AN: A big thank you to all reviewers and readers. You guys make my day! Now up, "Live Free And Twihard", Season 6

Just add salt ;)

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(Soulless) Sam POV

So we're hunting a vampire. Or vampires. Hunting is the only thing after I escaped the cage that makes me feel alive. Dean and I had split, but now I'm trying to find him to reconnoiter. As I reach the edge of an alley I hear noises. Fighting noises.

I step around the corner and see some curly head guy trying to alter my brother's dental records. My first instinct is to rush to help Dean and I run a few steps. As sudden as the instinct flamed up it disappeared again. Why help him? Sure, he's my brother and brother's are supposed to look out for each other, but somehow seeing Dean all dazed by the blows that guy is laying in on him doesn't affect me any more than seeing a leaf being plucked off a tree.

I watch the fight with an interest that Dean would call fascination. It's a very one sided fight. More like a beating with my brother on the receiving end. The guy now pins Dean against the dumpster, using his right arm across Dean's throat to keep him in place. Looks like that guy's arm is the only thing keeping Dean from sliding to the ground. He got whacked good.

I see the guy bringing his left wrist to his face, but his back is to me and I can only guess what he's doing. A thought enters my mind. What if that guy is a vampire? It would explain how he had the strength to beat Dean semiconscious without my brother fighting back. I wonder what the vampire will do now. No, I don't wonder. I know. And I'm aware Dean knows, too.

My body twitches because I realize I should do something to stop this, to prevent the vamp from turning Dean into one of them. But I just stand there. It's like I'm watching a thriller on TV waiting for the suspense to culminate. Dean's eyes are half lidded but I can see panic in them. Panic? What's that?

Seeing Dean helpless is really fascinating. I can hear him struggle weakly, grunting even. The vampire guy gets his bloody wrist over to Dean's mouth, ready to feed him, to turn him. I can see Dean's eyes flicker towards me. He knows I'm there, watching. But he is powerless, incapable of moving or defending himself.

Something tells me I should intervene and save my brother. But if I let Dean get turned it will be just about what we need. A man to get on the inside. A double agent. It's a good thing Samuel knows a cure to vampirism, because I am unable to stop the vamp now, even if I wanted to.

Alright, that came out wrong. I know Dean has no clue about a cure. I know I didn't before I hooked up with Samuel. The vamp is smearing blood all over Dean's face. Good. But get it over with now so I can... save Dean? Not really. The emotions on Dean's dazed face? He's scared. Beyond scared. Terrified, I think. And somehow his fear makes me smirk. The vamp now had enough time to turn my brother. I draw out my machete and shout at the monster.

"NO!"

The vamp releases Dean as I rush towards them and Dean drops to the ground unceremoniously. I halt as the vamp turns towards me and for a moment we just stare at each other. I see his fangs reflecting in the moonlight and I slash my machete halfheartedly at him. He evades the slashes easily and then, with a little wave, the vampire runs and escapes up the buildings wall like a monkey. I lower my gaze to my brother on the ground. He's breathing heavily through his blood covered mouth.

"Sammy...," he exhales. It's hardly more than a whisper. I know he'd expect me to be concerned, freaked even. So I act the part. I hope it's convincingly. But it's not easy to do something you don't feel but know you should feel.

Back in the motel room I draw the curtains. I had called Samuel on the way here. But I only told him we need help. Dean is squinting. I know vampires are sensitive to light and my brother is a vamp now. He's holding his head like it's killing him. Maybe it is. Do I care? No. Should I care? Probably. That's why I drew the curtains even though honestly, I really couldn't be bothered.

"Oh my God, what is that SOUND?"

"What sound, Dean?" I hear nothing more than muffled street noise. I guess it must be amplified a zillion times for him. He tips over a lamp and even goes to knock on the wall to the neighboring room.

"Hey, c'mon, keep it down, dammit!"

As he turns he briefly glances at the light fixture on the ceiling before averting his eyes.

"Please, PLEASE shut that off... geez..."

I comply because I know it will take away a bit of the stress Dean's feeling. Turning vamp must be feeling weird. Maybe I should show concern.

"Dean... you should sit down..."

"YOU sit down," he replies but then sits on the edge of a bed, cradling his head in his hands. "Of all the ways to die, I never thought I'd be going out like this." Dying? He's not dying. He's just turning. No big deal. It's reversible. I think.

"Dean, nobody is 'going out'." How's that for reassuring him? Dean can't really calm down and gets up again.

"It's THAT..."

"What?" I ask.

Dean roughly rips the clock's cord out of the wall and then faces me, eyes wild even in the dark.

"Samuel is gonna kill me when he gets here."

"No, Dean, he's not." He knows a cure. I'm sure. At least I think I am. He mentioned it once.

"Yes he is, 'cause I'm gonna ask him to because you won't do it." Dean sounds desperate, but his desperation doesn't reach me. I know it should, so I get into my act again.

"Okay, just hold on a second..."

"For what, huh? Look at me!" Dean is pacing around like a caged cougar. His pacing affects my thinking. I got to think in order to know how to react the way I should. Calm down a bit, will you?

"We can figure this out." Once we are done here. Once you did what you can do now, being a vamp and all.

"How?!"

I can't tell you that, Dean. I can't tell you about the cure. You would think I let you get turned on purpose. Which I did. But you don't have to know. I see Dean picks up on something, because his eyes on me change expression.

"Why aren't you freaked out?"

Oh damnit. Enhanced senses. Screw it. Think, Sam. Think fast.

"Of course I am." Brilliant. Not. I know. He knows.

"Really? 'Cause I can hear your heartbeat, and it's pretty damned steady."

See... freaking enhanced senses.

"That's 'cause I'm... I'm TRYING to remain calm. Dean, look - Samuel will know what to do."

Here now, that should calm him down, get him off me.

"C'mon, man, I'm a monster, okay? This is NOT a problem that you spit-ball. We gotta deal with this before I hurt somebody."

I don't know what to reply. I should reply something to reassure Dean. He holds his head again, groaning. He must be in agony. I mean, senses changing, fangs growing. My curiosity is peaked.

"How's it feel?"

"NOW? Now you wanna talk about my feelings?" He's pissed. On top of undergoing the change he's pissed.

"No, I mean... physically."

"How do you THINK it feels? Not good!" Whatever that means. That doesn't do anything to satisfy my curiosity. Or whatever it is. Dean turns and strides towards the bathroom in big steps.

"Where you goin'?" Smooth question.

"Bathroom, okay?" Yeah. I know. I see. Why? "News flash, Mr. Wizard: vampires pee!"