CHAPTER FOUR

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO

The streets were empty, devoid of life as the Impala wove itself around the numerous abandoned cars. Alana looked concerned as they made their way into the heart of the town. There they found more than they anticipated, and blood to boot.

"What the hell happened here?" she asked as Dean had to come to an abrupt stop.

"I dunno sis, but this doesn't look good."

Bodies littered in front of a building, badly decomposed and the stench so great, that Alana had to throw her head out the window just to throw up. She was feeling very uneasy and wanted to get as far from here as she could.

"Ugh, I'm gonna be sick." She grimaced as she felt the bile rise in her throat. Sam wasn't doing well either, his head was beginning to throb.

"I'm gonna turn around, the best thing to do is get out of here."

But nightfall had fallen upon them and Dean would have to be careful not to hit anything as they left, if he did so, they would be stuck in this god-forsaken hell-hole.

Alana closed her eyes and tried to think of something else, the smell assaulting her nose every time she took a breath, she gagged and coughed.

"God, what the hell could do this?" she asked.

"I dunno sis," Dean said, "But we're going to find out.

They made it to the outskirts of the town and Alana took a deep breath and choked, "Damnit, it still stinks. Man this is far worse than Dean at night." She joked.

Dean rose an eyebrow and grinned, "For that comment…" he stopped and Alana's eyes watered, "Damn you Dean." She muttered and sat over behind Sam who'd open his window all the way.

Dean laughed, but that laughter was cut short when they were stopped by a long line of police cars and others. People with guns stood pointing at them.

"Oh crap." Alana said and bit her lip.

"Stop your car and come out." A voice said.

Dean parked the car and slowly got out, Sam did the same, giving a hand to Alana who now looked fearful.

"Dean…" she said in a frightened voice.

"Come forward." A woman said, taking Alana by the arm, searching her for some unknown reason. "We need to make sure you're not infected."

Alana looked at her, "Infected? What happened back there? We drove in over two hours ago and it's…" she stopped and coughed, her throat was bothering her. She coughed again; covering her mouth with her hand, when she pulled away there was blood.

"Oh shit, not again." She muttered.

The woman looked at her in fear, "You're infected."

She shook her head, "No I'm not, and I've been doing this for over six months. I'm on a recipient list for a new lung."

"You're ill?"

She nodded, "Have lung cancer. Was diagnosed seven months ago."

Dean and Sam looked at her in shock, this was news to them.

"We must take you to HQ, there you'll be tested and we need to be certain you're clean. This virus cannot be outside the containment wall."

"I understand." She said, "I would wonder too."

She was pale, her throat burning. She felt exhausted all at once and collapsed.

"Alana!" Sam yelled.

He grabbed her by the arms and picked her up, she was too light. "What is it that killed all those people?"

"It's called the Siamaba virus, it starts out as a cold, burns the lungs, you cough blood and you lose weight dramatically. Within days, you're nothing but skin and bones."

"Is it possible she may have it even with her immune system down?"

"She could have had it the moment you went in there, that's why we need to test her. The sooner we find out the sooner we can treat her with the antivirus."

"There's a cure?" Dean asked.

"Yes, but time is running short for your friend, we have to go."

Sam nodded, "She's OUR sister." And followed the bewildered woman to a car and got in. "I'm sorry boys, I didn't know." She said and started the car and pulled away, leaving the Impala to the hands of the law.

"Will my car be alright?" Dean asked and Sam rolled his eyes. Dean was more worried about his damn car.

"It'll be fine. They'll take it to the base not far from here and make sure a part of the virus isn't attached to anything. Once it's cleaned, you'll get it back."

Dean nodded and sat back. The ride had taken more than twenty minutes and when they pulled in front of a very large building did Dean realize the extent of trouble they had gotten into. F.B.I. was all that was on the building.

"Come along. She looks too pale, we need to hurry." She said as she opened the back door for them.

They got out and followed the woman into the building, stunned by the capacity of people within its confines.

"Are all these people sick?" he asked, looking through the glass to the people within.

"Actually they are well, we have them confined from the rest of the place, once all is cleared, they'll be let go. We were able to save many lives."

Sam nodded, "Alana will then join them?"

"As you both will, or we can put you in a separate room, some people rather be off by themselves."

Dean spoke up, "I like the three of us to have our own room."

The woman nodded, "I'll have it arranged then."

They entered a room passed guarded doors and came to a stop. Men in army gear stood armed to the t with guns. Sam was glad that Alana was out of it, the guns would make her uneasy, her own wasn't that bad. He stopped. The guns in the car. Shit.

"Um Dean?" he whispered, "We have a big problem."

"What is that?" he whispered back.

"Guns."

Dean dropped his head, if these people found their weapons they'd be in serious trouble.

"Ma'am, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked the lady.

"Sure. Is there something wrong?"

"Well there is. You see we're bounty hunters, and well my trunk is full of weapons…" he stopped when she turned to him, "I have licenses for each of them. They're in the box on the back seat of the car. The crossbow is my dad's, he's not with us, but he has the license for that and some others were made by me, so they don't have any. We're not terrorists, just men trying to earn a living."

She nodded, "I'll make sure they're undisturbed, I'm highly glad you told me out-front. Many would just hide the fact or deny knowing about them."

"Well my father taught me to be truthful." He lied.

She nodded to one of the guards, "Take the young woman to bay 1, we need to start the antivirus on her as soon as possible."

He took her into his arms and gently carried her away, a worried look on his face.

The woman turned to the brothers, "Bay 2 is where you two will go, since you don't have any symptoms yet."

"And Alana?"

"You'll see her soon enough." She said and nodded to the two guards that approached them, "Take these two to Bay 2."

"Yes ma'am." The one said and ushered them ahead.

Sam and Dean were confused, what had they gotten themselves into and what the hell was going on?