Dean felt sick. Not the flu-kind but the I-can't-do-this kind of sick. He's standing above a terrified young shapeshifter, pleading for its life and all Dean can think about is Daniel. He has no idea what happened with his shapeshifter after Dad picked him up from Hawaii or even if he's alive, and the blubbering creature beneath him is tearing at his heart. Dad and Sam are going the through sewers to track down any other 'shifters in the area. They're trusting him to take care of the problem.
"Please," the creature begged. "I didn't mean to kill that woman. She came home too early. She should have been gone until next Wednesday. It said so on her calendar."
The thing is, Dean does know. He saw it written on the woman's desk calendar. Daniel had told him once that's how they do their first kill; panic when the people they're impersonating returns abruptly, and then they get a taste, the thrill of killing and hurting Normals, as they call humans.
But this thing isn't Daniel, and unlike Daniel, this thing has killed and seemed to enjoy it.
"I'm sorry," Dean told it, and slammed his silver dagger into its heart. Bile collected in his throat when the blood splurted onto his hand and face when he removed the dagger. All he can see is Daniel bleeding out beneath him, staring at him with betrayed eyes, and it's all Dean can do to keep his lunch down. He should have listened to Sam and had a "light" lunch, whatever the hell that is.
With shaking hands, Dean wiped the flat of the blade on his already destroyed pants, he's going to have throw this pair away. No amount of bleach is going to remove those blood stains.
"Oh God," he whimpered, and lost his fight to keep from puking. The sound of his retching drew Dad and Sam to his side, popping up like Kazoo from The Flintstones. They immediately check for any injuries and when they find none, they start to look a little freaked at his reaction.
Dad knows about Daniel. He'll know why he's acting like this. He should have never befriended the young shapeshifter in the first place but he was in a weird headspace at the time. He knew better.
Sam reached out and ran his hand soothingly up and down his back.
Dean looked up to see Dad staring at him with an expression that just exuded disapproval and disappointment, and Dean flinched from it, making Sam push in closer in a show of support to their father's stare. He glared back, reacting on instinct to help his brother against Dad.
He shook his head at Sam. He deserves that look this time, genuinely.
Huffing, Sam dropped his glare but refused to leave Dean's side. It warmed Dean's heart at the solidarity but also at Sam actually listening instead of fighting Dad at the first chance like he does every other time. So, maybe his weeks of silence - which were a bitch to keep - payed off in the end. He won't have to deal with them butting heads too much this time around, and maybe it'll continue once he goes back to Oahu. It's doubtful but Dean is ever the optimist when it comes to his family.
Sam allowed him another minute for Dean to collect himself before hauling his brother up to his feet and their dad doused the body in bleach to eliminate any evidence of Dean on it. He won't allow his son to be traced to this murder and put on the FBI's radar.
Dean deliberately turned his back on the body and followed Dad out to the Impala, sliding into the backseat, wanting to lie down until he gets his head back on straight. This can't happen again. It can't. Maybe the next time he hesitates killing a 'shifter, it will take advantage of that and try and kill Dean instead. His dad would summon his back down to Earth just so he can yell at Dean for his stupidity and weakness, and then he'd find a way to bring Dean back to life.
"Don't wake me unless absolutely necessary," Dean told them before putting his earbuds in and tapped on the Spotify icon and chose his sleep playlist. Within seconds he's asleep while his dad and brother talked about their next hunt and where to stay and eat.
Sam shook him awake hours later.
"Come on. Dad got us a room. We're gonna have to double up. No stealing the covers," Sam told him. He grinned when Dean only had the energy to flip him off before flopping backwards and curling into a tighter ball. "Come on, Dean. You can sleep on a far more comfortable bed than the Impala."
Dean lifted his head enough to quirk an incredulous eyebrow at Sam and Sam bobbed his head in agreement.
"Yeah, I know that most of the beds we stay in, the Impala is more comfortable, but you're tall and the backseat isn't exactly built for tall people to stretch out on," Sam pointed out.
His brother grumbled and curled tighter before letting out a sigh and scooted over to the other door so he could get out. Sam bit back a grin of triumph. Letting Dean see the grin, his brother wouldn't leave the car out of sheer stubborness and then Dad would have to come out and drag Dean's sorry ass out of the car and into the motel room, swung over their dad's shoulder fireman style.
Actually, that'd be fun to see.
Dean reached out and cuffed Sam upside the head before he came to a decision.
"Let's go, Sasquatch. Don't keep Dad waiting," Dean smirked.
Scowling, Sam punched Dean in the shoulder, ducking when Dean tried to retaliate. He ran into the motel room, only to dodge nimbly when Dad unexpectedly moved to the motel dresser to place his clothes in them. Dean did this twirl thing with their dad that left the Winchester patriarch a little bewildered at all of a sudden facing the queen bed with his clothes still in his hand. He turned to look at Dean, who grinned smuggly at him.
Dad nodded his head, impressed.
The Winchester men unpacked what they needed and Sam gathered up their dirty clothes to go do a load of laundry while Dad went to go get some food because no one had the energy or desire to be around people right now. Dean? Dean fell asleep on top of the bed. He didn't even stir when Sam covered him up with Dad's bed blanket.
John and Sam enjoyed a quiet dinner, both sneaking looks to the sleeping Winchester.
"What are you going to do when McGarrett comes after him?" asked Sam. John grunted in response. "Come on, Dad. You know he's coming after him. McGarrett won't let Dean go until they've both come to a unanimous decision on the state of their relationship. That man does not like to deal with loose ends. He likes everything, if he can have it, be wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end. Dean won't let it go either."
Dad grunted again, this time in irritation.
"Ignoring it won't change anything, Dad," Sam scolded him.
Glaring, John spat out, "You think I don't know that?" He lowered his voice when Dean moaned and shifted in his sleep as consciousness tickled at him, responding to his tone like the good soldier he is. "McGarrett is in Utah. He's close but not close enough."
Sam's jaw dropped. "You know? You know exactly where he is?"
"Yes." The 'Duh' whole-heartedly implied, and Sam flushed from the tone. "It's kind of hard for a man like that to blend into the civilian population. He's too precise, confident. That speaks to people and they recognize him for what he is."
"But he's a SEAL," Sam argued. "He's taught to blend in with the environment."
"He was," Dad pointed out, "but he's been the head of that task force in Hawaii. They're very public, and with a build and face like that, it'd be hard to mix in with the general population."
Sam sat back, stumped, but he rallied quickly.
"Do you really think, after months, and even years of training, that Steve doesn't know how disappear into any population without anyone remembering what he looks like or how tall or even his accent? Come on, Dad. You were a Marine, McGarrett is a Navy SEAL. Your training and his training are vastly different."
"It doesn't change that my people can't track him down to the very hotel he's staying and the room number," Dad replied with a smirk. "Hunters are a different breed, son, and someone with McGarrett's training will stand out among us."
Sam is stumped again, because, yeah. McGarrett would stand out and hunters would know he wasn't one of them, and that he's the man Dad is looking for. The hunter network is not one to trifle with and they are far more reliable than a cop putting out a BOLO or an APB, complete with an accurate sketch and details of what he was wearing and the car he was driving. But then again, civilians aren't exactly the most observant bunch.
...What was Sam thinking about? His mind drifted there for a bit.
Oh, right, McGarrett and his inability to blend in.
"Are you intentionally placing hunts around him?" Sam asked in shock. "Is that why McGarrett is always close but never close enough?"
"Yep, and from my sources, he's close to throwing in the towel." Dad grinned in triumph. "If we keep him away a little longer, then he'll go back to Hawaii without Dean and we won't have to worry about Dean leaving us anymore. It's a win-win scenario, Sam, and don't tell me a weight just hadn't been lifted off of you, a weight you didn't even know was there."
And yet again, Sam didn't have a foot to stand on.
"So I guess I got my arguing skills from you," Sam said grumpily. He's not happy to be on the losing side of an argument.
Grinning, Dad got up, and went to go grab Dean's ankle and shook it to wake his oldest up. When Dean groaned and kicked off Dad's grip, Dad scowled and grabbed both of Dean's legs and pulled him off the queen bed. Dean flailed and let out an undignified yelp that had Sam biting back laughter.
"What the hell?" Dean whined from the floor. He got up and whapped Sam upside the head. He's not dumb enough to go after Dad. "What'd you guys get?" he asked as he dug into the lone take out bag. He let out a happy little sound from the back of his throat that had Sam and Dad exchanging amused grins behind Dean's back.
Dean ate his burger and fries while his mind drifted to Steve. It's taking his SEAL too long to find him. The last text Steve sent him had Dean thinking that the older man is considering packing it up and returning to Oahu without him. He doesn't know how he feels about that. It's not like he can talk to Dad and Sam about it. They'd be happy that Steve is throwing in the towel and leaving without Dean. There's a part of Dean that's a little miffed at Steve quiting so soon but he gets it.
He wouldn't've stayed around someone who's been playing hard to get. Really had to get.
Maybe he should call this game off and go find Steve himself, but he's not sure what to do about his father and brother. Would they let him go? Would they keep him from Steve? Shaking his head, Dean shoved it to the back of his mind to worry about another day.
There was a shift between his dad and Sam, and Dean doesn't know what it is but they're actually more in sync and there is an air of ease between them in a way that he's never seen before. It's kind of freaking him out.
He doesn't know what to do or think. He needs to get out of here.
Dean finished his food, put on his boots, grabbed the keys, and shouted over his shoulder, "I'm going for a drive. Don't kill each other while I'm gone."
Not making out their grumbling, Dean assumed they were okay with him leaving them stranded at the motel. At least it has a pool. They could go for a swim or for a dip in the hot tub, the hunt with the shapeshifter had them all thrown against the sewer walls at one point. The hot water and jets would do wonders for their bruised flesh. They'd be stupid not to take advantage.
Dean drove until he found a secluded spot to think and not be bothered by anyone. Luckily, there's a park for him to sit and think, and if he's lucky, a creature would come and try to kill and/or eat him. It'd be fun to kill something that isn't a shapeshifter.
Parking the Impala, Dean got out and made his way to the swings - the little kid in him demanding he go there, and Dean's not going to fight that urge.
Swinging contently, Dean allowed himself to enjoy the little act of childishness without anyone to make a snarky comment about it. Even Steve and Catherine would have said something before joining him. He misses them. He genuinely thinks Catherine is his best friend. She gets him in a way Steve, Danny, Dad or Sammy don't or can't quite understand. It's easy with them.
He does feel guilty for ignoring her for that weirdness with Danny. If he had hung around her more, she would have seen what was going on and she would have slapped Dean so hard upside the head he'd think his name was Tony DiNozzo. None of what had happened all those months ago would have come to fruition and Dean and Steve wouldn't have lost touch. Sure they lived together but they felt miles apart because of Dean's idiocy. He really shouldn't've kept Catherine at arm's length.
"I like Catherine Rollins. She's a warrior," a woman said, appearing right next to him. Dean has no clue as to how long she's been there. "Kono Kalakaua as well. They would be worthy of your affections, Dean Winchester."
The woman looks to be in her 40s, slightly pudgy, and a round face with solemn hazel eyes. Her gaze is intense, Dean's mind noticed inanely, and she held her body stiff, like she didn't know how to move or act. In fact, Dean's mind noticed again, she only moved her head while her body remained facing forward and her chest barely moved.
Dean's starting to feel a little unnerved.
"Steven McGarrett is also a fine warrior, one of the best the human race has to offer, but I don't think he's the one you should be mated with," the woman said matter-of-factly. Dean could do nothing but blink at her in incomprehension, because what? "Chin Ho Kelly would be best if the women do not tempt you, but not Daniel Williams. He is too emotional for you. Chin Ho, yes, he would be the best compatible mate for you...If you had not already given your heart to Steven."
She said all this like she was repeating what has been told over and over until she memorized it. Great. Leave it to Dean to have a crazy lady find him and spout all this shit like she knew him.
"Sure," Dean said, and went to stand up and move away, but the woman's hand shot out and held Dean's wrist in a tight grip. Surprisingly strong for the woman of her age and fitness level.
"Listen to me, Dean Winchester," she intoned in a rather deep voice, "follow Steven McGarrett back to Hawaii, and don't ever return. Do not allow yourself to be drawn back to your family. Remain in Hawaii. Do this, and your family will survive. Do not disobey me on this. Never leave Hawaii. If you do, your dad will die, Sam will die, and the apocalypse will come."
She stared at him with such intensity - Dean swore she was staring into his soul, and, oddly enough, he didn't feel that unnerved by her stare - and found what she saw acceptable because she nodded her head solemnly and disappeared in a rush of wind that sounded a little like wings. Massive wings.
Shaken, Dean walked to the Impala with Jell-o like legs. He's honestly surprised he didn't fall to his ass. What the hell was that?
His phone buzzing startled him so bad he dropped the keys and had a mini heart attack.
Cursing, Dean grabbed the keys and pulled out his phone to see a text from an unknown number: Seattle, Washington. Cypress Hotel. Room 107. Leave now.
What the fuck? No, seriously. What the fuck was that?
Unnerved and a little terrified and a lot confused, Dean got into the Impala and drove towards the motel. He stopped at the park turn off, if he goes right, he'll end up at the motel, but he if he turns left, it'll take him to the freeway and the bus depot. To Steve.
He really wants to write the middle-aged woman off as a complete and total nutjob but she knew his name and she knew his ohana. And her words...they had the weight of prophecy about them. It's the best he can explain it. They felt real and matter-of-fact, like she could see the future, and that stuff his dad and brother dying and the apocalypse? That's just too surreal to contemplate.
...But what if she's right? She didn't approve of him being "mated" with Steve but all she really seemed to care about is him going back to Hawaii and staying there.
Left or right? Dad and Sam or Steve and the ohana?
Sorry it's not a long one but I got what I wanted put into the chapter without too much fighting from Dean and Steve. (They're stubborn little shits, let me tell you, but I'm betting you already know that about them.)