Lest We Forget

Summary

The brothers lose more than just their way when investigating missing hikers - Who would have thought that something so small could cause so much trouble?

Disclaimer

Still not mine…if they were Sam's hair would so be cut and washed by now (by me...sighs) …bring back the bangs!

Author's Note

Still hoping you like this- please let me know…if I don't know it's wrong, I can't fix it lol! Thanks for reading and reviewing…will try to reply whenever fanfic plays nice…

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Chapter 1 – Clues and Chocolate

Something prodded Sam in the back, returning him from his reverie.

"Dude, do you mind not prodding me in the back with the shotgun"

"Now that's what I call a loaded question Sam" Sam rolled his eyes "Sides, quit your bitching, it's not like it has any ammunition that would kill you."

"Would still hurt like hell though…"

Dean frowned, for some reason he felt a sense of déjà vu and absent-mindedly rubbed at his chest.

"So what's the plan genius?"

"Why ask me?"

"Well I picked the direction last time and look how well that turned out – it's your turn."

"I think where I woke up is not too far from here – maybe we could find something to give us a clue on what happened."

"What like a note saying 'we stole your memory, to find it follow the trail of breadcrumbs'?"

Sam ignored him and looked around – "This looks familiar"

"Of course it looks familiar Sam, we're in a forest, and we're surrounded by virtually identical trees. It all looks bloody familiar."

Dean scowled at the other man. "So which way now Pathfinder?"

"Who rattled your cage?"

"I'm hungry."

"So you've said" At least half a dozen times already. "And?"

"I get grouchy when I'm hungry."

"I'd never have guessed."

Dean started rummaging through the pockets of his jacket when suddenly his face brightened. "Aha provisions!"

"They're M & M's."

"No - they're food of the gods!"

"M &M's?"

"You can have squirrel for all I care. " He shook the bad in Sam's direction…so…delicious chocolaty goodness or Squirrel Nutkins?"

Sam grabbed a handful and munching, looked around thoughtfully at the glade they had just entered. The clearing formed virtually a perfect circle, the trees almost rigid in attention and uniform in height. He hadn't noticed earlier but in the centre of the clearing was a circle of grass a distinctive lighter shade of green…strange…"This looks like the place…"

He and Dean split up and each took one side of the clearing.

"Hey." Dean called to Sam. "Is this yours?" He held up a backpack.

"Does it have 'property of amnesia victim written' on it?" Sam called back.

"Funny Sam, real funny. Nothing's gonna bite me in here is it?"

"I doubt there's anything that desperate Dean." Sam walked over to where Dean was kneeling.

"This just gets freakier by the minute." Dean muttered tipping the backpack onto the ground.

A mixture of various sized pouches scattered across the grass. Dean looked inquisitively at the tall man beside him who just shrugged, and began to open the pouches. Inside the first was a white, granular substance.

"Something you want to tell me Sam?" He knew it wasn't drugs but was just as surprised.

"More salt?" Sam asked incredulously. What the hell? "What is it with us and salt?"

Dean continued to tip out some of the other pouches. One looked to contained bullets made of silver; another a bag of iron rounds. A third pouch appeared to contain some herb like substance and the fourth a selection of crystals and stones- the only one he recognized being rose quartz. There was also a bottle of lighter fluid and a wicked looking curved knife which he looked at appreciatively before passing it to Sam – the younger boy handling it with natural, accomplished grace. At the bottom of the backpack there was a book, Dean pulled it out and began to leaf through.

It was a journal of sorts - Dean's eyes widened as he glanced through – he looked at Sam who was watching him with concern.

"Here" – He tossed the journal to the other man.

Sam opened the journal – inside were bizarre drawings and writing. Descriptions of creatures with weird names and words like Wendigo, Anasazi, and Zoroastrian. Black Dogs and skin-walkers were mentioned, tips on how to recognise and kill shape-shifters and werewolves; theories on Reapers and Demons. There were various notes in what looked to be Latin though he couldn't be sure.

Sam swallowed nervously. What was all this? He looked across at Dean and his stomach dropped. The older man was looking at him coldly, calculatingly, as if weighing up a threat.

"Looks as though I'm not the one here who's a sandwich short of a picnic after all."

"C'mon, I must be a writer or something. That's it, I must write science fiction or one of those paranormal shows? What else could it be…No-one in their right mind would ever think this kind of thing could be real right?" Sam spoke quickly- he didn't want to be left here alone.

Dean looked at Sam speculatively – it sounded logical and the kid had seemed normal enough all day. In fact he found he had quite like the earnest young man's quick mind and banter. He was friendly and open – everything the kid thought you could see clearly in his face and expressive eyes. No Sam seemed ok, and what was more his instincts agreed. He smiled.

"So I could be stuck here with the next Chris Carter huh?"

Sam laughed relieved.

"Yeah that critter was definitely something out of the X-Files"

"Well with your hair you're Scully."

"No way dude, I'm taller so I'm obviously Mulder."

Sam moved to throw the journal back to Dean when 4 photos fell out of the journal on to the ground.

The first was of a picture of a dark haired man sitting with a small boy on his lap and a slightly older boy next to him. The second was another family snapshot of a pretty blonde woman, the man from the first photo, a baby and a young boy, all smiling. A third picture was of Sam and a young, pretty blonde, his arms wrapped tightly around her, both laughing at the camera. However it was the last photograph that caught his eye – it was another picture of him, this time with his current companion. Dean's arm was casually thrown around Sam's shoulder, almost dragging him into a headlock and they were both sitting on the bonnet of a black muscle car mugging at whoever was taking the picture. The Dean in the photo looked about four or five years younger than the man in front of him.

"Dude – look at these…" He held the photos out.

"No way," Dean shook his head, open-mouthed. "Is that a '67 Impala? – Sweet!"

"The people Dean"

"I'm looking – huh –dude your hair was much better shorter"

The younger man ignored the dig. "Well at least it looks as though its not some weird co-incidence us both being here." Sam looked down at the photo- "So do you think we're related?" He asked. "Maybe not immediate family since we have different surnames, could be cousins?"

Both men looked down at the photo.

"You don't think…"Dean started, and Sam glanced up at him. Understanding dawned in both pairs of eyes and they grimaced simultaneously. "Nah"

"No way in hell," Dean growled, "There's no way in hell I'm depriving the lovely ladies of this" Holding his hands out.

"Yeah I'm sure virgins the world over would cry themselves to sleep over their loss – at least I have proof." He waved the photo of him and the blonde at the other man.

Dean whistled softly, "Nice. Man, she's totally out of your league though! I wonder who she is?" Dean mused.

"I wonder where she is?" Sam replied.

"I wonder if she has an older, naughtier sister?"

"You actually live in the gutter don't you?"

"It's my natural level." Dean shrugged with a proud smirk.

"Why am I not surprised?"

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Right so I know no-one will believe me but Catbeist, my wonderful Beta will back me up – this was written days ago, the co-incidence of the Mulder – Scully comment is just that – seriously I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the clip for next weeks episode…

So, please guys let me know what you think…have the next chapter up so if all goes well, will be up tomorrow night.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far – its appreciated!

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"Holy Freaky Backpack Batman!"

"You have to admit it's a nice car Thrush"

"It's Robin Batman"

"I didn't steal anything…"

Facepalm…

"I'm Robin Batman"

"If I had known you were a thief, I would never have took those skates off you!"

"No my name is Robin!"

"Oh - Isn't that a bit girly…do you have a red…"

"Its my secret identity!"

"I'd keep it that way if I were you..."

Robin grinds his teeth before changing the topic

"Holy Metallicar Batman – Isn't that the Impala?"

"Nice!…um Swallow? Could you untangle my cape from my roller-skates?"

Sighs - "And I wear underwear on top of my tights for this?"

"What was that Sparrow?"

"It's Robin!"

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