Chapter 8

Dean had stayed at Bobby's for nearly a week after the incident before he had that itch to find a hunt. He had been scouring the internet that morning and thought he might have found something in Nebraska he could check out. He had not talked to Bobby about what happened just that Sam was gone to college.

Bobby didn't press him but knew there was more to the story than that. He knew John Winchester and was sure he didn't take his youngest son leaving very well. He had warned John several times that he needed to do better by his boys, but he wouldn't listen to him. One time after an argument, John never came around for over three years and only then because he needed somewhere to leave the boys for a few weeks instead of dragging them with him. Dean was hand full then, full of spit and anger and Sam was the total opposite, gentle and quiet.

"You heading out son?" Bobby asked as he walked into the kitchen from the backdoor. Dean had told him he was going to look for a hunt and was surprised he had stayed this long. He knew Dean didn't like staying in one place for long and figured it had to do with all the moving around as a kid.

"Yeah, I've hung around here long enough," Dean replied. "May have found a hunt in Nebraska."

"So, you're hunting on your own now?"

"Guess so since Sammy's decided to do the college scene."

"And yer Daddy?"

"He doesn't need me; I'll be fine Bobby."

"Just don't be an idjit, and call if you need backup. If I can't make it, maybe Caleb or Mackie will be nearby. I could give them a call."

"Naw, don't bother until I see if it's even our thing. Hate for them to make a trip for nothing," Dean insisted.

"Suit yerself. You just be careful and don't take any un-necessary risks. I'm heading out on a parts run so I'll say goodbye now."

"I'm going to shower and head out. I'll call when I get there. Don't worry I'll be careful Bobby." Dean threw him a wave before he headed from the room and up the stairs to the bathroom to get his shower so he could head out. He had approximately a seven to eight-hour drive ahead of him and wanted to get on the road. It would be late by the time he got there, so he'd need to get a motel room for the night and start his search tomorrow.

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The Impala rolled down the interstate toward Nebraska and a small town called McCook. It was in the southwest corner of the state about an hour south of North Platte. There had been deaths at a popular hangout called Lover's Leap in the past month that piqued his interest. The number of deaths were more than a town that size should have in such a short period of time and could mean there's either a serial killer on the loose or a supernatural monster involved.

Dean's mind went to his younger brother wondering how he was settling in at college. He had hoped to maybe have a call from him, but it hadn't happened. He looked over to the empty passenger seat and the ache in his chest grew because the one that was supposed to be there was missing. His high for a hunt was shot down with the thoughts of having to do this alone now, with no little brother as backup. Hunting just got extremely complicated since he had no one to watch his back. Bobby was right, he could call Caleb, but it wouldn't be the same. Sam and he could read the other's mind when they hunted and knew what the other was going to do. Neither had to second guess the other, since the bond they had from childhood was still strong within them.

The motel he chose was small but suited his needs. He didn't even think about it until he walked into the room that he had booked a double. Dean looked at the bed for a moment before sitting his bags on it and going to the bathroom. He felt his soul crumble a little more and it felt like bands were tightening around his heart, making it hard to beat. He leaned heavily against the counter and gasped out trying to breath. Even though he had accepted his brother leaving for college, all these reminders brought all those powerful emotions back.

He came out and changed into sleep clothes to turn in early. He wanted to get an early start in the morning so he could get this hunt over with and move on to the next. He decided the only way he was going to get through this was face it head on and stay busy to keep his mind off his brother.

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The police station was easy to find, and Dean made his way toward the front doors and stepped into the foyer of the station. He gave the place a once over before stepping to the counter and waiting for the officer to get off the phone.

"May I help you?" he asked once he had hung up.

"FBI, Agent Young," Dean stated pulling out his fake badge and flashing it. "I'd like to speak to the person heading up the case on the recent deaths you've had at Lover's Leap."

"That would be Detective Ross, but he's not in the office. He's in the field at the moment."

"Then can I get a copy of your reports on the deaths so I can begin reviewing them. Oh, and could you call Detective Ross and let him know I'm waiting here for him?"

"I guess that'll be okay. I can have you talk to the Chief if you like."

"Sure, why not, just be sure and get me the reports," Dean nodded, trying to be friendly but realizing Sam was the one that was good with situations like this. He had that face that people trusted almost immediately. He gave the officer a brief smile before he disappeared into the room behind him. Dean turned to lean against the counter and waited for the officer to come back with the chief. He tapped his foot against the floor as he gazed around the office trying not to act as uncomfortable as he felt.

Dean turned when someone cleared their throat at saw a middle aged, grey haired man staring at him. "Agent Young, FBI, and you are the chief?"

"Chief Frazier, Agent Young. I'm a little confused why the FBI is here when I don't remember calling them," Chief Frazier said.

"I don't question the higher ups Chief. I just go where they tell me to. Do you have any leads on the murder victims?"

"No, not yet, Detective Ross is following up on some things. But you may have come here for nothing. We're thinking the killings are a rabid wild animal of some kind. Animal control is setting traps and we've warned the townsfolk to steer clear of the area."

"Then it wouldn't hurt to have another pair of hands helping out," Dean offered. "Can you point me to the morgue so I can check out the bodies?"

"You're here; guess it won't hurt," the chief said with a sigh. They weren't having any luck with tracking down whatever was doing the killing. "It's in the basement of the hospital. If you followed Maple Street to the end and hang a right can't miss it."

"I've got the files copied for the agent," the officer from the front desk offered holding out a folder for Dean.

"Thanks," Dean said accepting the offering. "Here's my number if you'll have Detective Ross call me. No use me waiting on him when I can get started on the case."

"I'll do that agent," the chief nodded taking the card and looking at it for a moment as Dean headed for the door.

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The diner wasn't busy when Dean made his way inside and took a table away from the other customers. He ordered the breakfast special and coffee from the waitress and after she left opened the folder to check out the reports on the dead bodies. He began to scan the pages, looking for anything out of the ordinary or any red flags that would tell him a monster was involved. Dean moved the papers when his food was brough and continued to read as he ate.

The pictures of the crime scenes were brutal and bloody. He grimaced and glanced around to be sure no one else could see them. So far, there were four dead, two young couples that had gone to Lover's Leap to make out. He finished his meal and headed out to find the morgue and view the bodies. He followed the Chief's directions and found the hospital. Dean parked in the back and found an entrance to the morgue.

The coldness and funky smell hit him as soon as he walked through the doors into the morgue. This was the worst part of the job and it never got any easier. He looked around and saw a person sitting at a desk working on a computer.

"May I help you?" the tech asked when he saw Dean.

"FBI, Agent Young, I'm here to see the bodies of the victims found at Lover's Leap," Dean stated flashing his badge.

"Alright, hope you've got a strong stomach, it's pretty gruesome," the tech said. He got up and went to the wall that had rows of doors lining it. After a few moments of looking, he pulled four out for Dean. "Here you go."

"Oh, and could you make me a copy of the autopsy reports?"

"Flash drive okay?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine," Dean replied as he slipped on a pair of latex gloves before moving to the first victim. He pulled back the sheet and swallowed hard to keep from puking. The chest cavity had been ripped apart and it looked like the internal organs torn out. He studied the wounds and looked at the long gashes on one arm before turning to the tech. "Were any of the organs found near the bodies?"

"Nope, cops are thinking the animal that killed them ate them," he replied.

Dean turned back to the body and covered it up to move to the next. It was almost identical to the first but had a few more gashes on his arms like he put up a fight. The other two didn't show anything unusual either, but Dean was starting to form a picture of what had attacked these kids and it sure wasn't a rabid wild animal.

"Here you go," the tech said, getting Dean's attention. "The autopsy reports. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, I'm good thanks," Dean answered. He covered the bodies and slipped them back into the bins before pulling off the gloves and leaving. He had some research to do and right now he missed his brother more than ever.

A/N: Dean's on his own and hunting, but he still misses his brother. He's going to find out soon that Sam's not at college and can't be found. Thank you for coming along for the ride. Reviews would make my day. NC