Elements of doubt

Chapter 5: Unexpected visitors

Things are never going to be simple with a Winchester involved.

Sorry this took so long. There have just been so many changes in my life lately I honestly don't know which way is up anymore.

Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions that would be great to.

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Sam took a step back at the woman's obvious anger, trying to put as much space between them as the tiny corridor would allow. What did she know!?! The Sheriff had other ideas though and took a step forward, as she shoved a set of crime scene photos into his chest.

"Not only did you fail to mention that your friend has already been attacked. I now find out that you two travel around as if you're heading for some kind of survivalists convention."

Sam blinked and looked down at the pictures. The top one was of their motel room bathroom, the syringe and vial of adrenalin he had used to bring his brother back were clearly visible.

"Did you have a warrant to search our room?" Asked Sam automatically, still both worried and confused.

"No kid I didn't. Old Duke let me in after I heard what had happened up at the pottery, and you'd better be damn glad I didn't because I have a feeling you don't want me checking into some of this stuff too closely."

Sam almost sighed in relief as he finally figured out what must have happened. The Sheriff must have come to the same conclusion as he had, that the 'people' responsible for these attacks were marking the victims home with the symbol of the element used to attack the person prior to the actual event. In which case it was perfectly logical for her to rush over to their place to check for any symbols, to try and get ahead of the game.

"I didn't think it was related to the case." He paused. "I mean, I just thought it was an accident, that James had fallen getting out of the bath. His balance has been a little off since…"

"He got shot" Finished the Sheriff, giving Sam a hard stare as she did so. "Believe me son, that's number two on my list of things for you to explain."

Sam swallowed hard and began to explain "James was a field medic in the Marines and he tends to stock the first aid kit as if he still is one."

"You were military too?" She queried.

"Yes, Mam." Sam nodded.

That would explain a thing or two., thought the Sheriff, Don't ask, don't tell only went so far even now a day.

"And the rest of the stuff?"

"It's mostly James Dad's stuff. He died recently and we were collecting his things. Now he was a survivalist." Sam tried to sound casual but he found himself shifting uncomfortably under the woman's intelligent gaze. She wasn't buying this….at least not completely. Clearing his throat he, took another tack. "Can I just check on James, I don't like to leave him alone for too long?"

The Sheriffs stance softened a little and she nodded. "How is he?" she asked with genuine concern in her voice.

Sam reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly feeling the full weight of the day's events. "He's been better." He sighed, heading back into his brothers room.

Dean was still out of it, the rash he had been sporting earlier had gotten worse. It was going to itch like a bitch when he came too enough to feel it.

The sheriff gave him a moment before resuming her questioning. "So how'd he get shot?"

Sam didn't take his eyes off his brother, as he answered. "Look it was a family problem, nobody died and there isn't going to be any more trouble." His words were insistent and he actually managed to put some sincerity into his voice because as far as it went it was true.

The Sheriff seemed to recognize the truth behind the words as well because she backed off the subject and pulled out a second set of crime scene photos, these ones of the pottery.

"You boys sure managed to piss someone off." She handed him a picture of the kilns disabled lock. "All the other attacks could have passed for accidents."

She gave him a searching look; before letting her gaze come to rest on the unconscious boy. "My guess is you two either know enough to make you a serious threat or you're about to."

Sam nodded and rubbed a tired hand across his face, he more than agreed with Sheriffs assessment of the situation. "I just wish I knew what it is we are supposed to know."

"Me too" Sighed the Sheriff.

"Look I'll show you what we've got maybe, you'll see something I've not." Said Sam tiredly, picking up his laptop and retaking his chair. Balancing the computer on his lap he hit the on switch with one hand as he brought the other up to pinch the bridge of his nose, as he once more tired to get his thoughts in order.

What happened next nearly sent both him and the laptop tumbling to the floor.

"Dean." He yelled angrily before he could think better of it, not that he was really thinking. His entire focus was on shutting up the computer which had just gone from asking him if he "wanted to be its lover" to demanding that he tell it what "he wants, what he really, really wants".

"Who the hell is Dean?" Demanded the Sheriff, all the good faith he had slowly been building up with her over the past few minutes evaporated, as the angry glare Sam had gave the unconscious man had left no doubt in her mind who he was talking about.

Snapping back into focus at the Sheriffs words, Sam took a moment to right himself and sort out the computer before answering. He needed time to think.

"It's a nick name, more of a joke really." He gave the Sheriff a pained and slightly lopsided grin as he finished off lamely. "You know James Dean. His Dad was James to so it kind of stuck."

The Sheriff relaxed fractionally, it certainly fit. The kid did have the look. What with the black car and the leather jacket. So why did she still have the feeling she was being lied to?

"Where's Wilber?" The yell was loud and panicked enough to make the two already tense people nearly jump out of their skins. They both instantly turned back towards Dean, who had lurched up right in obvious panic.

Sam dove across the room just in time to stop his brother falling off the bed. Wrapping an arm around Dean's shoulder trying to keep him upright, as he took a seat next to him

"Who the hell is Wilber?" Asked the Sheriff, lowering her hand from her gun and giving Sam a perplexed look, all these name changes were beginning to give her a headache.

Sam started laughing despite himself, hugging his confused and obviously delusional brother to his chest as he did so. He hadn't thought about Wilber in years. "He's a stuffed dog."

The Sheriff just stared at him as if he had gone mad.

Wilber had been Sam's favorite toy as a kid. He had loved the moth-eaten mutt unconditionally but Wilber had also been the bane of Dean's life, because Wilber liked to hide from Dean. Sometimes Sam would go with him but other times he would hide by himself. Unfortunately for them both Wilber was very good at hiding even from Sam, which invariably resulted in a distraught Sam and a frantic Dean.

Sam opened his mouth to explain then shut it again, when he realized he couldn't explain. Not fully, not without admitting Dean was his brother and being caught in yet another lie. "Wilber was his younger brothers stuffed dog. He kind of blamed him for all the tricks he played on James when they were little." Sam was surprised how much it hurt to deny Dean was his brother. He had spent four years away at University doing just that, but now… Well things had changed.

"Sam he's out to get me. I know he is." Insisted Dean his glazed eyes frantically scanning the room.

"It's O.K I won't let him get you." He reassured his brother, trying to quiet him before he threatened to hunt the little bitch down the same way he had the fabric softener teddy bear. He had never realized Wilber had quite such an effect on Dean.

But then, as Sam had grown up Wilber got more adventurous. Wilber put vinegar in Dean's school milk so he spit it out all over Alison Millbank and food dye in the shower gel so he had to spend a week looking like a Smurf. Wilber had done a lot of things over the years that would have made any sane person a little paranoid.

"Sheriff, do you think you could get the Doctor? I think his fever is spiking again."

"No kidding son. I'll be back in a moment." She gave him a hard look. "Don't go anywhere."

Of course, back then Sam hadn't exactly played fair with Dean. In fact he had twisted his brother around his little finger. Always managing to avoid the retribution he so richly deserved, by either scolding the stuffed dog or bursting into tears of mock regret. Even their Dad had let him get away with it for the most part, probably because he had found the sight of his bright blue eleven year old son literally streaking across the living room intent on murder as funny as hell. At least he had until he had worked out that the stuff didn't come off and Dean was going to have to go to school the next day.

Sighing Sam moved the semi-conscious man so he rested more securely against the headboard, so he could retrieve some of the supplies the Doctor had left when he had last checked in on them.

He'd only made it half way across the room when the solid thump of flesh hitting carpet stopped him dead.

"Shit!" Turning he dove back across the room just in time to catch hold of his brothers ankle, as Dean disappeared under the bed.

'Damn, he should have been prepared for this.'

Dean didn't get sick often, which was probably a good thing because pretty much any kind of fever was enough to have him higher than your average junky. This was not going to be fun. Getting Dean to go to the Doctors was a challenge at the best of times, with a fever it was like dealing with a two year. At least it would be if the two year old stood over 6ft and had a black belt.

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Sheriff Politska wasn't quite prepared for the scene she walked in on. Sam's long form lay sprawled across the small room's floor, his head and shoulders hidden under the bed. Her first thought was that Sam had had some kind of accident but then she heard his voice come drifting out from under the bed, the words gentle and cajoling and just a little bit exasperated. It was a tone she had used often enough herself when dealing with her own sons.

A quick glance to her side showed her that the good natured little Doctor was finding the scene just as funny as she was, especially when she started to pick up on James adamant and somewhat petulant refusals to come out and face him.

"This kid really doesn't like Doctors, does he?" He whispered. Then with a conspiratorial smile he squatted down to better address the bed.

"James." He queried, but didn't get a reply.

"Try Dean" Offered the Sherriff.

Shaw gave her an odd look but tried anyway.

"Dean? Why don't you come out Son? It can't be too comfortable down there."

The reply when it came was too muffled to be heard by anyone but Sam, although judging by the boys response it couldn't have been positive.

"Dean! Out, now!" Barked Sam, the order came out with enough John Winchester in it to guarantee Deans obedience… or at least it would have if he hadn't smacked his head off the bottom of the bed in the process.

The sheriff had to bite her fist to stop joining in Dean's laughter as Sam's body went momentarily limp from a combination of pain and humiliation.

Exchanging a knowing look with Shaw, they grabbed a leg each and pulled.

Leaving the boy to rub his head, they repeated the process depositing a now compliant Dean back on the bed.

Politska couldn't help but return Dean's unfocused and slightly goofy grin as she helped him back into bed. It wasn't that her misgivings had disappeared. It was just that over two decades in law enforcement, the last 10 as a small town Sheriff had taught her two things. First to trust her instincts and second if it ain't relevant to the case at hand sometime you're just better off not knowing. Whatever they're secrets these boys weren't a threat to anyone.

Except maybe themselves

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Sam reached up to squeeze the back of his neck in the vain hope of relieving some of the tension that had built up there. He was really beginning to feel the effects of the day. His head was killing and now that the adrenalin had finally worn off it was all he could do keep his eyes open.

I had been a good few hours since Deans little escaped and he was now sleeping soundly, having nodded off without giving any sign of returning sanity. To be honest the whole situation had Sam more than a little freaked out, his brother could be a bit of an odd ball at the best of times but right now he was acting downright nuts. There was no way he could hope to defend himself against whatever came next, and there would definately be a next.

Still even half crazy he had somehow managed to win the Sheriff over. The woman had been acting downright maternal towards Dean by the time she left. At the very least they didn't have to be worrying about getting arrested anytime soon.

Doctor Shaw had been in about an hour ago to check on Dean before retiring for the evening and seemed to be more than satisfied with his brothers' condition despite the phlegm filled gurgle that seemed to have added itself to his already congested snores since the last time the doctor had come to visit. The noise sounded like someone was torturing small animals at the bottom of a well and it was getting on his nerves in the worst possible way, but however bad the sound was it wasn't as bad as it's occasional absence which really got Sam's heart pounding. It was all he could do not to shake his brother awake just to check he was still breathing.

Trying to gather his fractured thought into some sort of semi-cohesive plan, he got up and began to pace the perimeter of the room. It would need to be secured against more than just physical threats before he dared get any sleep himself.

Pausing by the open window he gazed out across the darkened lawn scanning for any potential threats. A faint breeze wafted through the window and caressed his face, momentarily distracting from his task. It carried with it the faint salty tang of the ocean, which should have struck him as odd for this land locked state but it was just so calming. Drawing in a deep breath to better enjoy the odd sensation, he let himself relax for the first time in what felt like weeks. It was a beautiful night.

Abandoning all other plans he lay down on the rooms' one unoccupied bed and slipped gently to sleep.

A wisp of black smoke slipped tendril like through the window bringing with it the sound of distant wind chimes. It moved purposefully across the room, its music changing as it approached the elder of the two brothers, becoming more discordant. The tendril seemed to solidify slightly as it caressed his exposed throat. Causing the young man to whimper in his sleep as he sought to pull away from the familiar and terrifying presence, but his battered body would let him rouse himself and after a moment the smoke moved on, leaving the faint sound of laughter in its wake.

Approaching the younger boy its music once more changed, taking on a seductive quality that was almost hypnotic to listen to. Pausing over the sleeping boys open mouth it allowed its self to be breathed in as Sam moaned softly from the pleasure the music brought.

At the other side of the room Deans agitation increased as he subconsciously reacted to a threat to his brother he couldn't even begin to understand.

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