Welcome to the Club

And the poison's in my heart and in my mind…

… Is it any wonder that my mind's on fire
Imprisoned by the thoughts of what to do

Flaming Telepaths, Blue Oyster Cult

Dean came out of the surprisingly tidy bathroom and found his brother at a secluded corner booth. Sam had gotten a couple burgers, some French fries, and two sodas. He had already eaten half of his burger, for some reason hungrier than usual.

"So," Dean said as he sat down and absent-mindedly began salting his fries, "how far are we?"

"We've only got another hour or so," he told his brother between mouthfuls. "Luckily, this college is not too far. You know, I've never even heard of it."

"Does that mean it's not a good school?" Dean asked, genuinely wondering and not just giving his brother a hard time.

"No, just that it is probably pretty small." Sam had secretly wished Dean would start taunting him again, or call him 'Sammy', or do anything Dean-like. Dean wasn't even eating his food. He had taken a couple sips of soda, but that was it.

"You mind if I drive?" Dean asked unexpectedly. When Sam looked up from taking his last bite of burger with a face full of disbelief, Dean looked down as he explained. "I just think it would wake me up. I mean, if I'm tired when we get to the college and talk to this guy…"

"Dean," Sam interrupted, "I know you're not one to talk things out, but I really think we should discuss what happened." But even Sam had mixed feelings about how that conversation could go.

Dean opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. He gave one of his trademark mischievous grins as he got up from his seat.

"Sam, you know me too well to know that I don't do the chick-flick moments." And with a quick wink, Dean grabbed the keys from the table and walked toward the restaurant door to leave.

Well, Sam thought, at least he's getting some of his attitude back. But he looked down at Dean's food and saw that his brother only drank half his soda and eat a couple fries at the most. With a sigh, Sam rose and followed Dean to the Impala.

The next hour was nearly silent, apart from the radio that was still playing the station Sam found. Dean hadn't tried to change the station or volume, or pop in one of his cassettes. Sam wasn't sure he even noticed the music at all until a classic rock song came on and Dean began slightly drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel to the beat.

"Hey," Dean said, "is that it?" Sam looked up to see a sign stating that Woodcreek College was only ten miles away.

"Yeah. Wow, that took less time than I thought."

"That's because I don't drive like an old lady," Dean said with a smile, then thought better of teasing his little brother again. "But I do appreciate you taking the first shift."

"Thanks," Sam said quietly, feeling ill at ease all over again.

Luckily there were plenty of street signs and informational markers to let them know how to get through the tiny college town because Sam could not find it on his map. He looked in Dad's journal again.

"Should we try his home or office first?" Sam asked.

"You tell me," Dean said. "You're the one with the college experience." Then quickly added, "I mean, you probably know the schedules better than I do."

"Well, it's a little before 2:00, so it's a toss-up schedule-wise where he'd be. Wait! Turn left here!" Sam said with a little more eagerness in his voice than intended. "Sorry, this is the road… where his home..." his voice trailing off.

The house looked like a small cabin. Very small. Apparently, the professor lived alone, as the house looked to only have a few different rooms in it. There definitely couldn't be more than one bedroom.

"Well, the curtains are open and I don't see anyone moving around inside…" Sam's voice faded out.

"No garage," Dean said, "and I don't see a car." He turned to look at his brother. "Off to the college?"

"Off to the college," Sam agreed.

The term 'quad' had been taken quite literally when the school was built. There were only four rectangular building that surrounded a perfectly square courtyard.

"I have never seen a college this small," Sam said, not specifically to Dean, but just aloud. "Well, his office is in the South Hall. Room 13."

Dean gave a small nod, but had an amused look on his face.

"I know, I know," Sam kind of laughed as they walked toward the South Hall.

"Well, here it is," Dean said when they found room 13. He knocked on the door but there was no response. He was about to knock again when a voice came from behind them.

The young lady that was standing there was quite stunning and both of the boys noticed. She was tall, thin, and had light coco skin and bright ice blue eyes. She was wearing a light peach soft looking short sleeve sweater, a black pencil skirt, and simple black heels.

"Um," the co-ed smiled as she said, "I'm sure Professor Marten has already left for class. It starts at 2:30." She looked down at her watch. "That's in like 10 minutes."

"Oh, uh…" Dean began to stammer.

"Are you here to audit the class?" she asked.

"Huh?" Dean asked, already feeling quite out of place.

"Oh, don't worry," she smiled, "with the nature of the classes, well, Professor Marten likes when people audit before jumping in and getting more than they bargained for. I'm actually headed for the class if you wanted to follow me there. I'm the TA… well, when-needed."

"T A," Sam emphasized to Dean quietly, having seen the look on his brother's face, "it means teaching assistant." Dean's face fell a little, but he still grinned to himself.

"And, what's your name?" Dean asked her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and stopped to face them. "I'm Janie. Jane. Sorry. Jane Pryce." She reached out and shook both of their hands. "I'm trying to sound more professional," she told them with a smile.

"Jane," Sam asked, "are we underdressed for this school?"

"What? Oh, no! Everyone here, including the professors, wear comfortable clothes. It's just that I have an interview right after class and I don't have time to go home between to change. I wish I had thought enough ahead to bring extra shoes though. These heels are killing me!"

"So, what sort of classes does the professor teach?" Dean asked her.

"Oh, all kinds of interesting things. Comparative religions and belief systems… this next one is about different cultures and their beliefs in the supernatural. Oh, but I guess you already know that." She smiled to herself, not seeing that the boys looked at one another with meaningful expressions. "Here we are."

Jane had led them to a room larger than what Sam would have expected. It was like a small auditorium in the basement of the North Hall with three overhead projectors at the ready.

"So," Dean asked as she led them to seats near the front of the room, "what's Professor Marten like?"

"Very smart, very nice… I mean, I think she's great."