50. No Denial
Dean could hear a low growl coming from somewhere behind him in the dark alley. He spun around with his gun held high and peered into the darkness. He took a few steps forward, wanting to draw the creature out. Sure enough, the werewolf lunged out of the shadows, moving so quickly that Dean didn't have time to react. A young man -- dark eyes and wild sandy hair -- pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. Dean slammed his gun into the side of its head and scrambled out from underneath it. The werewolf lunged again but this time Dean was ready. He fired a shot straight into the wolf's heart and it was dead before it even hit the ground.
Dean looked around, unable to see his father in the gloom. "Dad?" he called quietly. He watched as another figure ran towards him from the other end of the alley. He squinted at the figure as it staggered nearer.
"This way," John said as he arrived by his son's side, a gash in his cheek and his clothing clawed at. He glanced down at the body of the werewolf Dean had just killed before speaking again. "I just took two out and there are more coming." Dean nodded and followed after his dad.
"Why the hell are there so many here? Normally we hear of like one or two cases a year. What is this?" Dean panted, running by his father's side.
"I don't know, but I think there's a bigger picture here. We're out cutting off the limbs of the beast when we should be going for the heart. I think there must be someone recruiting."
"Recruiting?" Dean asked skeptically. "But when the human transforms into the wolf their base instincts take over. They couldn't be thinking in an organized way like that."
"True, but what other explanation is there?"
"Werewolves Anonymous convention?" Dean asked jokingly. His father glared at him and they ran the rest of the way in silence.
They stopped in a deserted backstreet where they came upon the bodies of the two wolves John had taken down. They stood in silence, trying desperately to see or hear anything. Though the full moon was high in the sky it barely cast any light down upon them.
John gestured for Dean to head down to the other end of the street while he moved in the opposite direction. They set off, walking with such stealth that it was clear why these two men were called hunters.
Dean cursed the overhanging snow-laden trees that were growing thicker and casting shadows as he moved down the street, obstructing even the little light that the moon shed. He was growing uneasy, he felt eyes on him but nothing came forth to reveal itself. "Here wolfy, wolfy, wolfy," Dean muttered in a sing-song voice as he continued to walk slowly in the darkness.
* * *
Sam paced the room nervously. The last time they had come to this town to hunt werewolves they had all ended up in the hospital. They can handle themselves, you know that. Quit worrying, Sam told himself.
He walked over to the window, looking through the curtain as if hoping his father and brother would appear before his eyes. He felt so restless but it was more than just worrying about his family on their hunt, it was finally being with Dean and the repercussions of it.
It had been amazing, even more wonderful than any of his dreams. It had been real, passionate, tender, loving. Dean had finally let go and allowed himself to be consumed in the desire that had been writhing in both of them. Sam shut his eyes, remembering the smile on Dean's face when he had said that he was happy. Sammy had never seen his brother smile like that; peace and bliss etched into every feature of his face. Sam knew in that moment that Dean hadn't regretted it. A small smile crossed his lips at that thought but it quickly disappeared as a seed of doubt took hold of him. What if Dean does regret it now that he's had the time to think over what we really did? He pushed the thought from his mind, only to have it replaced by another unpleasant question. How much did their father suspect?
* * *
John tensed as he heard the crunch of snow from behind him. He spun around, gripping his gun tightly and saw a woman limping towards him. He ran to her as she collapsed to the frozen ground.
"Are you alright?" he asked, taking in the sight of her ripped clothes and cuts. She struggled to her feet and grinned, sharp teeth glinting in the darkness. She grabbed hold of John, claws ripping through his coat and digging into his skin. He tried to pull away but the werewolf's grip was too tight. He watched in horror as her teeth moved closer and closer to him. He jammed his knee up into her stomach as hard as he could, knocking the wind out of her and loosening her grip. He broke away from her and aimed his gun directly at her heart.
The shot rang out and she fell to her knees, blood dribbling down her shirt as she collapsed. Within a moment the thin layer of snow beneath her was stained red. John ran after his son.
"Dean!" he called as he closed in on him. Dean swung around, looking questioningly at his panting father. "We have to regroup. We're done hunting for tonight, come on."
They slammed the car doors and John jammed the key into the ignition. "Dad, what's going on?" Dean asked worriedly.
"This isn't a normal werewolf case. They're not running on pure instinct, they're using logic. Don't ask me how. One of them was pretending to be a victim but when I got closer she attacked."
"Son of a bitch," Dean whispered in shock. "What are we gonna do?" John shrugged, his eyes set firmly on the road. "Dad, I know you like to work solo but I think we should get backup on this." John nodded again.
"I know," he murmured as he pulled into the motel parking lot. He parked and turned the car off. Dean made to get out but John said, "Wait."
"What?" Dean asked apprehensively. He knew by the tone of his father's voice that what was coming next had nothing to do with the case.
"You and your brother…" John said through clenched teeth, finally breaching the subject that had been boiling inside of him. Dean felt his heart sink in his chest. He took a deep breath and waited for his father to continue. "What exactly is going on between you two?" John waited for his son to respond but Dean couldn't speak. "Dean! Goddammit, tell me."
"He's my brother, Dad," Dean whispered, eyes looking anywhere but at his father.
"But there's more between you two than…" John began. His son's silence felt like a confirmation of all his fears and suspicions.
"Dad, please," Dean said so quietly that John almost didn't hear him.
"Please?" John said in disbelief. "First I find you two in bed. Then I find the both of you in some little motel room you rented out without my knowledge or consent. And if that wasn't enough evidence… I can't pretend that I don't see the way the two of you look at each other --"
"Dad, just stop, please," Dean begged, tears welling in his eyes.
"It's all true, isn't it?" John boomed, grabbing the front of Dean's coat and shaking him roughly. "Isn't it?!"
Tears were streaming down Dean's face now and he couldn't stop them. "How the hell could you do this to him?! He's fourteen for chrissakes! He's your goddamn brother! What the hell is wrong with you?" his father shouted.
"I-I don't know," Dean whispered.
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Wow, writing that last line made me tear up. Is that a little pathetic? lol. Also; Daaaamn. I can't believe we're up to fifty chapters now!
But anyway, just saw the season 5 premiere this morning; a total roller coaster ride of emotions. No joke. I was freaking out in just about every way possible.
For those of you in other countries [or just don't have cable like me] who have to wait months for the new season to start check out this site (new episodes are posted less than a day after they air in the U.S.): ForTheWinchester [dot] Webs [dot] Com.
As always, please review!
~aep
