Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke and WB. I'm just borrowing the characters to play with for a while!

Set after Asylum (I'm pretending their father didn't call at the end of the episode!) and set before Scarecrow. Enjoy!

BROTHERS

by Eryn Grant

CHAPTER THREE

Lake Road

Fifteen minutes later...

Dean drew the Impala into the side of the road. Turning off the ignition, he jumped out of the car and looked up the road.

"Why have we stopped here?" Sam moved around the car to stand next to Dean. "The bend's further up the road," he pointed up the road. "We'll get our best readings up there."

"I know that," Dean said impatiently. "I'm not stupid."

"So why?" Sam started to say.

"You suddenly got a problem with walking?" Dean cut in as he pulled the EMF meter out of his jacket pocket. He started to walk up the road.

"Just wondering," Sam answered evenly as he jogged to catch up with Dean.

"Last time we were up here," Dean turned to his brother. "You got all weird and tried to break the speed record in my car. I'm not chancing that happening again." He cocked his head to one side. "Unless you suddenly got a death wish."

Sam shook his head at the threatening look on his brother's face. "Good call," he smirked at Dean.

"Damn straight," Dean said as he turned on the EMF and put in the ear plugs.

"Dean," Sam said quietly. "Do you think it's a bit weird about David and Steven?" He waved his hand in the air unsure how to continue.

"Weird how?" Dean glanced sideways at Sam taking out one plug so he could hear what Sam was saying.

"You know," Sam said exasperated at himself. "Like... well I mean... like," he stammered.

"Spit it out man," Dean said. "Before it chokes you."

"Well they're kinda like us," Sam explained.

"Where did that come from?" Dean stopped staring at Sam.

"Dean," Sam said irritated at his brother's hard-headed refusal to see what was in front of his eyes. Sam counted off his points on his fingers. "Their Mom died when they were little. Their Dad didn't care about them. They're the same age as us. Even their initials are the same as ours. They have an Impala. And one of them wanted to be a lawyer."

"What have you started living in the twilight zone now?" Dean snapped. He knew Sam was right. It had occurred to him as well as he had been staring down at Frank's photograph and listening to Hannah. Each piece of information stabbed at him but he was determined not to admit it to himself or Sam. "Hannah said that the older brother wanted to be a lawyer. Do I look like lawyer material to you?"

"You could be if you wanted to be," Sam replied stubbornly.

Dean scowled at him. "And Dad does care."

"OK," Sam conceded reluctantly not wanting to get in an argument about their father. "But everything else is the same," he persisted.

"Nothing like us at all Sammy," Dean ignored the look Sam was giving him as he started up the road again. He put the ear plug back into his ear to shut out what Sam was saying.

"And that's another thing," Sam shouted after Dean. "David used to call his brother Stevie," he ran to catch up with his older brother. "And he hated it as well." Dean signalled at his ear plugs pretending he couldn't hear.

"I hate you sometimes," Sam muttered to himself. He didn't really mean it and immediately felt guilty but he could feel the frustration building within him again. He took a deep breath stamping it down firmly.

Sam followed Dean as they walked up the road. Dean waved the EMF from side to side and up and down in front of him as he scanned the area for any readings. The meter stayed silent. They reached the top of the road.

"Do you think this is where it happened?" Sam asked as he looked over the side of the cliff. The surface of the cliff walls at the top was rocky and uneven but smooth and even as it tapered down to the clear blue lake at the bottom. Clumps of vegetation, brush and tree roots grew out of the cliff-side.

"Could be," Dean shrugged as he looked around. "The EMF's not picking anything up." He moved away from the cliff edge still waving the meter in front of him.

Sam shivered. "There's something here," he murmured. "I can feel it." He moved to join his brother. Sam hated to admit it but he felt safer in closer proximity to Dean.

"The EMF says there's nothing here," Dean said.

"Dean," Sam protested. "I'm telling you something is here. It's the same feeling I had when I was in the car," he looked around.

"Well at least you can't speed this time," Dean quipped with a grin. Sam rolled his eyes at Dean but gave him a small smile. "So what's it saying this time?" Dean glanced around wishing he had thought to bring his favourite shotgun with him.

Sam squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't know. It's faint." He opened his eyes frustrated. "But something is definitely here."

They heard it at the same time and they turned to look down the road. The familiar rumble of an engine. "Not again," Dean muttered to himself. He nudged Sam. "And before you ask," he waggled the keys at Sam.

Without warning the Impala shot over the top of the hill. The roar of the engine filled the air as the car headed straight for them. Dean shoved Sam who stood frozen his mouth open. "Sam," he tugged hard on Sam's sleeve to get him to move. Dean decided on a different tactic than the last time in Jericho. He pulled Sam behind him as he raced down the hill towards the speeding car.

"Are you nuts?" Sam shouted.

"Oh yeah," Dean shouted back. The roar of the Impala's engine seemed to grow louder as the car bore down on them. "Follow me and stay close," Dean shouted over the noise. Dean counted to ten. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Sam was following him. On ten, he raced to the other side of the road as the Impala screeched past them missing them by inches.

"Good move," Sam bent over resting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "Stupid, but good."

Dean grinned at him. "I don't think we're done yet," he gasped pointing at the Impala. The car stopped near the bend at the top of the hill. Without warning the Impala reversed. The wheels spun on the road kicking up dust and stones as it turned towards them. The engine revved over and over and with a squeal of tyres the Impala shot forwards heading towards them again.

"Dude you really have got to have a serious talk with that car of yours," Sam yelled at Dean as the brothers started to run down the road.

"It's your fault," Dean yelled back. "Your freakiness is affecting my baby."

They ran side by side as fast as they could. Dean risked a look over his shoulder. The Impala was gaining on them and he could almost smell the gas in the air. The sound of the engine, usually music to his ears, was deafening and threatening. His car was trying to kill them. Dean shoved at Sam making him weave from side to side in a desperate effort to avoid being run over. The engine revs got louder as the Impala closed in.

Sam looked over his shoulder. The Impala was inches away from him. He swerved to the right yelping as the car veered towards him catching him a glancing blow with its wing. Sam stumbled pushing Dean forwards. The brothers hit the dusty road hard rolling against the impact with the ground. The Impala's insistent roaring dulled to an idling murmur until it died completely. Silence. Sam coughed as he looked up shaking the dust from himself. Dean was still rolling towards the edge of the cliff. "Dean," Sam shouted in panic as his brother disappeared with a yelp over the edge. "Dean," he dragged himself to his knees and crawled to the cliff edge.

To be continued...