A/N: I am anxious to get the brothers together again and decided to post early for your reading pleasure. NC

Chapter 23

The roadside pull off was back in some shrubs and trees and gave Dean a good view of the convenience store across the way and he watched the comings and goings of the place. He could occasionally see the clerk moving around inside stocking shelves and loading the coolers. He had picked up a couple bottles of water and a sub to eat later so he would not have to leave the stakeout. He had glanced at the open/close sign and saw the store closed at ten during the week and midnight on weekends. He had a long wait but was not sure if the clerk stayed the entire time or only worked part of it and did not want him to get away to attack his next victim.

Dean was sure each of the victims had visited this store and the clerk had randomly picked them out of the patrons to attack. The monster might have struck up a conversation with them and got to know them even. When it was ready, it attacked and stole all their memories, leaving behind a comatose shell that would not survive its assault.

The day went by slowly and Dean was getting restless and antsy. He got out several times to walk around in the trees nearby trying to appease the beast as it rolled around inside of him, wanting to be free. He was lucky the spot he found could not be seen by traffic from the road while still giving him a view of the store. He checked his gun to be sure he had a full clip and it was ready to use. He ate his food and drank the water before it started getting dark. He decided to stroll in just before closing and be sure there was no one else in there before confronting the monster and taking it out.

When darkness claimed the land, Dean moved freely through the trees checking the route out, so he would know the way back once the deed was done. His sight heightened as it grew darker and he had no problem seeing. He walked quietly through the woods stretching and getting the stiffness from his body, preparing for action, and checking the time.

Dean headed for the doors of the convenience store fifteen minutes before it was time for it to close. He stepped inside and tensed when his nose filled with the disgusting smell again.

"We're closing in ten minutes," the clerk called to him.

"That's okay, I just want a six pack and I'll be out of here," Dean replied. He moved to the back of the store where the coolers were located. "It's been a lousy day and I could use a couple of cold ones."

"I hear ya."

Dean made a big deal about looking in the cooler section trying to decide what to buy. He smelled the clerk getting closer and was getting ready to turn when he felt a needle prick in his neck. He jerked quickly and did not get the full amount of the drug injected as he backhanded the Buspara, sending him backpedaling into a rack of snacks and making the display, crash to the floor scattering the bags everywhere.

The sedative started taking affect within seconds and Dean knew he needed to stay alert but was wavering. His vision was blurring, and he was losing the use of his legs and arms, and he saw a dark shape move toward him. He stumbled to his knees and suddenly Dean felt something strange attaching to his face around his hairline. Dean was trying to make his arms work but they were not moving. He could feel a sort of numbness starting at the top of his head as the attack on his mind began.

Knowing he needed to stop this, Dean touched the beast inside of him and let it free. With a mighty roar, the beast was unleashed and slammed a fist into the Buspara's chest breaking the hold of the suction cups with tiny pops that sounded loud to Dean's sensitive hearing. It flew backwards into another shelf knocking things off around it and gasping as it tried to breathe, barely able to pull air into its lungs. The punch had broken its ribs and sternum, jabbing one rib into a lung deflating it. The Buspara coughed up blood as it tried to get to its feet. Streaks of red ran down his chin and neck, soaking into the neck of his white shirt.

With a shaky hand, Dean pulled his gun and fired, missing with the first shot, but was able to hit the Buspara four times, two in the head and two in the chest before stopping. He let the beast stay where it lay, as he pushed himself from his knees and stumbled to the checkout counter. He saw the security recording devices behind it on the lower shelf and pulled it all out onto the floor, where he stomped it into shattered junk, destroying the equipment so there wouldn't be a recording of what had happened.

Dean knew he needed to get out of there before someone that might have heard the shots called the cops. He pushed the beast down enough to take partial control and headed for the door, being careful not to leave any prints. He flipped on the closed sign and stumbled out the door toward the woods.

He staggered from one tree to the next to keep upright as he made his way through the small grove back to the Impala. Dean was going to find some place to park and lay low while the sedative wore off and he could drive without wrecking. He fumbled with the keys and dropped them as he tried to get the door unlocked. Once he got himself into the driver's seat, Dean cranked the car and pulled away from the convenience store and carefully drove about five miles until he found an old closed garage to park behind.

Dean collapsed sideways onto the front seat and passed out, the beast sinking back into the back of his mind now that he was safe, knowing he was not needed. The sedatives drove him under into a dreamless, comatose state, leaving him floating in a sea of nothingness.

spn

The gate appeared ahead of him and Sam slowed the car and rolled to a stop as the door of the gatehouse opened and a muscular middle-aged guy stepped out that was armed. He looked at Sam for a moment before moving toward the window he was trying to roll down. It stuck partway down, and Sam had to jiggle and jerk it a little to get it the rest of the way down.

"Can I help you?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Umm…Yes, I'm looking for my brother. His name is Dean Winchester and I was told he may have come here with someone from this Community."

"Wait here." The guard went back inside and got on the phone calling someone.

Sam watched and waited patiently wondering why he was not allowed to pass. He was curious why this Community did not have signs naming the place or why it was gated with an armed guard. What were they trying to hide? He looked back up when the guard stepped back out.

"If you'll pull over there and park, someone will be out to see you and answer any questions you have."

"Thanks," Sam said cautiously backing up and pulling over into a parking spot by the rock wall. He cut the car off and sat back to wait not sure how long it would be. He fidgeted and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he watched for a car to come his way. He got out and leaned against the fender of the Dodge so he could stretch and not feel as confined.

Thirty minutes later, Sam stood tall when an SUV drove slowly down the road toward the exit on the other side of the gatehouse. The SUV paused an arm reached out to insert a card to raise the gate blocking the way and drove out and around to where Sam was parked. He watched as a man that emitted authority got out and walked over to him.

"Hello, I'm Mason, can I help you?" he asked in a calm, strong, deep voice.

"Yes, hello, I'm Sam Winchester, and I'm looking for my brother, Dean. Have you seen him or has anyone where you live seen him?"

"Samuel, it is nice to meet you. Yes, Dean was with us for the past couple of weeks, but he left five days ago to check out a possible case."

Sam startled and looked at him in shock when he realized he knew they were hunters, wondering why Dean would share this information with him. He was sure this Mason guy was not a hunter; he did not have the look of one and Sam was sure he would recognize it. What Sam did not understand was his connection to his brother.

"Where did he go for this case?" Sam asked not sure why he was getting a strange, wary feeling about Mason. There was something not right about him, but he could not figure out what it was.

"He was going to Salmon, Idaho. Something about some comatose patients that had been admitted to the hospital."

"Why did my brother come here?" Sam questioned. "How did you meet him? Why did he stay in this community for so long?"

"You need to talk to your brother about that. I can't break his trust and I think he needs to be the one to explain it to you."

"Is Dean okay?" Sam asked his voice getting harder because he did not like being in the dark when it concerned his brother.

"I'm sorry I can't tell you more Samuel. Dean had his reasons for being here, I need to respect his privacy."

"If you won't tell me more, I guess I need to head for Salmon, Idaho, and see if I can track him down," Sam sighed, not happy that he couldn't get more out of the guy.

"I wish you luck young man. I do know Dean was going to come back to you in another week to get you."

Sam looked at him to see if he was telling the truth and did not think he was lying. He seemed sincere and honest in what little he had told him.

"Well, thanks for what you did tell me," Sam said pushing away from the car and getting back into it. He fussed with the window until he got it up and reminded himself not to open it again.

"Samuel, do be careful," Mason offered before heading back to the SUV and getting in.

Sam watched him pull up to the gate and waited for it to open so he could drive through. He disappeared down the road and Sam pulled up a map to see the quickest route to Salmon, Idaho. He saw it was another long drive and he would be getting there late and would need to get a motel room again or try to sleep in the car which would be a tight squeeze for his long frame.

With a heavy sigh, Sam headed out away from whatever was behind that gate where his brother had been staying. He had so many unanswered questions and wanted to know what was going on with Dean. The theories were buzzing in his head making it start to hurt and he rubbed his temples for a moment as he concentrated on the road. Sam hoped to catch up with Dean in Salmon, but if he did not, hopefully there would be some clues to where he went next.

Sam pulled out his cell and glanced down at his contacts pulling up Bobby's number. He dialed and listened as it rang.

"Sam, have you found Dean?" Bobby asked when he answered.

"Hey Bobby, not yet" Sam told him. "I found out he went to Salmon, Idaho for a possible case."

"That's good, right?"

"Yeah, I hope so, but it was days ago, he could be gone by now."

"You think he's heading back this way?"

"I don't think so Bobby. There's something going on with him and I don't know what it is."

"Alright son, let me know what you find and if I hear anything, I'll call you."

"I will Bobby. Bye." Sam hung up and slipped the cell back into his pocket. He settled down and fell into line with the other cars heading down the interstate west in hopes of finding his brother in Salmon, Idaho.

spn

Dawn was breaking across the land when Dean started coming around. The sedative had worn off, but he was feeling woozy and cotton mouthed. He grunted and groaned as he sat up in the front seat and looked around. He wiped his eyes and cranked the Impala, knowing he needed to leave this town before stopping somewhere to get something to drink and eat.

He put the window down to let fresh air in as he pulled from behind the building and headed out of town. He headed north toward White Fish as he tried to bring up what had happened last night. Some of it he remembered, but there were blank spots he could not fill in. Dean decided to let it drop for now until his head was clearer, and his mind was not filled with fog.

After thirty miles, Dean pulled off at a gas station and went in to use the restroom and grab a coffee. He stopped at the fast food joint across the street and got in the drive through lane to get breakfast sandwiches. He wanted to get back to the cabin today, so he would have a few days before the full moon cycle started. He got back on the road and pushed the Impala after finding other travelers moving at a fast pace, falling in behind them.

Dean figured he could get back to the cabin in about four hours or so and would have time to relax a couple of days and document the hunt and log the information about the new monster. He still had meats in the freezer and with the drugs Mason had given him to use, hoped this time when he changed would be less violent and easier to get through.

A/N: The hunt almost went south, but with the beast's help Dean was able to take out the monster. Sam will be catching up with him after one more chapter. I know everyone has been wondering when that would happen. Reviews would be great. NC