one night." Dean paused, remembering something. He took his loaded gun and checked it to make sure it was a full round. "Assuming what I think we're searching for, this is full of silver." Dean held the butt of the .45 to Castiel, who took it and inspected it. It wasn't impressive to someone who was once an angel; but it was what he was reduced to. Little flying pieces of metal that he used to be able to out fly. Castiel released a breath and searched his clothes for a spot to place his gun. Dean directed him to put it in the back of his pants for the journey.
Riding in the Impala to the morgue, Sam's eyes were drawn to his new badge. "Where did you come up with these names, Dean? Joey Gladstone..." It sounded familiar to Sam, but the younger brother couldn't place it for a moment. Dean just smirked and slid on his sun glasses.
"Have mercy." Dean put extra emphasis on the word mercy and Sam's eyes bore into Dean as he parked the car, the names clicking.
"Dean," Sam said warningly, "you didn't."
"Shh, it's Jesse Katsopolis, FBI." Dean grinned at Sam before dragging himself out of the car and heading into the morgue before Sam could stop him. Castiel made sure his ID was right side up in his pocket before following both brothers inside the sterile interior.
"Agent Katsopolis, Gladstone, and Tanner." Dean managed to introduce them without too much pride to the morgue director as he flashed his ID. The morgue director did not seem to understand the joke any better than Castiel as he checked it. Sam was giving Dean a cold look as he flashed his, which Dean skillfully ignored. Dean glanced back at Castiel who lifted his head higher, ID out and right side up. Dean quirked an eyebrow but that was the only reaction Castiel got while they were there.
Their attention was turned to the most recent "animal" attacks from the night before. The ribs were broken, flesh torn and clearly, the most important organs were missing; especially the heart, but also the liver and other spare parts; as though what ever it had been was really, really hungry. The limbs were also gnawed to the bone. Castiel's head inclined to the side, finding that odd.
"So, are we looking at three werewolves?" Sam asked once they were alone with the bodies. Sam had on a pair of gloves and was pulling the shredded flesh away from the collapsed chest. "Looks like they ate a lot more that the heart. Lungs, liver, stomach..."
"It was only the first night of the moon cycle," Dean said. "Bobby said there were a few of these last month as well, but not 3 in one night. Imagine how many three werewolves can do in one week leading up to the full moon. And who knows if they did last night too." Sam grimaces at the thought. Castiel inspected the larger carcass.
"21 plus anyone who gets in the way." Sam watched Castiel touch one arm, turning over the lifeless blubber. "Cas, use gloves. You're vulnerable to blood pathogens now, you know." Sam tossed him a pair and Castiel stretched the latex experimentally.
"I don't think there's three." Castiel pocketed the gloves, earning him an annoyed look from Sam. "I think there's more."
"Cas, three hearts, three werewolves. Do the math." Dean's hands slid into his pockets.
"I don't think it's that simple." Castiel gestured to the limbs. "Why would a hungry beast chew the arms if he is starving for the heart?"
"Dog wanted a bone?" Dean asked with a sly grin.
"Cas has a point." Sam looked into the ragged meat, "Werewolves eat the heart and get out. No need to stick around and chew the fat. Literally in this case." Dean paused, finally taking a closer look at the limbs.
"Looks kinda like a chicken leg got a bite taken out of it," Dean mentioned and Sam shot him a glare.
"Dean, At least try to be serious," Sam said. "We could have 5, maybe 6 werewolves here." Dean scratched his chin.
"A whole pack." Dean muttered, frowning suddenly. "But... that points to them working together. But they're just mindless monsters."
"If there was a older werewolf," Castiel thought aloud, eying the other bodies, "there might be a leader. One who is conscious enough to give directions." Sam and Dean looked at Castiel and Castiel looked at several smaller bites where there used to be fingers. "They must have been hungry, to have been eating the flesh." He pursed his lips. "And so many to attack one human..."
"Wait, werewolves can get control?" Sam asked.
"With the certain amount of will power." Castiel shrugged, moving to another body. "I don't think many strive for it though. I'm sure you can relate, Sam." Castiel missed the cold bitch-face in his direction. Dean just smirked a little and stood next to Castiel.
"Think they're trying to keep a low profile?" Dean watched Castiel fight with a glove to get it on. "Twist it, you've got it on- the thumb goes here."
"Oh." Castiel straightened the glove and it fit loose on his skin. He reached into the chest cavity and drew it back out with a long claw, caught in a mix between a human nail and a black hook.
"That's not a wolf claw." Dean stated and Castiel placed it on the metal table.
"I wonder why the werewolf lost it," Castiel pondered and wished he could get an aerial view, but of course, he had no wings now. He had not felt them for some time now. The last time he felt wings, as weak as they were, was when Nemamiah was still apart of him.
"Tearing into humans could cause someone to ruin their manicure," Dean suggested and waved to the door. "Come on. Let's start asking victims. Cas, you're with me." Sam peeled the gloves from his hands and dropped everything into the trash and prompted Castiel to do the same.
"Of course, Dean," Castiel said without thought as he followed Sam's example. He was still getting used to the fact that diseases could affect him now; in made the world seem like a much more dangerous place.
"Why am I Joey Gladstone?" Sam asked on the car trip to the motel rooms to split up people to interview.
"What do you mean, why?" Dean scoffed. "I've always been the cool one, which is Jesse. Actually, I think you're more of a Danny, but you always had your man crush on Joey."
Sam fiddled with the badge, avoiding Dean's eyes. Well, yes, Joey was his favorite character on the show. He didn't really think Dean had noticed. Yeah, Jesse was cool, but he'd always liked Joey in the most unconventional way...
"Wait a minute." Dean stopped hard at a stop sign and looked at Sam. "Did you actually have a crush on Joey Gladstone when you were little? You have a freaking type? No wonder you started banging a trickster..." Sam hid his eyes with a hand and also rubbed his temples. He didn't want to have this conversation while on a case. Or ever.
"He made me LAUGH, okay?" Sam defended himself, his face feeling warm.
"You had a boner for Joey..." Dean groaned, but at the same time was amused by it.
"I did not!" Sam threw a glare at Dean, who continued on down the road. And so what if he had really liked Joey from Full House? He wasn't going to talk about it with Dean. With Castiel in the car. Who had no clue what was going on. Dean was snickering. "Shut UP, Dean."