Two months straight of nothing but hunt after hunt. Two months of sleepless nights and days spent in the car. Two months of Dean brooding and wallowing after that damn crossroads case two weeks ago. The case where all his worse fears were confirmed; because he was alive, John was in Hell. Sam was out tying up loose ends from our latest fiasco, trying to calm down one of the victims. Right now we were on the third day of no sleep. The stress of the everything had taken its toll, Dean and I were going through a little bit of a rough patch. Right now, he was livid,

"You have to be more careful Jen."

The needle pierced through my back again and I flinched, gripping the sheet to my chest, hissing, "I'm fine. Everything is okay."

"Son of a bitch, Jen. You almost got killed!"

"I. Am. Okay."

"What the fuck were you thinking?" He pierced through my back, pulling the fishing line through roughly.

"God dammit Dean! Take it easy!" He grumbled an apology and resumed a little more gently. I knew he was pissed but Jesus, he would have done the same thing. This last hunt had been a werewolf, well, werewolves. But we hadn't known that at the time. Once we had downed the one, we hadn't known there had been another. While we had been celebrating over our little victory, the other had came out from the alley. Dean hadn't been looking, I shoved him out of the way, getting between him and the wolf. The son of a bitch had filayed my back and tossed me across the street before Dean was able to drop it. I had acted on instinct and if I wouldn't have, the bastard would have killed Dean, or at the minimum, bit and turned him.

Now I was laying on my stomach in the hotel listening to Dean bitch about how stupid I was. He poured some more rubbing alcohol between my shoulder blades, "Fuck."

"Why the hell would you do this Jen? Why? How could you be so stupid?"

"It was going to kill you Dean! For Christ's sake...Like you wouldn't do the exact same thing...Son of a bitch that stings!"

"There you go. We are done with that...sit up and let me see your wrist."

I sat up, wrapping the sheet around my chest and held out my arm. I had tried to brace myself when the werewolf threw me and had landed on it weird. Dean turned it, "It isn't broken but I'm gonna wrap it, just for support."

I nodded. Dean started wrapping it and then started in again, "I'm sick of this shit. I'm sick and tired of people feeling like they need to save me! You, Sam, my..."

"You cannot keep blaming yourself for everything! You are going to kill yourself if you keep living like this."

"Bu…"

I cut him off, now angry as well, "Don't you dare 'but' me! I can't keep having this fight Dean…You have it so fucking rough. You have people who care about you so much, love you so much that they are willing to risk their lives to protect you!"

"That isn't your job." He growled.

"The hell it isn't! And you can't keep doing this...Thinking that your life is worthless, that you aren't worth saving. How can you be that stupid?"

"Jen! I'm not supposed to be here! I should be dead. I should have died in that hospital."

I snapped, "Your dad knew we were trapped. That yellow eyed son of a bitch would have gotten all of us and the Colt one way or another. John knew that and he took the lesser evil. The deal where he got the most out of it."

Dean's voice was harsh, "You don't know that!...There could have been another option…"

"Listen dumbass, there was a reaper on your ass. And so help me, you were walking out of that hospital one way or another so knock it off! If it hadn't have been John it would have…"

I stopped myself, swallowing hard. I closed my eyes, knowing I had slipped. Dean grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly, "Jen...Jen, dammit, look at me right now."

Opening my eyes slowly I saw the horror on his face. I met his eyes and waited. Minutes felt like hours.

"Jen?" His voice shook, mortified, for the first time he wasn't yelling.

"What?" I snapped at him.

"No...You don't mean that...Dammit! Tell me you don't mean that." Dean was yelling again.

I didn't answer and looked away, crossing my arms, holding myself. It was true. It didn't matter how pissed I was at him right now, I wasn't going to deny it. He grabbed my chin roughly, pulling my eyes to meet his, "Jen...There is no way. We had only known each other, what?...Four months then?"

"So?" I countered.

"So?"

"What would you have done Dean? I know you. And I know that only thing keeping me from slipping under was watching you in the back of that damn car. I know the first goddam person that I called out for was you. Sam said the hospital attendants couldn't hold me down, I was struggling so hard to find you...This. Us. We are so different and I was...I am so far down that road…"

"Please don't mean that baby. Please...Please Jen." Dean was speaking in barely more than a whisper.

"I love you…" I faltered momentarily, trying to think of how to put this so that he would understand, "...I mean it was like getting hit by a train, Dean. It's so fucked up how much I care about you...Like everytime I look at you my heart skips and I feel like I'm going to go crazy. And it is everything about you too. Like right now, even when you're yelling….I keep thinking how lucky am I to have someone who cares that much..."

"Jen...Don't."

"Why?"

"Because..." He choked, "You wanna know why? Because I can't lose you. Because this. Us. Is one of the only good things I have left. Because I fell so quickly and so hard in love with you that I wish you didn't feel the same way...I'm mad that you would risk your life for a piece of shit like me."

I kneeled, stroking his hair, resting my forehead against his, "You are not a piece of shit Dean. You need to know that. I wish you could see yourself how everyone else does. How I do."

He put his rough hands on my cheeks, pulling my mouth against his. It was needy and desperate. His tongue searched my mouth slowly, tracing.

"I'm sorry Jen. I'm sorry I yelled."

I chuckled, stroking his cheek with my fingertips, "No you're not."

He bit his lip and clenched his jaw, studying me, "Fine... I am sorry that I yelled, not for what I yelled about. You scared the shit out of me baby."

"I'm sorry that I scared you, but not for what I did."

We laughed for a moment and then his expression changed, he pulled me on his lap, straddling him. His thumb ran over my lower lip, "You are such a pain in my ass."

I giggled, "Dean Winchester...Who knew you could be such a poet?"

He smirked, but his hand ran over my neck and shoulder, down my arm, holding my hand, "Please don't do that again...Promise me?"

"I can't." I replied firmly.

"I know." He half smiled. This was a reality that we both had to accept, whether or not we liked it. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself against him. His arms carefully wrapped around my back. We stayed like that for a really long time. Then the phone buzzed on the nightstand. I flipped it open,

"Sam. Please tell me that you didn't find another hunt." I stood up, keeping myself covered and Dean tugged the sheet and it began to slip. I tugged it firmly, shoting him a look and he grinned. Rolling my eyes I listened to Sam,

"No. Things in town are taking a little longer than I thought. If you guys want to get a couple hours shut eye, we can leave after dark."

I glanced at Dean, who nodded firmly, "Sure Sam."

"Alright...see you later."

I snapped the phone shut, "You are ridiculous."

"What?" He grinned playfully, and raised his eyebrows, "We have never had make-up sex."

"You can't be serious?"

Dean chuckled, "Nah...Even though I would love to blow your mind...We both need to sleep, and you shouldn't be stressing those stitches."

"I'm sure I will bust them anyways."

Dean rolled his eyes, "Probably...When'd you get so frisky?"

I shrugged. He got up and put the first aid stuff back in his bag and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. I ditched my pants and leaned against the headboard, "You got over that fast."

Dean took a swig and then handed me the bottle, sitting down and wrapping his arm around my shoulders, "I'm still pissed… But unfortunately, I'm kinda stuck with you. Pain in my ass or not."

I swigged, savoring the burn, "Looks like it."

Dean was quiet for awhile, the he took another swig, "This sucks Jen."

"The whiskey? You shoulda sprung for the good stuff…"

"No, not that….Us."

My stomach dropped, what the hell did he mean? I flipped so I was facing him, "W...What?"

Dean looked down to me, "Not like that Jen...Shit. I didn't mean it like that."

He nudged me and I leaned so he could put his arm behind me. Dean pulled me as close as he possibly could, "What did you mean then?"

"I meant I never thought this through all the way...I never thought I would feel like this. I didn't know I could feel like this...Jesus, I suck at this."

Dean pulled me closer, I waited, allowing him to gather his thoughts, "Christ, I don't know…"

"Dean...I get it okay? I didn't get into this with any expectations either. It's hard caring about someone. It complicates things...It complicates the job."

"Yeah that." He sighed, setting the bottle on the nightstand. His fingers traced patterns up and down my arm, "Is there something else Dean?"

"I don't know…" Dean stared off into space, "...It's just this fucking job."

"Well we are moving on to a different one…"

"No Jen, not this one in particular...All of it. We do all this shit, to what? Totally destroy our lives...Just to save one or two?"

"We save a lot more than one or two." I replied quietly.

"Yeah, but how many die everyday from random ass shit? What makes it our job?"

I chuckled, readjusting so my chin rested on his chest, "Could you just walk away? Say 'fuck it', and never look back?"

Dean shrugged, "Probably not...Like to have the option though."

I pressed my lips against his skin, "The option is always there Dean...I know I can't take that door. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't if you thinks that's best."

His brow furrowed, "Why couldn't you?...You deserve more than this."

"I love it...Don't get me wrong, it's stressful, and sucky, and I hate living outta a car. But could you imagine being a bystander in this shithole? When I go, I'm going down swinging, knowing that I did a little bit of good...And no I don't deserve better."

"No white picket fence?"

I laughed, snuggling up against him, "Hell no...Could you even picture that? Me without hunting?"

His fingers twisted in and out of my hair for awhile. Then Dean slid me off of him, turning on his side so that we were face to face, noses almost touching. He gently stroked my face with his rough hand, "I'm happy you're okay...Thank you."

I could see in his eyes how hard the last bit was for him to say. I knew he worried, that was Dean's full time job. I mimicked his motion, tracing his jawline with my thumb, "You don't ever need to thank me Dean...Not for something like that. Ever."

A soft smile played at his lips, and his eyelids began to droop. I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes, instantly falling asleep.

"C'mon Jen...Get your ass up!" Dean was shaking my leg.

"Mm...No."

"Too bad…" The blanket ripped off of me and I scrunched up, shivering against the cool air.

"Dean! Give it back." I whined and opened one eye, squinting at him. Then to the clock, "Dean...Why are we up? I only got two hours. I'm goddamn tired."

He tossed some clothes on top of me, "You can sleep on the road."

I groaned, shaking, "Can't the next job wait until I get six hours?"

"It isn't a hunt. You can sleep in the car...Seriously, c'mon babe."

The mattress sunk and Dean pulled me upright, rubbing over the goosebumps on my upper arms. I was confused, "Why are we getting in the car if there isn't a hunt?"

"You will see...Now get dressed. I already packed your shit." Dean was excited and I was now curious. I dressed and walked out, Sam was sitting on the hood, rubbing his eyes. Apparently Dean hadn't given him the chance to sleep.

"Get in!" Dean hopped behind the wheel. Sam rolled his eyes at me, "Would you control your boyfriend please?"

"He was your brother before he was my boyfriend."

Sam chuckled, "Well I get backseat...I just got back and Dean…"

Dean honked the horn, motioning us to get in. Fine then. Jeez. I climbed in and curled my legs underneath me as Dean pulled out of the lot, heading north into the incoming stormy weather.

"Seriously Dean...Where are we going?"

"Vacation."

Sam was sprawling in the back, yawning "What?"

Dean nodded, slamming one of his Metallica tapes into the radio, "We deserve a couple days. The weather is supposed to be shitty five hundred miles in any direction for the next week...So I figured we could go to the middle of nowhere and chill out."

Sam groaned. I grinned, "So we aren't doing anything for the next few days? No hunting?"

"No nothing...I already confiscated both of your laptops. I reserved two rooms at a casino hotel, I grabbed cash from our box. Three days. Three days of no hunting. No research. No cases."

"How far?"

Dean reached over and grabbed my hand, "Two hours."

Honestly, I hated casino gambling but I didn't give a shit. After months of constant hunting, I would have appreciated one day. Three days away sounded like heaven, "You do realize all we are going to end up doing is laying around in our underwear sleeping, right?"

Dean smiled, squeezing my hand, "Baby...I hope we do a hell of a lot more than sleep."

I shook my head, blushing. Sam made gagging noises, "You two do realize I'm still awake...Way too much information."

"Well nobody is making you listen." Dean replied. Dean was never shy about our relationship like I was, and I had noticed it more over the last few weeks. When we were at the bar, his arm was usually snaked around my waist. Walking down the street, his hand would inevitably find the small of my back. In the car; his fingers intertwined with mine. I scooted over and pressed my lips against the corner of his jaw. His breath turned erratic instantly. I chuckled, "Are you serious? That bad?"

"Oh hell yes...Always for you." Dean hissed, glancing quickly at me and then back to the road; pushing the gas pedal closer to the floor. I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder, Dean's arm around mine. I stayed up for awhile, but about halfway through the cassette I turned my face against him. Dozing, my nose filling with leather, whiskey, and old spice. Listening to Dean hum along to the radio.

Day one in the hotel had been exciting. Sam had disappeared, Dean and I had played poker and black jack for a long time before we hit up the buffet. I ate a lot, but Dean had actually gotten a warning about how much he ate and was told if he didn't control himself we wouldn't be welcomed back. I think it was more or less because he took two whole pies off the rack before the workers had the chance to cut them up. It was mid-afternoon day two and we hadn't made it out of the room since we came back last night. Dean rapped on the bathroom door, "Hey...Food is here. Hurry up!"

"Give me a minute." I was getting out of the shower, throwing on the first shirt and underwear that I found in the steamy bathroom. My hair soaked through the shoulders of the fabric. Dean had his back to me, throwing the plates onto the bed so we could eat. I sat on the cleanish sheets.

"Is that my shirt?" Dean asked, pulling on the fabric. I looked down and saw the AC/DC on the chest, "Whoops."

Dean tossed me a bottle of tea, "What if I want it back?"

"You can take it back later." I met his eyes, winked, and raised an eyebrow. He scoffed and shook his head, smiling, "Baby, you are gonna kill me...My heart is gonna give out."

I laughed, trying not to choke on my burger, "I could think of a lot worse ways to go."

The mattress dipped suddenly, and I almost fell backwards, "Shit...Dean."

Dean's lips found the base of my neck, arms wrapping around my waist, "Baby…"

I turned so our foreheads touched, "Dean...eat your food first, okay? You paid a freaking fortune for that damn burger and we skipped breakfast."

He kissed me quickly, taking my bottom lip between his teeth, pulling, before speaking low, "Jen are you lecturing me?"

I smiled like an idiot, "Do you need lectured?"

His hand sneaked up under the shirt as he leaned over and grabbed his plate with the other. I could feel my heart skipping. Dammit. I don't know what it was; if it was just being here, it was probably just not running for our lives. But I could not get enough of Dean, could not possibly be close enough to him.

"Well look who isn't eating now." Dean teased. Well yeah, because now I'm just trying to remember how to breathe asshole. As he reached for a fry, his fingertips brushed over my thigh. I smacked him lightly, "Dean Winchester! I'm gonna be the death of you because I'm gonna murder you."

"You're such a tease Jen." Dean chuckled, face pushing against my neck again.

"I'm dead serious. Food first, sex later."

He pulled me back against his body and whispered, "Or I could just eat you..."

I smacked him again, "Dean! You and your pervy ass…"

"You love it and you know it." He jabbed his thumbs lightly under my ribs and I squirmed, giggling. Dean just held me tighter. I wriggled free, turning and kneeled. Taking his face between my hands, staring into those bright green eyes that were full of mischief, "No Dean. I love you...Everything else is just bonus."

Dean sighed, searching my face, a smile creeping slowly, "Oh, we definitely aren't eating now."

I squealed, surprised by how quickly he flipped me underneath him. I heard one of the plates break on the floor, "Dean…"

"Don't worry about it baby." He kissed me, starting painfully slow. Eventually he pulled away, stroking my cheek, staring at me for a long time. As he stared the redness crept up in my cheeks, I began to feel way too aware of myself. I smacked his chest lightly, "I have told you before to knock that off."

Dean smiled, "Why? You're beautiful."

I rolled my eyes and he laughed, kissing my cheek, then to my jaw and back to my ear, "For the record Jen, I love you too…" His lips brushed my against my neck, hand cupping my cheek, "So much baby."

I moaned, pushing against him, flipping him over. Dean had that stupid ass grin as I leaned down to kiss him. When I rocked back up, Dean ran his hand over my side, down to my hips, pulling on the t-shirt, "If this is what happens when you wear my clothes...You can wear whatever you want."

My hands trailed from his arms to his hands, his fingers intertwining with mine. Dean sat up and I slid into his lap, wrapping my legs around his back. Dean smirked and shook his head slowly before bending to kiss the crook of my neck. My heart was thumping through my chest and Dean's breath kept hitching. His hands ran up my back, pulling me against him. I reached between us, trying to get his shirt off, Dean laughed, "You are so impatient."

I cocked my eyebrow, "And that's a bad thing?"

His hands held my face, "Baby we got two more nights before check out and I am planning on spending every single second in here with you."

I blushed, again, "You are so fucking cheesy."

He pressed his lips against mine quickly, mumbling, "Only with you."

I searched his eyes. God did I love him. I couldn't imagine life without him now. Everything was so much fun, so much easier with him around.

"Jen?" Dean's voice was gentle. I must have paused a little longer than I thought, "Hmm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

Dean smirked, "If it's nothing, why are you smiling like an idiot?"

"Because of you." I whispered. Dean's lips were on mine again and his hips jerked up against me. Time stopped as I spun out of control, until a knock on the door made me squeak and jump.

"Dean! Jen!" It was Sam, and his voice terrified me. Making my spine shiver. Dean's hands went to my waist to lift me off, but I was already scrambling for the door, which I swung open, "Sam?"

Sam was leaning against the wall, one hand on his forehead, eyes squeezed shut. Dean moved past me, grabbing Sam, "Hey, man...Sam?"

He drug Sam into the room, trying to sit him down in a chair, "I'm okay I think...I had another vision... This one really hurts."

I poured a shot and handed it to him, "Here."

Sam took a swig and choked. It was cheap vodka and that shit burns on the way down. Sam glanced around, squinting, "Could you close that curtain?"

Dean reached over and closed it, "Thanks man...Holy shit."

Sam rubbed his head, then his eyes. I sat down, "You said vision but are you sure you didn't just go on a really shitty bender?"

Sam glared at me, I shrugged. He scoffed, "Yeah it was a vision."

Dean pulled a chair around, sitting in it backwards, "Alright, give us the low down."

Sam nodded, rubbing his eyes, "We were in this office, I think it might have been a doctor's office...And Dean, you loaded your gun, Jen locked a door. You guys go into the exam room where there are some people. A...a doc, a guy, and another person tied to a chair...The guys tied to the chair starts begging, Jen is beating the shit out of him, yelling...The doc and the other guy are scared."

Me and Dean glanced at each other, "Keep going Sam."

"Dean, you pull up the gun, say you don't have a choice. Then…" Sam swallowed hard, "You double tap him."

I sigh, "Alrighty then...Do you know where?"

Same looks at me, surprised, "Alrighty then? Are you kidding me?"

"What?"

"I just said Dean smoked someone, didn't blink. And you are okay with that?"

I shrugged, "Par for the course I guess...I'm sure he has a reason."

Sam shook his head. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, "There was this poster… It was for Crater Lake and the doc's office said Rivergrove...I think. Where is my laptop at Dean?"

Dean got up and rummaged through the closet, coming back with a bag, "Here...Both of yours are in there."

Sam unzipped it and grabbed out his laptop, opening it, "Give me like fifteen minutes...We should get going."

"Is there anything else Sam?" Dean asked, "Did we try to do anything?"

Sam shook his head, "No. You were sure something was inside of him."

"And I just ventilated him? Was he possessed?"

Sam shrugged, "I don't know man...Here we go...I got directions, let's get outta here."

Looks like we were only getting half our vacation.

When we pulled into Rivergrove, Oregon it was a quaint little town. People were going about their daily lives. There was nothing particularly interesting or unique about this place. Ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. But for some reason, the second we passed the town line, I had this feeling in my gut that I couldn't shake. The kind that I only got when shit was going to hit the fan, when I was gearing up for a fight. We were cruising up main street when Sam pointed, "That man...He was there, in my vision."

Sam was pointing to a black man, probably in his mid-fifties, that was sitting on a porch, cleaning a rifle. Dean put the car in park, "Well, let's go talk to him."

Dean walked a little ahead of us up the walkway, "Morning."

The man looked up, pausing mid motion, "Good morning. Can I help you?"

Dean nodded, and pulled out a badge, "Yeah...Uh, Billy Gibbons... U.S. Marshal."

The man set down the rifle, "What's this about?"

I stepped up, "We were hoping you could help us find someone."

Sam cleared his throat, "Um...A young man, early twenties. He would have a, a thin scar right below his hairline." Sam pointed to his forehead, tracing where the scar would be.

He sat back further, clearly closing us out, suspicious, "What'd he do?"

Sam swallowed, composing himself, "Well, nothing. We're actually looking for someone else, but we think this young man could help…"

"Yeah, he's not in any kind of trouble or anything; well, not yet..." Dean cut his brother off, "I think maybe you know who he is . . . Master Sergeant...My dad was in the Corps, he was a Corporal."

I noticed the tattoo on the guys forearm. It was a nice catch and a lucky break for us, because the man smiled, "What company?"

Dean smiled and did a half nod, "Echo-2-1."

The guy sighed, "Duane Tanner's got a scar like that. But I know him. Good kid, keeps his nose clean. He lives up Aspen Way with his family."

I nodded, "Thank you sir."

We turned back down the walkway and walked through town. There was no hurry to find this kid right away and we were all hungry. Suddenly Sam grabbed my shoulder, "Look."

Sam was pointing to a telephone pole, "What Sam?"

He touched a carving on the pole. Scratched into it was one word, Croatoan. Dean was looking over my shoulder, "Croatoan? What the hell is that?"

I could barely breath. That funny feeling in my stomach had moved to a pit, "We need to get the fuck outta here...That's what."

"Jen?" Dean was confused. I looked between them, "We need to be as far away from here as possible."

"What are you talk...Sam, what the hell is she talking about?"

Sam was absently tracing the carvings with his fingers, "Roanoke? Lost colony? Ring a bell? Dean, did you pay any attention in history class?"

Dean shoved his hands in his pockets, "Yeah! Shots heard 'round the world, How bills becomes a laws . . ."

Sam rolled his eyes and sighed, "That's not school, that's Schoolhouse Rock."

"Whatever." Dean shrugged and kept walking down the road. I trotted to catch up, "Dean...Roanoke was one of the first English colonies. Anyways...One day it just disappears, everyone in the town gone. Nobody knows why."

Dean snapped his fingers, "Oh yeah, yeah, I do remember that. The only thing they left behind was a single word carved in a tree. Croatoan. Do you think that's what's happening here?"

I nodded, "I have been feeling like shit since we got here. The last time I felt like this was when we ran into yellow eyes."

"Whatever I saw in my head, it sure wasn't good. But what do you think could do that?" Sam asked. Dean shrugged, "Well, I mean, all of your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow, so . . ."

"So we need to get the hell outta Dodge." I say quietly. Hoping that they would listen to reason. We had absolutely no clue what we were up against. But they ignored my protests, "Maybe we should get help? Bobby? Ellen?"

Dean nodded, pulling out his phone, "Yeah… I don't have a signal."

I took my phone from my pocket. I didn't have one either. Fuck, fuck, and fuck. Dean was listening on a nearby payphone, and shook his head. I sighed, "Guys...There is a reason the phones are out. I'm pretty damn sure it isn't a good one."

Dean shoved his hands in his pockets, scanning the street, "I'll tell you one thing. If I was gonna massacre a town, that'd be my first step."

I rolled my eyes, "This is just great…I take it we are staying."

Sam chuckled, "Yeah...Why don't we head over to the Tanner's...See if we can find Duane."

By the time the Impala was parked in front of the Tanner's it was late afternoon. The place was old, fairly tacky and cheesy. The shutters were painted green on the log cabin. Freaking Oregon man. Dean trotted up the stairs and knocked on the door. After a moment a teenage boy opens the door with a smile, "Yeah? Can I help you?"

Dean dug in his jacket and pulled out his fake badge, "We're looking for Duane Tanner, heard that he lives here."

The kid nodded, "Yep. He is my brother.

"Can we talk to him?" Dean asked.

"No...He isn't here right now."

Wow. Thanks kid, don't be forthcoming or anything, "Do you know where abouts he is?"

The kid looked past Dean at me, that grin was creepy as shit, " Yeah, he went on a fishing trip up by Roslyn Lake."

The porch creaked as Sam took a step forward, "Are your parents home?"

"Yeah...They are inside." An older guy appears, pushing the kid back, opening the door a little wider, "Jake? Who is it?"

Dean cleared his throat, "Hi, U.S. Marshals, sir, we're looking for your son Duane."

Mr. Tanner straight up gave me the heeby-jeebies, "Wh-why? He's not in trouble, is he?"

I tried my best to force a small smile, "No sir, we just think he might be able to help us out. Do you know when he will be back?"

"I'm not sure."

"Would your wife know?"

"No. I don't know, she's not here right now."

I looked at Dean quickly, "Jake just said she was here."

Jake looked up at his father and then back at me, "Did I?"

"She's getting groceries. So, when Duane gets back, there's a number where he can get a hold of you?"

Sam handed them a phone number, "We will check again later. Thank you for your time."

They slammed the door shut as we walked away. At the bottom step Dean stopped, "That was fucking creepy, right? A little too Stepford?"

"What's Stepford?" I asked, Dean rolled his eyes, "You gotta get out more...We will watch it sometime."

Sam was already creeping around the outside and I scurried to catch up.

"Sam!..." I hissed and pointed to a window that I could barely see through. An older lady was tied and gagged to dining room chair, she was struggling and crying. Dean tapped my shoulder and we busted for the door we had just come from. Dean reeled and kicked it in. We rush in, guns up. Mr. Tanner has a bloody hand on her shoulder, then screams, coming at us with a knife. I squeeze off a round at the same time Dean does. Tanner drops like a sack of shit. A window shatters. Jake had jumped out, Sam was standing in the window, gun drawn. Why the hell didn't he shoot?

I rush over to the lady. She is crying, but other than the cut on her shoulder, she seemed intact. Taking out my knife I untied her, "She is gonna need stitches."

Dean was right beside me, undoing the lady's gag, "What is your name?"

"Be-Beverly...What the hell? You just shot my…" She was sobbing uncontrollably now. I pushed her shoulders back, "Whoa, easy there Beverly. I'm Jen, you are gonna be okay. We are going to get you to the hospital...Can you tell me what happened."

"My...My husband and Jake, they….They just attacked me, tied me to a chair. Then he c-cut me."

"Okay…." I forced an encouraging smile, "Let's get you some help."

I help her out to the Impala. Dean is right behind us with the body of Mr. Tanner, who he tosses in the trunk. I put Beverly in the front seat, hoping she holds it together until we can get her in to see a doctor.

The short ride there was filled with Beverly crying. Sam helps her inside. Dean opens up the trunk again, "Hey Jen…"

"On it." He lifted Mr. Tanner's body out with a grunt. I slammed the trunk shut and then jogged ahead to get the door. By the time we got in there Sam and Beverly were out of sight. A blonde woman in a white coat looks between us, "Is that…?"

Dean nods, "Mr. Tanner?"

"Was he attacked too?"

I scoffed, "Not so much. He did most of the attacking and that's how he ended up shot."

"Oh." She looked between us, "I'm Dr. Lee, you can put the body back in exam room two...Beverly is in one."

after Dean ditched the body on the exam table, we joined them in the room as Dr. Lee was stitching up Beverly who was running through what happened again.

"Wait, you said Jake helped him? Your son Jake?" Dr. Lee was putting gauze over her wound.

"They beat me. Tied me up."

There was a nurse in the room as well, "I don't believe it."

"Pam shush... Beverly, do you have any idea why they would act this way? Any history of chemical dependency?"

"No, of course not. I don't know why. One minute they were my husband and my son. And the next, they had the devil in them. What the hell happened to them?"

Dean's voice made me jump, "We gotta talk."

The three of us stepped out into the hall, "Those guys were fucked up."

I shrugged, "If it was possession he wouldn't have stopped...What do you two think?"

Sam shifted, "I was thinking mass possession or multiple demons, but you are right and I didn't see any black smoke if he would have smoked out."

"But what if it is?" Dean rubbed his face, "The visions always have something to do with demons...If it is a possession there could be more. I mean, God knows how many, it could be like a friggin' Shriner convention."

I sighed, "Fan-fucking-tastic...Bastards are trying to wipe out the town from the inside. That is how I would do it."

"Well, whatever. Something turned him into a monster. And you know Sam, if you woulda taken out the other one there'd be one less to worry about."

"I'm sorry, all right? I hesitated, Dean, it was a kid!" Sam tried to keep his voice down.

Dean threw up his hands, "No, it was an "it". Not the best time for a bleeding heart, Sam."

I glanced between them, "Guys we don't have time for what ifs...This could be some serious shit. What happened happened...Can't do a damn thing about it now."

I heard clicks on the tile and turn to see Dr. Lee coming out of the exam room, "What the hell happened out there?"

Dean swallowed, "We don't know."

She turned on him, "Yeah? Well, you just killed my next door neighbor."

"We didn't have a choice." Dean was defensive. I was just as much to blame, but that wasn't going to help the situation.

Dr. Lee sighed, "Maybe so, but we need the county Sheriff. I need the coroner...The phones are down."

Sam crossed his arms, "Yeah we know."

"I don't understand what is happening." She stared off into space.

Dean shrugged, "How far is it to the next town?"

"It's about forty miles down to Sidewinder."

"Alright." He nodded and she walked back to the exam room to check on Beverly. Dean glanced down at me, "You up for a road trip?"

"Do you think I should stay here and help?"

He shook his head, "No Sam has got it...We know what the situation is like in here, we don't know what is out there. I could use the backup."

"Okay."

Sam nodded in agreement, "I will grab a couple guns from the car, you guys just go get some help."

Dean pushed the Impala over the blacktop. About ten minutes out there was a car on the side of the road, he pulled off behind it, "Let's see if there is anyone here."

We hopped out and he left the engine running. I pulled my gun, moving up beside the car, looking in the window, "Oh my god."

I dropped my arm and covered my mouth. The windows were broken out, shards of glass sticking out of the seats. Blood pooled on the driver's seat. In the back was a carseat, blood splashed over the back window and the seat was shredded. It was straight up fucking horrific. These whatever they were were majorly fucked up. Dean's arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me back, "Jen...C'mon."

"Dean…" I couldn't stop staring.

"I know baby, let's get the hell out of here." After a moment I turned back to the Impala, climbing in the front, "What the hell is going on Dean?"

The tires screeched, "We will figure it out, just like we always do."

Another fifteen miles passed under the tires, the road was windy and and narrow. Before a bend there was a "Bridge Ahead" sign, and as the other side came into view, cars blocked it. Dean slammed the breaks. There were a dozen or so people standing before the barricade, armed with guns. Jake Tanner was among them.

"Shit." I breathed. There was no way to get past the cars unless we moved them. This bridge was the only way in or out of Rivergrove. Bang. I jump, reaching back for my gun. There is a man beside Dean that leans over to the open window, "Sorry. Road's closed."

Dean nods, "Yeah, I can see that. What's up?"

"Quarantine."

Dean looked over him, debating. "Quarantine? What is it?

"Don't know. Something going around out there."

We needed to get the fuck out of here. I squeaked, impatient, nervous. This was a lot of people with guns, and they were probably jacked up on whatever the freak juice was. Dean squeezed my knee, I met his eyes before he turned back to the guy, "Uh-huh. Who told you that?"

"County Sheriff."

"Is he here?" Dean asked, trying to buy us some time.

"No. He called. Say, why don't you two get out of the car and we'll talk a little?"

No way in hell. Dean laughs nervously, "Well, you are a handsome devil, but I don't swing that way, sorry."

"I'd sure appreciate it if you got out of the car, just for a quick minute."

Dean's hand moves to the shifter, glancing at me. I nodded, "Yeah, I'll bet you would."

Dean flips it in reverse, flooring it. The guy holds on to Dean's jacket. The dozen townspeople let rounds fly. I pull up my gun. I didn't want to shoot, Dean would be deaf for a couple days and it would burn his face at this range. I move, pistol whipping the guy as Dean flings the car around and the guy lets go. Losing my balance I end up awkwardly against the driver's door and halfway over Dean's lap. As he drove I struggled against the curves to scoot back, accidentally elbowing him in the groin, "Uff...Jesus Jen."

He grimaced, "Sorry...Are you okay?"

"Yeah...That fucker had a hell of a grip. Good call on not shooting him."

"Figured you needed your hearing."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Dean. Let's just get back to that damn clinic, make sure they are all okay."

As we pull into town Dean sighs, "What could be doing this shit? Turning all these people crazy?"

"Nothing I have ever heard of. This is a new level of crazy...Holy shit!"

Dean slams the breaks, "Fuck."

The guy we had met when we first got to town, that had pointed us to the Tanner's, was holding a rifle in the middle of the road, "Hands where I can see 'em!"

Dean nodded, "Okay!"

We both raised our hands, "Get out of the car! Out of the car!"

I pulled the handle at the same time as Dean, we both slid out. As I stood up all the way I whipped my gun out, "Alright asshole, put it down!"

Dean had his gun pulled as well. The guy kept his rifle trained on Dean, "Lower it now!"

"Put it down!"

I sidestepped, "You first."

"Are you two one of 'em?"

I laughed, "No...You?"

He trained the gun onto me, "No!"

"You could be lying!" Dean yelled, the guy switched back to him, "So could you!"

I had enough, "Listen jackass, we can do this all fucking day. We out number you, let's just take it easy before someone gets hurt."

He relaxes back a bit, "What's going on with everybody?"

Dean uncocked his gun, "I don't know."

"My neighbor . . . Mr. Rogers, he…"

Dean chuckled, "You've got a neighbor named Mr. Rogers?"

"Not anymore...He came at me with a hatchet. I put him down. He's not the only one, I mean, it's happening to everyone." He was confused, edgy. This was a lot for someone who wasn't used to crazy.

"We are heading over to the Doc's place, there's still some people left." Dean said.

"No... no way. I'm getting the hell out."

I scoffed, "Yeah...Good luck with that. They have the bridge shut down. So, you can come with us. Or you can stay out here and get attacked. Your choice."

"I don't believe you!"

"Well then don't...No sweat off my back, let's go Dean."

The guy hesitated for a moment. Then he walks slowly towards the passenger's side of the car. I hop in the back, figuring if he makes a move I can waste him. Dean settles in and keeps his gun pointed at the gu. The guy get's in, gun drawn. Dean shifts the Impala into drive, "Well this is going to be relaxing."

When we got to the clinic, Dean pounded on the door, "Sammy? Open up!"

Chains clinked, and the doors opened. We let the guy, Mark, in before us. He headed back to the exam rooms. Sam ushered us into a corner, "What the hell is going on out there?"

I shrugged, "Sam I got nothing. Something is turning these people bat shit crazy."

"Did you guys make it to a phone"

I felt Dean move behind me, standing close enough that only Sam and I could hear, "No. They have the bridge blocked. The bastards are trapping us here with no escape… Did you find out what we are dealing with?"

Sam swallowed hard, looking between me and Dean, "Doc thinks it is a virus."

Fantastic, "Well what do you think Sam?"

"I think she's right."

I started laughing, but stopped at his serious expression, "For real?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah. And I think the infected are trying to infect others with blood-to-blood contact. Oh, but it gets better. The uh, the virus? Leaves traces of sulfur in the blood."

"A demonic virus?" Dean hissed.

Sam shifted, glancing around the room, "Yeah, more like demonic germ warfare. At least it explains why I've been having visions."

I rubbed my eyes, "Fucking-ay. Why do they keep getting more creative. Why can't they just stick with the classics...Possession, mayhem, not biblical fucking plagues."

"About that…", Sam rummaged through his jacket, "I was looking through Dad's journal and I found something about the Roanoke colony...Dad always had a theory about Croatoan. He thought it was a demon's name. Sometimes known as Resheph. A demon of plague and pestilence."

Dean threw up his hands, "Well, that, that's terrific. Why here, why now?"

There was no reason, "I mean isn't this kinda small time. It isn't like this is New York, LA, or even Chicago. This is a town of what? Two or three thousand?...In the big picture, t is pretty insignificant."

Sam shrugged, "I have no idea. But who knows how far this thing can spread? We gotta get out of here, we gotta warn people."

Stuff crashes to the floor in the next room, I swing around and Mark is yelling, "They have one in here!"

Son of a bitch! I followed the boys to the exam room. Dean slams the door open, "What do you mean?"

Sam paused, blocking my view, "The wife, Beverly, she was infected. Right after you guys left she attacked us."

I could hear Mark as I pushed my way into the room, "We've gotta take care of this. We can't just leave her in there. My neighbors, they were strong. The longer we wait, the stronger she'll get."

Dean looks between me and Sam as he pulls his gun out of the back of his pants, checking that it's loaded. The nurse stretches from the corner, ""You can't do that. You can't just kill Beverly Tanner."

I wasn't seeing another option here. Her or us? Us every freaking time. Sam, of course, was being a little more logical. Him and the doc arguing about possible options. I watched Dean, his jaw was set. He had already made his decision. It sucked ass but it needed to be done. I moved for the door, vaguely hearing the protests behind me, pulling my own gun. Beverly was curled up in the corner, looking up at me, crying.

"Please...I-I-It isn't me."

Dean pushed in behind, gun raised. Beverly looked beyond us, "Mark, what are you doing? Mark, it's, it's them! They locked me in-"

I pulled the trigger twice, one chest, one head. There was no sense in listening to the bullshit. If Sam was sure, that was good enough for me. There was no sense in letting everyone that knew her get a guilty conscience. If we made it through this, I would sleep at night. Turning away from the body I ran into Dean. I looked up, not being able to read his expression as his eyes searched my face. I cocked my eyebrow and he nodded, "Alright then."

He moved, locking the door after me, I started barking orders, "Start closing the blinds, lock everything up. We need to hole up and be ready."

After everything was in order I sat on a table against a wall with no windows, a clear view of the room door and the clinic doors. My gun sat on the table next to me, fully loaded. Everyone was quiet, on edge, nervous. Except for me, focused, cool. I am in my element. Yeah, I am scared that we won't make it out, I'm not a robot, but fear isn't useful, it won't get us out of this. So I bury it deep in the back of my mind. None of this was bothering me. What was bothering me is this feeling that I couldn't shake, like someone was watching me. Like there was a fox in the hen house. And as the minutes click by, the hairs on my arms and neck stand higher. Dean crosses the room, leaning back on the table beside me, "We can't just stay here."

"I know...But we are out of options Dean." I glance up at him and he looks down at me.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Because you just smoked a person mid sentence…"

"Dean, it wasn't a person anymore. Plus I thought we were here because you smoke a person, not me." I gave him a half hearted smile and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving it a squeeze, "This is one hell of a way to top off our vacation, huh?"

"We never get a vacation...It was nice to pretend for a while though."

"Yeah…" He was cut off when Sam came over, "What's the plan?"

I shrugged, "I got no fucking clue...How about you boy wonder?"

"Shut-up Jen…" He smirked, but it fell quickly, "I mean we can't get out to the car, they are surrounding the place. Even if we could, there is no way out of town...Dammit! We've gotta get out of here, get to the Roadhouse? Somewhere. Let people know what's coming."

Mark spoke up, "Well, I'm not sure we've got a choice. Lots of folks up here are good with rifles...Even with all your hardware we're, we're easy targets. So unless you've got some explosives?"

I chuckled, shaking my head, "Sorry. Fresh out."

Sam pointed up to the shelves, "We don't have any, but we could make some."

I glance behind at the assortment of chemicals. Potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, hydrochloric acid, a couple of others? Sure, what the hell? I could use a challenge.

A pounding on the door made everybody jump. It was followed by desperate yells. MArk takes off to the front door, checking behind the blinds, "It's Duane Tanner."

"Don't…" But before I could get out the warning, Mark was unchaining the door. A scraggly twenty-something year old with a scar above his eye stumbled through the door. The guy that Dean was going to waste. Mother fuck, because this night could get worse. Deuane grips onto Mark's sleeve, trying to catch his breath, "Thank god...I thought I was a gonner. What the hell is happening out there?"

Mark catches Duane up on the night's events, I turn back o Sam and Dean, "That is the guy that Dean off, isn't it?"

Sam nods. I sigh, "We gotta get out of here, soon."

Dean was taken aback, "I'm not going to just waste him until we know for sure Jen…"

"That's not it Dean. This is starting to get out of control."

Dean scoffs, "And it wasn't out of hand six hours ago?"

I grab his sleeve, pulling him into the next room, Sam straggling behind, "Something is gonna happen."

"Calm down Jen."

"You don't understand Dean...It is getting worse."

He grabbed my shoulders, "What the hell are you talking about?"

I looked past him, making sure no one was listening to the three of us, "You remember how I told you I felt when Yellow eyes was possessing John."

Dean grimaced and I took it as a yes and continued, "How it built all night and I couldn't shake it? This is the same goddamn thing."

"But he isn't here and I am not in any danger. Maybe your radar is out of whack." He joked.

"Dean, unless something changes, we are going to die here."

"Listen, you can't know that Jen."

"Dean…"

"No. Your turn to listen...I am not about to die here, and I am sure as hell not going to let anything happen to you, or to Sam...Okay?"

I clenched my jaw. He ran his thumb along my cheek quickly before giving an encouraging smile, "Okay...But either way, we need to get the hell outta Dodge."

"Agreed...Why don't you put that crazy ass brain to some use and go…"

"Hey!" Mark yelled from the other room. We rushed out and he had Duane, who was pleading, at gunpoint, "I swear...On a fishing trip up by Roslyn. I came back this afternoon. I . . . I saw Roger McGill being dragged out of his house by people we know! They started cutting him with knives! I ran, I've been hiding in the woods ever since. Has anybody seen my mom and dad?"

Dean leaned over my shoulder, "Awkward."

I smacked his chest, Mark still had the gun up, "He is bleeding. Leg."

I looked down and sure as shit the guy's jeans were soaked with blood. I reached around and grabbed my gun. Dean spoke from behind me, "Where'd you get that?"

Duane looked down, examining the mess, "I was running, I must have tripped."

"Tie him up, there's rope in there." Dean pointed to the room we had just come from and Mark took off. Duane went to move and I cocked the hammer, "Back the hell up...Doc!"

I heard Dr. Lee's footsteps, "Let's get him in the exam room and you can run through his blood work...Walk asshole."

Duane hesitated but followed back where the doctor had hurried into the exam room. Once he got in I saw the fight or flight response cross his face for a moment. Dean pulled his gun, "Sit down!"

Duane sat and Mark began tying him up. Dean was giving Duane the fourth degree, trying to figure out whether or not he was infected. Right now, that seemed pretty probable. Dr. Lee had no idea how to tell if he was infected until the virus incubated. We had two options: shot him know and save us the trouble, or leave him tied up and wait.

"Jen!" Sam snapped his fingers, I hadn't even realized he was talking to me, "Huh?"

"I need to talk to you and Dean. Now." Dean lets me through the door first and we follow Sam into another exam room. Sam runs his hands through his hair, "This is my vision, Dean. It's happening."

Dean sighed, leaning back against a table, "Yeah, I figured."

"You can't kill him, all right? Not yet. We don't know if he's infected or not."

Dean shook his head, "Well, I think we're pretty damn sure. Guy shows up out of nowhere, he's got a cut on his leg, his whole family's infected?"

"All right, then we should keep him tied up, and we should wait and see." Sam replied. I wasn't sure either way, "What if he totally hulks out and is infected. He could infect anyone in here."

Sam scoffed, "Of course you are going to side with him."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I snarl.

"Aren't you capable of making your own decisions?...I mean, don't you have a freaking conscious? You smoked that lady earlier and didn't blink."

"I did what needed to be done Sam! Sorry you weren't able to sack up and take care of it." I was kinda pissed off. And Sam yelled back, "It is supposed to be a hard decision. That's the whole point."

I went to get into Sam's face but Dean grabbed my shoulder, "What does that buy us Sam?"

Sam scoffed, throwing his hands in the air, "A clear conscience, for one!"

Dean turns for the door, "Well, it's too late for that."

Sam rushed over, spinning Dean around, "What the hell's happened to you?...You might kill an innocent man, and you don't even care! You don't act like yourself anymore, Dean. Hell, you know what? You're acting like one of those things out there."

Okay, here is the thing. Sam wasn't wrong. I will never ever tell him that he was right, but he was. Dean had been a little erratic since John died, even more so since the crossroads case. But now wasn't the time to sit here with our thumbs up our asses.

Dean shoved Sam back, knocking me over and I heard the lock click. I rushed to the door, banging my shoulder against it, "Son of a bitch!...Dean Winchester, I am going to kick your fucking ass!"

Sam pulled me out of the way slamming his body against the door, rapping on it, "Dean! Dean, don't do this! Open the damn door! Please!"

But Dean was already gone.

"Fuck." I hissed, searching around the room. I grabbed a chair, "Sam! Move!"

Just as I was about to throw it through the window to the ahllay, the lock clicked. I dropped the chair, drawing my gun, uncertain. Dean swung the door in, standing in the doorway. His eyes re looking between us. He hadn't done it. The brothers shared a look and Sam nodded. Dean rubbed the back of his neck "Ah, let's get those chemicals so we can start butting the explosives together."

Hours passed. We were all silent, passing each bottle down the line, working like a well oiled machine. Dean wouldn't meet my eyes he was distant. I tried not to let it bother me. Dr. Lee's voice in the doorway startled me, "It's been over four hours. Duane's blood is still clean. I don't think he's infected. I'd like to untie him, if that's all right."

Sam nodded, "Yeah."

Dean is suddenly concentrating on the measurements a little too hard. Sam sighs, You know I'm gonna ask you why."

Dean screwed the lid on, "Yeah, I know?"

"So why?"

Dean cleared his throat, "We need more alcohol."

Sam shakes his head, leaving the room. Dean watches him leave and then meets my eyes and I cok an eyebrow. Dean scoffs, "Not you too."

I chuckle, "You don't have to tell me...I just would have done it so I wanted to know what stopped you."

Dean stopped mid-pour, "Would you have?"

I shrugged, "An ounce of prevention…"

"I don't believe you."

"I don't know...I wasn't there."

There is a crashing from the supply closet.

"Sam!?" Dan yells, making sure his brother is alright. There is no answer. Dean rushes out of the room, more crashing and a scream.

"Shit." The door is locked, and that nurse has Sam pinned down, chest sliced open. Mark runs around the corner in time to see the nurse press her bloody hand on Sam's chest. Dean broke the handle, double tapping the nurse in the back. The body rolls off of Sam ho looks stunned. Sam reaches a hand to Dean, who goes to take it but Mark bats it away, "No man. He is one of them."

Sam pulls his hand back, scooting across the floor away from us. Blood to blood contact. Sam was infected. Goddamnit. I head over to Sam and feel a hand pull me back. I backhand Mark, who is stunned. I reach my hand down, "C'mon Sam."

"Get away from me." He curls up against the wall. I roll my eyes, "Listen, get your gigantor ass off the ground. You got three good hours left."

"Jen."

I shook my head, "Stop with the pity party. Get off your ass and do something...Dean, help me out."

Dean helped me haul Sam to his feet. Mar was bitching, but I didn't give a shit. We just got Sam to the exam room and made him sit on a table.

"Grab some bandages Jen." Dean was looking at the cut on Sam's chest, I found some gauze and tape in a drawer and handed it to him along with some rubbing alcohol. Dean went to work, cleaning it out and patching Sam up. I stood back, keeping a wary eye on Mark and Duane in the doorway. Ready to drop them if they were stupid enough to make a move. Sam protested a few times, pushing Dean away. Eventually resigning to the fact that Dean was going to do what he wanted. As soon as Dean was done, he began pacing furiously, "Doc!...Doc! Check his wound, would you?"

Mark blocked Dr. Lee from entering the room, "What's she need to examine him for? You saw what happened."

The doctor pushed his arm away, directing her attention to Sam, "Did her blood actually enter your wound?"

Mark scoffed, "Come on, of course it did!"

Dean turned on him, eyes blazing, "We don't know that for sure."

Duane stepped up, "We can't take a chance...You know what we have to do."

I stepped up beside Dean, standing between them and Sam, "No one is killing anyone."

Mark took another step forward, calculating his chances of getting through, "C'mon man, you know what he will turn into."

"Nobody's shooting my brother!" Dean yells.

Duane crosses his arms, "He isn't gonna be your brother much longer. You were going to shoot me!"

Dean turned, pointing his finger, "You don't shut your pie-hole, I still might!"

Duane moved forward and I drew my gun, "Give me a reason asshole."

"Dean…" Sam's voice was barely more than a whisper, "... they're right. I'm infected; just give me the gun and I'll do it myself."

"Forget it." Dean growled.

"Dean, I'm not gonna become one of those things." I glanced back and saw the tears in his eyes. Sam turned to me, "Jen? Don't let me become that, can do what needs done."

I swallowed, "I can't do that Sam."

"Dammit! Give me my gun!"

Dean shook his head, "Sam, we've still got some time,

Mark laughed, unamused, "Time for what? Look, I understand he's your brother, and I'm sorry, I am. But we gotta take care of this."

Mark pulls out his handgun, and readjust sights on him, but Dean snatches the gun from Mark, "I'm gonna say this one time... you make a move on him, you'll be dead before you hit the ground. You understand me? I mean, do I make myself clear?!"

He backs away, "Then what are we supposed to do?!"

Dean looks between them and me, debating. He pulls the keys for the Impala and tosses them to me. I feel the warm metal in my hands, close my eyes and sigh before tossing them back.

"No way in hell."

"Please Jen...You…"

"No Dean. End of discussion."

He stares me down for a moment before tossing the keys to Mark, "Get the hell out of here, that's what. Take my car. You've got the explosives, there's an arsenal in there. You two go with him. You've got enough firepower to handle anything now."

Mark's brow furrowed, "What about you?"

Dean shrugs. Sam pauses before he starts pleading, "Dean, no. No. Go with them. This is your only chance!"

"You're not gonna get rid of me that easy."

Mark goes to say something but stops, Dean follows them out to lock the door behind them. Sam stares at me accusingly, "Make him leave Jen."

"I can't make Dean do anything he doesn't want to any more than you."

"He is just being stubborn."

I chuckled, "Well he wouldn't be Dean if he wasn't."

"You guys talkin' about me?" Dean comes back in the room, locking the door behind him and sitting down on a table top. It was silent for a bit until Dean shifted, "Wish we had a deck of cards, or a foosball table or something."

"Dean, don't do this. Just get the hell out of here."

"No way."

"Give me my gun, and leave." Sam snaps.

Dean rubs his face, "For the last time, Sam... No."

If Sam was going to die, Dean wasn't going to let his brother die alone. Sam slammed his hand on the table, "Fuck Dean...This is the dumbest thing you've ever done."

Dean shrugged, smirking, "Oh, I don't know about that. Remember that waitress in Tampa?"

He shudders and I roll my eyes. Sam turns to me, trying to get me to talk sense into Dean, "Jen, drag his dumb ass out of here."

"Can't do that Sam."

"Why?"

I half smiled, "Because you are my friend, and I will not leave you behind."

The desperation crosses his face, now out of sensible options, "Dean...You have Jen, you can have a life. Get the hell out of here."

Dean looked over at me, "Well she doesn't seem like she is going anywhere either."

Sam hit the table again, "Dean, I'm sick. It's over for me. It doesn't have to be for you."

"No?" Dean sat down, setting his and Sam's guns to the side.

"No, you can keep going." Sam was confused.

"Who says I want to?" Dean sighs. I remember the conversation we had had after Dean had stitched me up. This job wears on people and it sucks.

"I'm tired, Sam. I'm tired of this job, this life . . . this weight on my shoulders, man. I'm tired of it."

"So what, so you're just going to give up? You're just gonna lay down and die? Look, Dean, I know this stuff with Dad has…"

"You're wrong. It's not about Dad. I mean, part of it is, sure, but…"

"What is it about?" Before Dean can answer, there is a commotion in the hallway. I draw up, waiting for the rush of things to come through the door to rip us apart. But it goes silent, then there is a quiet knock. Dean opens the door tentatively. Dr. Lee is on the other side, "You'd better come see this."

We follow her outside, Sam even tagging along. In the cool night there is not a soul except for the six of us. Not a sound, not a light on in the town. Just nothing.

Dean's voice was low, "Doc, you wanna check Sam's blood?"

She nods hesitantly, "I guess that wouldn't be a bad idea."

By dawn the doctor had run Sam's blood more than ten times. Never once was there a trace of sulfur. She looked up from the microscope again to Sam, "Well, it's been five hours and your blood's still clean. i don't understand it but I think you dodged a bullet."

Sam shook his head, "But I was exposed. How could I not be infected?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. But you're just not. I mean, you compare it with the Tanner samples...What the hell?"

"What?" Sam asked."

"They are clean. No trace of the virus."

Sam and the doc kept talking when I felt strong fingers wrap around my arm. Dean pulled me out into the hallway. I leaned back against the wall and he stood in front of me, looking me up and down, "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Hmm?"

He sighed, "Staying like that…"

"Don't worry about it."

He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Don't worry about it?"

I cocked my eyebrow, "Are we going to fight about this again?"

"No...I don't want to."

"Then what's wrong?" I asked, stroking his cheek. He leaned forward into it, pushing against me. His arms wrapped around me and he buried his face in my hair, "I almost lost both of you."

I kissed his neck, "It is going to take a lot more than a super virus to get rid of me."

"Damn it." He chuckled, joking. I lightly jabbed him in the ribs, and he laughed harder.

"Dean...Can we get out of this town now?"

"Yes...Let me go get Sam."

In less than twenty minutes we were ready to go. The doc was headed to the twon next to here, Mark and Duane were just getting the hell out. After saying goodbye Dean turned to Sam who shrugged and raised his hands, "Hey man, don't look at me. I got no clue."

Dean opened the door, "I swear, I'm gonna lose sleep over this one. I mean, why here, why now? And where the hell did everybody go? It's like they just fucking melted."

"Why was I immune?"

"Yeah. You know what? That's a good question. You know, I'm already starting to feel like this is the one that got away?" Dean slid in. I sprawled in the back, exhausted. God, had we only been here for twenty-four hours? I drifted off about the time that Dean finally found a radio station.