- Dean, wake up!
Jensen opened his eyes, scared by the abrupt sound of Jared's voice echoing through his ears. The older actor noticed that his friend had taken a shower and was dressed to go out. Jensen scratched his eyes, feeling sleepy. He was so surprised by seeing Jared looking enthusiastic that he even forgot to complain about being called "Dean".
- Where are you going? – he asked, puzzled.
- We are going out on a hunt, we have done nothing for too long... Go get dressed. I want to go talk to Garth and see if he has work for us!
- Jared… Are you insane!? You know very well that I'm not going anywhere, and I'm certainly not going to look for monsters...
Jared seemed determined and aggressive. He was not, however, in the mood for arguing.
- I don't want you to call me Jared, now I'm Sam. Go get ready, Dean! And be quick!
- I'm not going! Who do you think you are, to tell me what to do? – Jensen stood up and stepped up to his friend.
Jared felt really angry. He wanted to control his hallucination, but he didn't seem to be able to. Everything he wanted was to have Dean by his side, in a good mood, and ready to go out in a hunt. He could live like that. He didn't need to be afraid of anything, not even death. After all, all of that was inside his vivid and sick imagination. Nothing was real.
- Dean, I give the orders here, do you get me? You are part of my hallucination, and I won't allow you to control me! – Jared barked in response.
Jensen felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. In horror, he watched Jared close his eyes tightly, as if he could change the world around him just by the power of this mind.
- What are you talking about, Jared? – he asked astonished.
Seeing that he hadn't been successful in his attempt, Jared got even more irritated.
- I don't owe you an explanation! – he said in a low and grumpy tone of voice.
Jensen looked at him not believing what he had just heard. He didn't say a thing. Jared felt as if he was talking to himself, and explaining his theories to himself. That annoyed him profoundly. Then he simply said, coldly and abruptly:
- Look, there is no such thing as changing places with Sam and Dean... We are living inside my hallucination. The real Jensen, at this moment in time, must be feeling sorry for me, and living his life.
- And what about me!? – Jensen asked surprised – I do exist! Why does it have to be your hallucination and not mine after all?
Jared laughed. That was getting ridiculous...
- Think whatever you want, I don't care – he answered. – I'm not going to keep arguing with myself. You are just a hallucination, and therefore is part of me... I wanted to conjure Dean Winchester, but whatever... I'll go hunting anyway, and you're coming with me.
Jared grabbed Jensen's arm tight and starting pulling him out of the room.
- Jared, at least let me get changed! –Jensen complained.
Jared agreed. While Jensen was getting changed grudgingly, the taller man phoned Garth. He said that he and his brother were willing to go back to the job and Garth gave him the address of where he was. They agreed to meet and work together in a case.
Jensen didn't want to leave the hotel, but he was worried with his friend, who apparently had gone crazy. He couldn't blame him, however, after all not many people would be able to keep their sanity intact after experiencing such surreal life change. Besides, Jensen noticed that he would gain nothing fighting against his friend, who was taller and stronger than him, and also his only ally.
Jared made Jensen drive the Impala and listen to old rock n' roll. He called him Dean, and seemed in a good mood. They travelled for around four hours until they finally arrived at their destiny. Garth waited for them at a dinner.
The hunter was happy to see his friends again, and even happier for knowing that they were well and ready to go back to work. He proudly told them how he, Garth, had been able to execute all the necessary tasks and closed the gates of hell. He was a hero. Jensen almost dropped some happy tears after knowing that he was free from all demons.
- Well, after the demons left – Garth explained – we hunters are taking care of small and isolated cases. The job has been easy since then. I am on my way now to hunt a mutant zombie. I studied the case, and he is not really that dangerous. You can come with me if you want.
Inviting the Winchesters to work with him was a generous act of Garth. He didn't need any help to take care of such a simple case. However, as the brothers were a long time without working, he felt they needed that as an incentive.
Garth explained that the zombie lived at the bunker of an old house, and he only left to feed on human brains at night. The creature could barely see, but his hearing was very acute. The plan was to enter his house during the day, in absolute silence, and approach him carefully to cut his head off.
- Just don't make any noise – Garth recommended once again, as soon as they arrived at the scene. – If he hears us he will attack.
Garth led their way in, being followed by Jared who was pulling Jensen, just behind him. Jared was enjoying the adventure, and didn't fear a thing. When he rested his eyes on the zombie he couldn't avoid sniggering. The monster was very weird, he looked like a creature coming from a trash movie from the 80's.
Everybody panicked when the zombie jumped at Jared and scratched his arms with his sharp claws. He would have torn the man apart if his attention hadn't turned to Jensen, as he couldn't control himself and screamed.
The zombie jumped from Jared to Jensen and ripped Ackel's belly open. The actor got desperate seeing the monster and the blood, and passed out straight away. Garth, who was ready to attack, came from behind and cut the animal's head, which bounced strongly in the floor.
- What is going on with you guys? –Garth complained dazedly. Jared was bemused with the pain in his arms. He didn't like when things didn't work his way, not in that world where he was God...
The skinny hunter checked the severity of Jensen's wounds and told Jared to carry him to the car.
- You carry him, my arm is hurting! – he demanded.
Garth looked at him in disbelief.
- He's too heavy for me, and besides, he is your brother...
Jared was angry, but he held Jansen in his arms. He was heavy and his wounds were hurting. However, somehow, it had to be that way.
When Jensen woke up, he was laid in the motel room's bed. His belly was pounding in pain. He heard Jared moaning by his side. Garth was cleaning the wound in his arms while he complained.
- Dean, you woke up! – Garth said as he saw him with his eyes opened. Is it hurting too badly? I put this plaster in your belly. It was a deep cut, but you should be alright...
Jensen was happy to find out that Garth had killed the zombie. He got even happier when the hunter announced that he was going away and would leave the two of them alone, recovering from the injuries. After that dreadful hunt, Jared certainly would have already given up trying to fit into Sam's skin, and their lives would go back to the usual delightful mediocrity.
After Garth left, however, Jared barely looked at Jensen. The truth was that the younger actor had already realized that his hallucinations were totally out of his control and he resented that. He was angry with the character that was living by his side, being him Jensen or Dean, for not corresponding to his expectations. If he was going to get hurt, be scared and suffer, Jared, without a doubt, intended to ignore him. He wanted someone strong and funny by his side.
Jensen, for his part, was feeling very vulnerable. He was hurt and could barely move from his bed. The only person he could count on had lost his mind, and was completely ignoring him.