Chapter 5

"You know my body is going to go into withdrawal if you don't give it something beside that healthy crap you eat," Dean commented pointing a fork at Sam who was eating an egg white omelette with a small order of pancakes.

"And you're going to kill my body, stuffing it with all that grease and cholesterol," Sam informed him with a huff. "You know we're supposed to take care of each other's bodies until we get them back."

"I am taking care of it. I'm giving it some actual food for a change, and it is liking it," Dean insisted biting off a large bite of bacon.

"Give me strength," Sam muttered shaking his head at his brother. He could not get his body back soon enough. It wasn't just the hair thing, but he missed being taller than about everyone else, plus, Dean's clothes had a lot to be desired. He was never one to choose for looks, he chose for durability and use.

"Do you have the list for the store?" Dean asked changing the subject since there were too many unwanted ears that could be listening to them.

"Yeah, I figure we get enough for a week to be on the safe side. Did Bobby say he was having any luck?"

"I don't think so, but he's calling in reinforcements. He's going to ask Missouri to help."

"That's good, the more brains working on it the quicker it can be solved."

"Amen to that," Dean snorted absently pushing his too long hair out of his face again. "Five minutes and some scissors," he muttered in disgust. "Finish up so we can get the shopping done and get back before lunch."

"I like to chew my food dude," Sam fussed but did eat a little faster. "And touch the hair and you will regret it." He figured the less they were among people the better. He forked the last bite into his mouth as Dean was getting up to pay the bill. He slipped a tip under his cup not waiting on Sam before walking away. Sam quickly wiped his mouth and hurried to follow Dean to the front and waited as he paid.

They headed outside and walked across the parking lot toward the Impala. Dean tried to swagger in Sam's body but snubbed his toe and stumbled slightly, catching himself while ignoring Sam's snickers. Sam tried to walk normal and noticed his stride wasn't as big now and he had to walk a little faster to keep up with Dean. He saw Dean give him the finger when he laughed at him.

Once they were in the Impala, Dean drove to the store and found parking near the back of the lot. Dean always parked where the Impala wouldn't get dented by other car doors. The brothers got out and headed for the front doors and went inside.

"Okay, why don't you take half the list and I'll do the other half," Sam instructed taking his list and carefully tearing it apart. He gave Dean the part that didn't have as much food on it knowing how he shopped. He didn't check prices or selection, just grabbed the first thing he wanted.

"You know Sammy, this is a great place to pick up women," Dean started in a low voice. "A little accidental tap with your buggy and a sincere apology. Maybe ask them about picking out bananas or a meat, depending on where you're at."

"No picking up women while we're swapped," Sam hissed through clenched teeth, giving Dean a stern, angry glare.

"Whoa!" Dean noted. "That was a good one Sammy, you almost got that expression down pat."

"I'm serious Dean; don't be using my body for your sexual pleasures," he whispered madly.

"Fine! They probably wouldn't go for the hair anyway," Dean replied. He snatched the partial list Sam held out to him and grabbed a buggy, rolling it away down one of the main aisles.

Sam stood there for a moment as he calmed himself and watched Dean's back, well, his back, as he disappeared. He looked at his list and pulled a buggy free to head to the produce department first. He rolled slowly through the department, picking out fruits and vegetables. He grabbed a couple of bags of premade salad for him and Bobby. When he was almost done, Sam turned when another buggy bumped into his and he looked up to see a cute redhead smiling apologetically at him.

"Sorry, my fault," she told Sam moving her buggy back a little. "I'm JJ, but most call me Red."

"It's fine, no harm done," Sam told her, smiling shyly. "I'm Sam."

"Don't think I've seen you in here before, do you live around here?"

"No, just visiting family."

"That's nice. Is your wife and kids with you?"

"It's just me and my brother. I'm not married."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything."

"It's fine. I guess I should get back to shopping."

"Right, sure Sam. Why don't you take my number and if you might want to get together for a drink or something, give me a call," JJ told him taking a scrap of paper from her purse and scribbling a number on it.

"Okay, thanks," Sam nodded accepting the paper. He glanced at it for a moment before stuffing it in his jeans pocket.

"Well, it was nice to meet you Sam, bye," JJ said.

"You too, bye," Sam replied giving her a small wave before pushing his buggy away surprised that Dean was right. He wondered if JJ would have accidently bumped into him if he was in his own body. That was something to ponder as he headed for the meat department to select some meats to fix for their dinners and was going to get some deli meats for sandwiches. He needed to pick up milk, juice, eggs, cheese, butter, mayo, yogurts, and bread before trying to hunt his brother down. He had given Dean the list that had canned, boxed, and nonfood items to get, thinking he couldn't mess that up.

When Sam went by a display of magazines and books, he spotted several crossword puzzle books that looked interesting and added them to his buggy.

spn

"We're back," Dean called when he stepped into the living room with bags in both hands. "Bobby, you around?"

"Maybe he's in the garage," Sam suggested coming in behind Dean and sitting his bags on the counter. "If you want to get the rest, I'll start putting the things away."

"Sure, fine with me." Dean stopped at the table when he saw a note propped between the salt and pepper shakers. "Bobby got a towing job, he'll be back later," Dean read. "Oh, he suggested that we should practice hand to hand and target practice since being in different bodies."

"That sounds like a good idea. I mean, we can still hunt like this and should become familiar with our bodies."

"Just don't you get too familiar with my body; it's only a loaner."

"Get your mind out of the gutter dude!" Sam growled at him as he started putting away the food.

"You're the one who said it," Dean laughed as he headed back outside for the rest of the bags.

"Jerk," Sam muttered under his breath.

Once everything was put away, Sam took the time to start a load of laundry before they headed outside to do some target practice first before sparring. They took their handguns and extra ammo and went through the back gate to a place Bobby set up a long time ago for shooting. Dean had grabbed a couple of cardboard targets that he had drawn and walked to the dirt mound and positioned them on the rebar sticking from the hill.

"Here," Sam offered holding out ear plugs for him to use.

"Thanks," said Dean taking them and inserting them in his ears. He took a stance and raised his handgun, taking aim and firing a couple of rounds. The cardboard moved as holes were punched into it from the bullets that hit just off center. He grunted and arched an eyebrow before glancing over at Sam.

Sam fit his ear plugs into Dean's ears and rolled his shoulders before raising his handgun and staring down the barrel of the gun to take aim. He fired a round and barely clipped the cardboard. He frowned, aimed again, and shot, but he still didn't hit the target. He looked at Dean's target and saw he seemed much better.

Dean smirked as he took up a shooter's stance and emptied the gun, tearing out the center of the bull's eye. He watched Sam fire his last shot and saw only two bullets hit close to his bull's eyes and all the rest were around it.

"Having a problem over there?" Dean asked innocently as he reloaded.

"No, I'll get it," Sam grunted with a pout. He knew Dean was a good marksman but realized that his skill wasn't just physically 'natural' like he always suspected, because he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in Dean's body, while Dean was doing great because he spent years learning the techniques. Sam gained a new respect for Dean's abilities that he took for granted before.

"You're trying too hard Sammy. You may be shorter, but it's still the same technique," Dean offered as Sam reloaded.

By the time they had each emptied their guns four times, Sam was getting better and was able to hit the bull's eye and tore it out just like Dean had done. Sam felt pleased with himself once he figured out how to shoot in Dean's body. They picked up their brass and headed back into the salvage yard. Dean got out the gun cleaning kit and they quickly cleaned the handguns and reloaded their clips for their guns.

"You ready to test your fighting skills out?" Dean asked as he gave his gun one final look over.

"If you are," Sam replied. "But you better watch out, I know all your moves."

"Bring it on little brother," Dean sneered.

The brothers headed outside into the back yard where they'd have plenty of space to spar. Dean had his technique of fighting and stood relaxed facing his brother. He held Sam's body, loose and at ease as Sam stiffened Dean's body and prepared for the attack. He threw a punch toward Dean who swatted it away easily. They walked around each other, and Sam tried again only to have Dean use his long arms to deliver his own punch catching Sam in the jaw. It stung even though Dean didn't put all his power behind it so not to hurt his brother.

When Sam ducked under a punch and came up with his own, Dean stumbled slightly falling over his feet and the punch landed hard enough to bloody Dean's nose. This made Dean growled as he wiped his nose, distracting Sam and getting his own punch in that bloodied Sam's lip.

Dean wrapped Sam's long arms around his own body and thought he had Sam until he delivered a hard elbow to his gut, making him grunt and loosen his grip. Sam took this opening and wiggled from Dean's grasp to quickly swing his leg around and catch the back of Dean's legs sweeping them out from under him. Dean windmilled his arms as he fell backwards and landed with a dull thump to the ground, knocking the air from his lungs. Sam saw the chance and threw his body over Dean's to pin him, but Dean retaliated and tossed him over and tried to pin him. Before either could stop themselves, they were on the ground, rolling around and throwing wild punches, each trying to get the best of the other.

"Boys!" Bobby yelled at them when he came out and found them on the ground trying to best the other. "That's enough!" he tried again but the brothers still didn't stop. He pulled his handgun from his jacket and fire up into the air to get their attention.

Dean and Sam froze in mid punch when the echo of the gunshot bounced around the yard. They looked up at Bobby and then over to the side when a crow dropped from the sky to land a few feet away. The brothers looked at the lifeless bird and up at Bobby who had a sour look on his face, and back to the dead bird.

"Nice shooting Bobby," Dean offered finally with an innocent shrug.

"If you two idjits are through rolling around in the dirt like dumbasses, I thought you'd like to know Missouri will be here in a couple of days to help."

"Good," Dean nodded pushing Sam off him with a 'get off me,' and got to his feet.

"Yeah, if anyone can help, I think she can," Sam added getting up slower and wincing from a pain in his side and split lip. He rolled his head feeling tiny aches and pains running through Dean's body and wondered if he had them after every fight.

"I'm going to have a late lunch if you two ruffians care to join me or do you need to throw a few more punches at each other?"

"We're good Bobby," Dean assured him, slapping at his clothes to get the dirt and dust off them.

"Yeah, I think we've learned enough for now," Sam agreed.

They headed back inside and put together sandwiches and chips for their meal. Dean went out to help Bobby in the garage and Sam wanted to do some research since he had the use of Bobby's books.


A/N: Help is on the way. Will Missouri be able to find the spell to help the brothers? Thank you for coming along for the ride. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC