Title: Complications
Fandom: Supernatural
Author: DJ Sparkles
Rating: FRAO (language, mostly, so far)
Disclaimer: I no own, you no sue. I'll put them back when I'm done.
Spoiler Warning: Um, possible spoilers for all seasons so far… don't want spoiled, don't read. BIG spoilers for In My Time of Dying, Heart, All Hell Breaks Loose, Parts 1&2, and season 3.
Timeline: Diverges from Canon after episode 3x03, Bad Day at Black Rock.
Beta: Ithil-valon, and River. You ladies just ROCK, you know that?
Pairings: None so far.

Part Five

Dean was having a hard time. His pack-brother human was here, and he wouldn't hurt Sam. But the other human, the older one, he wasn't so sure of. The man had fear smell all over him, but Dean also thought his scent was familiar, and it was confusing him. He couldn't understand why the man was afraid. He hadn't even shown his teeth, but the man had a gun ready anyway. That made Dean afraid.

It wasn't like he'd even shown his teeth yet. He'd growled once, but Sam had said something in that voice and he'd stopped. Sam didn't want him to hurt the other man, the one who was so familiar. So he wouldn't hurt… Bobby? That was Bobby, and Bobby was a friend. He couldn't hurt a friend.

He could hear the humans talking to each other, but it was just noise. He couldn't understand the words they made. But the tone, the tone was full of something just short of fear and he didn't want them to be afraid any more. He just didn't know how to make them feel better.

He put his head on his paws and whuffed softly, then just watched them like they were watching him. He wouldn't move from his spot near Sam unless they did something to make him know they weren't afraid any more.

"Would you look at that." Bobby couldn't take his eyes from the wolf where it rested so quietly near Sam's feet. "Half an hour ago I wouldn't have given you even money on us living through the night. I think you're right. I think Dean's still in there somewhere." But he didn't put the shotgun down, either. It was loaded with silver rounds, guaranteed to make mincemeat of the wolf – of Dean – if he got out of control.

"He's in there, Bobby. He's watching us. I think maybe he's as scared of us as we are of him." Sam put his hand down to Dean, palm up, holding it steady. "Dean, I know you can't talk to us, dude. You're in there, I know you are. You don't have to be scared, okay? I'll look after you. We look after each other, remember?"

Dean didn't move, but his mind was spinning. His pack-brother, no, hisbrother was talking to him, trying to reassure him, it seemed. Sam's voice was calm and even. Surely that meant it would be okay to move a little closer? He shifted slightly and raised his head, but he didn't get up. He still wasn't sure about Bobby.

His eyes went to the older man, assessing. His grip on the gun was loose, easy, but Dean knew it wouldn't take much to make him use it. He whined softly and edged just a bit closer to Sam. There was more, he was more, he could feel more in his head, just out of reach. He needed to try to break into that spot and figure out who he was. He knew he was a wolf, but he also had the feeling that he was more than justa wolf. How could a wolf have a human brother? Thoughts and feelings that were alien to the wolf danced in his head and it was starting to hurt.

Bobby watched the two of them for a minute and then deliberately raised the shotgun, catching their attention, and carefully set it on the table before stepping away and going to sit on one of the beds. The weapon was now out of reach. "I figure he hasn't done anything by now, he's not likely to," he explained easily. "He's probably hungry, all the books said they need to feed when they change. I'll go get some food for all of us. Just hang in there for a while. Dawn'll come in a few hours. Just ride it out. I'll be back in a bit."

Sam nodded and Dean made a little noise in his throat, but it wasn't really threatening so Bobby let it go and left the room. Sam looked down at Dean. "I'm starting to feel like I'm in a Lassie movie, dude. Next you'll be dragging me by the shirtsleeve, trying to get me to follow you."

Dean lay back down with a soft sound and covered his muzzle again. He was starting to get more of himself back, to remember more of who and what he really was. He was putting memories back in place, making more and more sense to himself, coming closer and closer to who he really was. And the thought that he was trapped here in the body of a wolf was the last thing he wanted to accept. Even if it was temporary.

Maybe he'd just sleep it off. No; no, he needed to get a grip on this. Maybe if he concentrated, he could keep his mind while he was in this shape. Right now, he'd start with trying to identify all the scents he was getting. If he could consciously catalog them, maybe he'd be able to use the ability if Sam and Bobby couldn't cure him. If he could just stay in control, maybe he could wait out a cure.

And maybe not. There was that damned crossroads demon he had to worry about, too. Not a lot of time left on that stupid contract. Okay, so that wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever done, but he just couldn't face life without Sam. Sam was needed. He wasn't. That was the long and short of it. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, being a werewolf for a few months.

That scent he knew. Bobby was back… and he brought cheeseburgers.

TBC…