Sam woke up with his face squashed up against the glass of the Impala. The engine had stopped rumbling an hour or so ago and Dean sat on the bonnet with their father, they were both taking long sips from their cold beers as they looked up at the dark night sky. Stars shone down on them like diamonds on coal. Sam unfolded himself from the seat and clambered out into the cool night air.

"Hey kiddo." Dean said, "You alive yet?"

"Think so." Sam replied with a lopsided smirk. He still hurt all over but he was a Winchester, he wasn't dead or dying, he could deal with it.

"Hey son." John said and tried to smile kindly at his younger son. Sam nodded to his father and picked up a beer from the cool box ignoring the stare from both elder Winchesters.

"What?" he asked "I deserve it."

"Drink up then Sammy." Dean said with a pearly white smirk and a shrug. Together the three of them sat in the empty field and stared up at the stars, blissfully unaware of the vengeful being watching their every move.

When the night began to turn into day John decided that was far too early to go looking for a motel room. He told Dean to take a nap, he'd watch out for anything unwanted. Sam was already stretched out across the back seats leaving Dean with the uncomfortable position of sleeping in the front with his long legs stuck under the steering wheel. He nodded to his father who sat in the pick up wide awake, John nodded back and motioned for Dean to go the hell to sleep. Dean smirked to himself and settled into the most comfortable position he could find while still being able to defend himself at a moments notice. After what had happened to Sam over the course of he week, he deemed it necessary to take more precautions. Sam moaned in his sleep and shifted around, he was reliving his time in the warehouse, the demon's laugh and ferocious grin flashed in and out of his head. He shifted about more until he was half on the seat and half wedged between the back seats and the front passenger seat. He woke with a start.

"Ugh, dammit." he grumbled and pulled himself out of the twisted position. Small rays of sunlight washed in through the windows, the glowing orb was high enough above the horizon for Sam to decide that it was about 6 am. They should probably find somewhere to hole up for the next few days. Dean woke up as Sam stirred.

"How you doin' princess?"

"Cramped." came the reply, "Where's dad?"

"In the pick up." Dean replied groggily

"No he's not."

"What? No he can't be gone." Dean picked himself up and looked out the window. They both climbed out and wandered over to the spot where the truck had been. A folded piece of paper lay in the centre on the patch of flattened down grass.

Sam and Dean

I know you're both going to be pissed at me but you understand that I had to take off, we're weaker together. Don't come looking for me, not yet. I'll call soon. In the meantime get yourselves another hunt. There's a job for you a few towns west of where you are. Take care of your brother Dean, don't let anything happen to him. Something's gunning for him, maybe for all of us but that demon was more interested in Sammy than you. Don't forget. We've still got to get him back to school in one piece in two weeks time. I'll come back when Sam's back at school, but I won't stick around for long.

-JW

Dean scowled as he read it. He subconsciously crumpled it into a tight ball.

"Whoa dude what it is? What did it say?" Sam asked standing next to his brother. At the age of sixteen he was the same height as him and still growing, he would tease Dean about his little brother being bigger than him in years to come.

"Dad's gone, he's taken off. Safer that way." he omitted the part about Sam being hunted down. He kicked himself for not hearing the engine of the truck and the screech of the tyres as his dad drove off.

"We've got to find him then."

"No Sammy, he told us not to."

"And you're going to listen?"

"Yes! Because that's what we do alright?!"

Sam opened his mouth to argue but shut it, there was no point in arguing with Dean. He scowled and sat back down in the Impala, Dean joined him a few minutes later. They drove on in silence in search of a motel. How could John just leave them like that? He might not be able to protect Sam all by himself, and the kid was a magnet for trouble. He sighed audibly and kept driving until they found a motel that didn't look like it had been chewed up and spat out by a dinosaur. They were all old and crumbling, it didn't look like they got much business, especially not now that they looked like reptile chow. Dean pulled into the car-park of a slightly more respectable looking Bed and Breakfast. He wasn't keen on staying in a motel made out of nothing. Together he and Sam got out of the car, shouldered their bags, and strode into the front room. An elderly lady sat in an armchair with a little girl on her knees, the girl had strawberry blonde that was done up in bunches. He grandmother was happily telling her tales of first boyfriends and prom night. Sam smiled inwardly, the little girl would hopefully grow up to lead a normal life, not one like theirs.

A plump middle aged woman walked down the carpeted stairs to greet them, "Hello there. You fellas in need of a room?"

"Yup," Dean replied, "Two singles if you've got 'em."

"Follow me boys." she said sweetly and led them up two flights of stairs. "Here we are. Room 10. Now breakfast is in the dining room from 7 to 10. There are plenty of nice restaurants where you boys can have dinner." She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, "Need anything just give me a shout." she said and tottered off back down the stairs.

Dean walked in first, it was one of his many habits, if something was in the room it would get him first rather than Sam. He looked around at the pink quilted bedsheets. "This is..."

"Pink..." Sam finished for him "Really pink." the walls were covered in floral wallpaper and the carpet was a bright shade of pink.

"We'd better not stay here long." Dean shuddered and threw his bag onto the bed nearest the door, another one of his many habits.

Sam frowned and dumped his stuff on the second bed. He pulled out his laptop "Why would a demon a shape shifter and a vampire work together?"

Dean shrugged, "They're never normally that friendly." he said "Maybe because they're all gunning for you Sammy." he didn't say the last part out loud.

"No..." Sam mumbled and went back to his laptop as Dean got up and laid down the salt lines by the window and the door.

"Something dad said in his note, he's given us a job in this town. Don't know what is is though, but something is going on here. Hell we both noticed it the second we drove in. Those motels?"

"No." Sam said firmly, "Dude no. I don't want another job yet." he absent mindedly traced the burn scars on his chest. "You want research done do it yourself." he shut his laptop and set it down on the floor before burying his head in the revolting pink pillow. His stomach grumbled impatiently, it wasn't even 12 yet.

"I'll get us some lunch. Your stomach sounds like a bear." Dean said and got up, "Don't you dare get jumped while I'm gone." he warned and waggled his finger at the floppy form of his weedy little brother. He chuckled to himself as he galloped down the stairs, the grandmother and the girl were gone from the living room. Dean thought nothing of it as he strode leisurely down the main road. It wasn't much of a town, but it had a takeaway, and that was enough for Dean. At least for today. He bought a couple of burgers and strolled back to the B&B, why hadn't their dad at least told him what they were meant to be hunting. He wasn't all that happy with leaving Sam back there on his own, but the kid was being a stubborn mule and Dean was hungry anyway. He kept his eyes peeled for any signs of out of the ordinary weirdness. Nothing so far, it was quiet. Maybe a little too quiet. He walked back into the B&B, finishing up his burger. His breath fogged up in the suddenly cold air. "Aw crap." he pulled out his gun and spun around. The air was sucked out of his lungs as a spirit passed through him. "SAM!" he managed to yell before everything was plunged into darkness.