A/N: This chapter gave me quite a bit of trouble. I would appreciate it if you all gave me some feedback on how you feel about it. Thanks!

A Familiar Fear

Chapter 3: Too Late

The night was quiet. The restaurant stood dark, having expelled its last few patrons hours ago. The other stores and services in the town had quickly followed suit. Dean had idly watched the lights blink out one by one. He had never seen a town of this size fall asleep so early.

'The Mexican joint should have taken them 'till two at least.' Dean concluded as he tore his eyes away from the window and started playing with a thread on the comforter. He was doing anything he could think of to ignore the earlier conversation with his brother, and was failing miserably.

All Dean could think about was his baby brother saying that he had hurt him. Dean wracked his brain, wondering when this could have happened. When could he have harmed his brother enough for Sam to still be carrying it around? The only thing he could come up with was the shape shifter, but he moved on quickly. They were both hurt by the shifter and Sam knew it wasn't Dean.

It was obvious to Dean that Sam would never give up this information willingly. It was something his little brother was trying to hide from him and Sam could be downright stubborn when he wanted to. Dean was going to have his hands full getting the information out of his brother.

Dean felt guilty when he thought back to the fight they had. His head had told him that what happened at the asylum wasn't Sam's fault, but Dean had blamed him for it anyway. He knew the younger hunter was beating himself up over it, and if he had been thinking rationally at the time he would have realized that. It was a punishment that Sam didn't deserve.

On top of all that, they had to deal with the man from Sam's vision. They had no idea who the man was or what had killed him. They didn't even know anything about the town they had stopped in for the night. Dean doubted that either of them were ready for this newest challenge.

Sam listened to Dean fidget in the bed next to him. It didn't surprise him that the older boy was still awake, but it didn't make him happy. Dean needed to rest. While getting shot in the chest with rock salt wasn't fatal, it wasn't anything to laugh at either.

'You're one to talk.' Sam's inner voice teased. He knew he should be getting some sleep too. His contact with the crazy doctor had left him exhausted. The emotion that had come out during their quibble had only drained him more. He wanted to close his eyes and drift off, but just couldn't. Too many things were running through his head, each one fighting for his full attention. Sam knew his vision needed to have complete priority. No matter what else he was feeling, the man's life was on the line. They needed to find him. All the other crap would just have to wait.

Sam heard Dean roll over, and he stifled a sigh when he realized his older brother was watching him. Sam was usually the one that did the staring and Dean was usually the one getting pissed off over it. Dean only stared when he was worried. It could be because of the vision, but Sam doubted it. His futile hope that Dean would forget his slip up was out the window now.

Sam spent the next few hours pondering these thoughts. As the sun started rising he decided he had feigned sleep enough for the time being. He got up and made his way into the bathroom. He took a quick glance at Dean, noting that the older Winchester seemed to finally be getting genuine sleep.

When Sam got out of the shower Dean was just waking up. As the older boy sat up Sam held his breath. Sam worried that Dean would start in on him about their unfinished fight, but he didn't.

"You better have left some hot water." Dean grumbled as he pulled himself out of bed.

"I was gonna go get breakfast." Sam stated. The tension in the air was thick. It wasn't a hostile feeling, but uncomfortable. Sam just needed some room to breathe.

If Dean felt it, he ignored it or hid it well. As he closed the bathroom door he called back, "Give me ten."

Sam sighed as he plopped down onto one of the beds. "Right." he whispered to the empty room. The hours to come were not going to be fun.

-----------------------

Dean wordlessly guided the Impala past the motel's adjoining restaurant. He knew his little brother's food preferences just as well as he knew his own. Whatever the 'SeñorCarlos' could offer up for breakfast, Dean knew neither Winchester would want to partake.

It wasn't a long search before they found a normal looking diner. Neither brother had spoken a word to each other during the short trip and it wasn't until they were seated in a booth waiting for their food that Dean broke the silence.

"You get anything else from that vision?" the older hunter asked, his fingers starting to play with the napkin his silverware was wrapped in.

Sam sighed and shook his head. The sleepless night hadn't clued him into any new information.

Dean looked up from shredding the paper napkin, "So... we don't know this guy's name, what killed him, or if he's even here? What do we know?"

"Nothing." Sam said dejectedly. This man was probably going to die and it would be his fault.

"What I wanna know is, why would you get this vision if there's no way for you to change it? What's the point?" Dean asked, brushing the remains of his napkin to the side.

Sam shrugged before letting out another sigh. "I must have missed something."

"No." the older Winchester said, shaking his head.

"How do you know?"

"'Cause I know you. If it wasn't found last night during your rendition of an insomniac, then there's nothing to find."

"I wasn't the only one up last night." Sam stated.

"Is that your subtle way of saying that I look like crap this fine morning?"

Sam cocked an eyebrow, "Is that your subtle way of saying I look like crap?"

The brothers paused as the waitress deposited their plates on the table. As she rushed away Dean smirked at his brother, "You do look like crap."

"Love you too." Sam shot back out of habit. He saw Dean's smile and couldn't help but do the same. It felt good to be acting like normal brothers again. He smile fell quickly, "Uh... Dean, I'm sorry about what happened-"

"Don't worry about it. You weren't yourself." Dean said with an easy smile before digging into his eggs.

"I could have killed you." Sam whispered sadly.

Dean put his fork down and looked into Sam's eyes. He sighed, "Aw, come on little brother. Not in public."

Sam snorted and looked out the window, strategically keeping his eyes away from Dean.

Dean watched the youngest Winchester for a moment more before returning to his breakfast. Between mouthfuls of toast and bacon Dean said, "I mean it Sam. It wasn't you, it was that crazy doc behind the wheel. His fault, got it?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah, I got it."

"Good. Now hurry up and eat. We got a puzzle to solve."

---------------

Sam rubbed his eyes tiredly. He was exhausted, but in a considerably better mood. Dean had talked to him and Sam knew they would get over the asylum incident. His older brother didn't even mention Sam's accusation, which was a good sign. Maybe Dean would let it go.

They were heading back to the motel room to do research on the laptop and get their ideas together. After that they were going to the restaurant to ask the locals what was going on.

Sam drummed his fingers against the passenger side window as he watched his surroundings. He sat up straighter as they passed by a forested area with three police cars parked in front of it. Their lights were on, but no sirens. Dean slowed the Impala and then came to a stop after they passed.

"Think we should check it out?" Dean asked, his eyes never leaving the rearview mirror.

"Yeah." Sam said. He opened the door, but waited while Dean pulled out some fake IDs.

Dean grinned as he pulled out two thin leather wallet, "Lets get creative on this one. Been meaning to try these bad boys out."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Council on Environmental Quality?" Sam raised an eyebrow before getting out of the car and starting towards the scene.

Dean got out and quickly caught up, "Let me do the talking."

Sam snorted, but kept his mouth closed.

With a few quick stride the brothers made their way up to the officers. "Hello boys. What do we got, here?" Dean asked coolly.

The three uniformed men each turned to look at the Winchesters. One man narrowed his eyes and demanded, "Who are you."

Dean quickly flipped open the wallet and closed it with just as much speed. He put as much professionalism into his voice as possible, "I'll ask again. What have we got?"

The officer didn't seem very convinced of who they were but answered anyway, "We got an anonymous call that there was some old guy out here. Dead. Now we didn't call anyone. Why are you here."

Dean glanced at Sam and almost missed the question, "Uh... we were driving by. Thought we should check it out. You know, being woods and all." He looked back at Sam, seeing that the younger boy hadn't missed it either.

"Did you find the body?" Sam asked. An uncomfortable knot was forming in the pit of his stomach.

The officer nodded, "Just waiting for the meat wagon."

"Could you take us to it?" Dean asked.

"Yeah. Follow me."

The officer lead them deep into the woods, stopping at the edge of a circle of leaves. In the center an old man lay, his body and limbs perfectly straight.

Sam took one look before turning around and heading back the way they came.

Dean followed wordlessly. When they got back in the car he asked, "What?"

Sam had his arms crossed and resting on the dash. His forehead was on top of his arms. He shook his head from side to side, "It's him. The man from my vision. We're too late."

TBC

A/N: Reviews are a writer's best friend... next to betas, that is (love you Irish!).