A/N: Decided to post a chapter early for your reading pleasure. The brothers are checking out a possible case while switched. We will see how that goes. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. Thank you to any guests who have left reviews. I do love a review/comment. NC
Chapter 7
Dean decided to take the back roads to Wilmar, Minnesota and traffic was sparce. He looked over at his body as Sam read through some articles he had printed before they left. It still felt weird to see his body disconnected from his soul like this and would be happy when they resolved the issue.
"What did you find out?" Dean questioned Sam. "Any idea what we're walking into?"
"I'm not sure, the local law enforcement thinks a wild animal wandered into town and started attacking people," Sam replied glancing up at Dean.
"And you're thinking that's not the case."
"Yeah, I don't think it's a werewolf, not a full moon and it mentions nothing of body parts missing."
"What else fits the bill? I don't think a wendigo would venture into a town unless they were really desperate."
"We might get there and find out it is a rogue animal, and it is not our thing."
"How often has that happened? I mean, let's face it, nine times out of ten, we're looking at some monster doing the crime."
"I know. Are we going to check anything out this afternoon after we arrive?"
"Might as well try to get in to see the bodies at least. Of course, that means making a brief stop at the police station to let them know we're in town."
"What are we posing as…"
"If it's a supposed animal attack, might be a good idea to go in as Fish, Wildlife and Game. I don't think FBI would be going after a wild animal."
"Sounds reasonable. Our cover story could be we're making sure it's not carrying some disease or is rabid."
"Yeah, suits me. After seeing the bodies and getting the police reports, we'll grab a motel room to go over everything. See where to attacks took place, bodies found, and maybe we can zero in on where this monster is hiding out."
"That means we'll need a map of the town and area surrounding it. You'll need to stop at a gas station when we get into town to pick one up."
"That was my plan. I'll gas up my Baby so if we do find this thing and kill it, we'll be ready to leave and not hang around."
"Alright." Sam stared at the window as other thoughts came to mind. After a few moments, he spoke again. Dean," Sam asked in an unsure voice as he sideways at Dean as he drove.
"Yeah Sammy?" Dean responded glancing at Sam. "What is it?"
"Do you think Bobby and Missouri will find a way to swap us back?" he questioned in a soft voice.
"If anyone can, those two can. They've got more knowledge between them than we'll have in our lifetimes. It'll work out, don't fret about it."
"But what happens if it can't be done?"
Dean drew in a breath as he contemplated how to answer Sam. He didn't want to make him worry any more than he already was, and he didn't want him to lose hope and give up.
"We'll deal with that if, and I mean if it comes down to that. No need worrying over it now. We're dealing with it in our own ways and making the best of it. You've got to be positive and trust Bobby and Missouri. They'll come through for us."
"Yeah, you're right," Sam sighed as he gazed out the windshield. He did need to have hope it would all turn out okay and they would get their own bodies back. If he had doubts, he decided to keep them to himself.
spn
The small town of Wilmar, Minnesota didn't look much different than all the other towns they had hunted in in the past. Dean stopped at a convenience store before getting into the main part of the town, to gas the Impala and buy a map of the town. He snagged some snacks and a drink before getting directions to the sheriff's office from the cashier. Sam had headed back to the Impala with his own food and drink and was waiting on him, leaning against the Impala and studying the surroundings.
"Let's get this done," Dean commented dropping into the driver's seat and settling before cranking up his Baby to head into town to the sheriff station. They bypassed the business district and found the building a couple of blocks away near the courthouse. The construction looked up to date, like it had been modernized over the past year or so. Dean found parking and got out, going to the trunk to find fake id for them. Both looked the part with jeans, flannel shirts, jackets, and boots.
"Here," Dean addressed Sam. "You'll have to take lead since you have my older body."
"Are you sure?" Sam asked looking down at his id. "Dude, you gave me the wrong one," he complained holding it out for Dean to see.
"My bad, swap. Yeah, they would expect the older of us to be the superior and that is you bro."
"Okay, same routine as any other hunt," Sam mumbled squaring his shoulders and taking on the part as boss. He wasn't used to this, since Dean usually took this role, and he quickly ran through his head what he needed to say and decided how to act the part.
"May I help you?" a female deputy asked the brothers after they entered the building into a lobby with a bench against one wall and a counter that ran the length of the room blocking off entrance to the main part of the department. There was a small hall off to the right that had a sign for restrooms and vending machines.
"Yes," said Sam, clearing his throat before he continued. "We'd like to see the sheriff please. We're with Fish and Wildlife."
She looked at the two brothers for a moment, sizing them up before picking up the phone and tapping a couple of keys. She spoke in the receiver and listened for a moment before hanging up.
"If you'll have a seat over there, the sheriff will be out in a moment," she directed them.
"Thank you, deputy," Sam nodded and gave her a brief smile before turning to step to the bench. He took a seat beside Dean, and they waited for the sheriff.
Sam felt out of place in Dean's body and couldn't stop fidgeting and letting his eyes roam the room. He looked at Dean when he poked him lightly in the side and slightly shook his head no, trying to get Sam to calm down. He gave a short nod and tried to relax.
It was fifteen minutes later that an older man stepped from the door behind the counter and spoke to the deputy before turning to the brothers.
"Good afternoon, I'm Sheriff Carson, how can I help you?" he asked as he stepped through a small swinging door to stand in front of them.
"Sheriff, I'm Cooper and this is my partner Shaw with Fish and Wildlife. We were sent to investigate the attacks that happened recently in your town," Sam greeted him shaking his hand.
"Reports say it was an animal attacking folks," Dean added as he shook the sheriff's hand.
"Well, that's what we think, but we can't find its where abouts anywhere in town. I've had deputies and local hunters scouring the town for it but haven't had any luck so far."
"That's why we're here, sir. We're some of the best trackers the agency has," Sam told him. "If you can provide us with your reports on the attacks, we're get to work finding what did this."
"We'll need to see the bodies also," Dean said.
"Alright, if you'll wait here, I'll have one of my deputies make you copies of our files and the bodies are at the morgue in the basement of the hospital."
"Thank you, and could you point us in the direction of the hospital?"
"Yeah, go out of the parking lot take a right, about a mile down on the left you'll see the signs that will lead you right to it."
"We appreciate your cooperation, sir," Dean told him before he headed back into the squad room.
"If you boys find anything, you'll let me know," the sheriff asked pausing in the doorway.
"Of course, sheriff. We'll keep you in the loop," Sam assured him.
They sat back down and waited on the files. Sam looked at Dean who was showing his interest with the deputy until Sam kicked him and frowned in a Dean bitch face. Dean snorted softly and glared at Sam but stopped his flirting. It wasn't long before a male deputy stepped out with several files in his hand and handed them to Sam.
"Thanks deputy," Sam said getting up and taking the offered files before heading for the doors.
"Why did you kick me in there?" Dean inquired once they were outside.
"We don't have time for you hooking up with her and besides, that's my body you're pimping out."
"You're no fun. I'll let you have a little one on one with a hot chick if you want."
"No Dean, I'm not like you."
"Maybe she has a friend for you. We could get some action."
"No," Sam stated firmly as he got into the Impala, hopefully putting an end to the conversation.
"Fine, fine Sam, but if this swap takes much longer, we're going to have to reach an agreement. I don't plan on staying celibate indefinitely."
"That's something we can talk about later after we see if Missouri can help. Right now, we need to focus on this case."
"Hopefully, the bodies will tell us something," Dean grunted. He cranked the Impala and headed in the direction the sheriff gave them. In a mile he saw a sign for the hospital and followed them to a three story, brick building sitting on a large parcel of land that had trees randomly spaced throughout the parking lot. Dean headed around to the rear entrance knowing that would get them to the morgue quicker.
After parking the Impala, they got out and headed in through the rear entrance checking the signs for the morgue. They followed them down several halls until they found double glass doors leading into a section for the morgue. One door to the left noted cold storage and the one on the right said morgue.
Dean stepped in first and shiver slightly with the change in temperature. The smell was always the same and the layout was easily recognized for what it was. There were two stainless steel tables sitting in the middle of the room under bright lights. There were hoses for water running across the ceiling and a drain at the end of the tables. Several filing cabinets sat against one wall with a desk on the side. The opposite wall was lined with the doors for the deceased. The floor was clean and shone brightly in the overhead light.
"Hello, can I help you?" an older man asked as he stepped from a door nearby. He had on scrubs and a lab coat with coroner stitched on the pocket.
"Yes, we just came from the sheriff's office and Sheriff Carson told us we could see the bodies of the animal attack victims. We're with Fish and Wildlife."
"Alright, hope you have a strong stomach," the coroner noted. He walked slowly to the doors and scanned the name tags before puling out four drawers. "Here you go, it's not a pretty sight, that's for sure."
"Are you sure it was an animal that attacked them?" Sam asked.
"If it wasn't, then I don't know what it could be. If a person did this, well, they had to have been strung out on drugs or is a psychopath."
"Could we get copies of your autopsy reports please?"
"Sure, it'll take me a minute to print them out. There's gloves on the wall over there, I'll leave you to your job." The coroner left them and went to the desk to log into the computer and find the files he wanted to print.
Sam grabbed some gloves and gave Dean a pair that they slipped on before stepping to the first sheet draped body. Dean carefully pulled the sheet down the body, stopping at the waist. They looked at a young male in his mid-twenties whose throat had been torn out and chest torn apart.
Sam gave the body a quick glance and then leaned forward to study the throat. He took out his cell and snapped photos of the flayed and torn skin.
"Does this look like a bite mark?" Dean mumbled pointing to the victim's shoulder. He spoke quietly where the coroner couldn't hear.
Sam looked to where Dean was pointing and snapped pics of it too, before running his finger over the wound.
"Could be," he replied in a similar quiet voice.
Dean covered the body and slid it back into the drawer before going to the next one. He pulled the sheet only a little way down when he saw it was a female. Her throat was torn apart also. Sam lifted the sheet enough to see other slash marks across her stomach and arms. He knew for sure the bite on her arm were made by human teeth, but not human.
They looked at the other two bodies and found almost identical wounds and shredded bodies. There was another male and female all between twenty-five and thirty. Only two had defensive wounds where they fought their attacker or attackers. The bodies all looked in great shape and looked like they could easily defend themselves.
Once they were finished with the bodies, the brothers stripped off the gloves and retuned the bodies to their drawers. The coroner had the reports ready for them and slipped them into a file folder. Sam thanked him and they left, glad to be out of the cold atmosphere and smell of death.
"Let's go find a motel and go over what we have," Dean suggested as they got into the Impala.
"Should we grab some takeout for dinner and then we won't have to go back out?" Sam offered.
"Yeah, works for me. I'm sure there's restaurants near the motels or we could order pizza, but we'll have to stop for a six pack. Can't have pizza without a cold one."
"Whatever you want, that's fine with me."
"Okay, let's do this then." Dean drove from the parking lot and headed back across town to where a number of motels were located. He wanted to find one that served a free breakfast so they wouldn't have to worry about that meal. If they were lucky, maybe they would have the case wrapped up in a couple of days.
