"It's a f**king tent." Dean dropped the duffle at his feet, in the centre of the round, domed, canvas dwelling, decidedly disgruntled and definitely pissed at his brother.

"Dean it's a Yurt."

"I don't care what fancy name you call it. This is definitely a tent; the walls move."

"It has a floor." Sam said, helpfully stamping on the hardwood to emphasise his statement. "…And windows…"

Dean, anger trembling in his body, refused to reply but he clenched his fist, if Sam said one more thing he was going to start throwing punches.

"…And furniture."

Pulling his arm back Dean pivoted and just caught a glimpse of Sam's back as he exited through the doorway. "It can have a four-poster bed for all I care it's still camping. IN A TENT." He yelled after his brother making his point. He turned back to survey the accommodation again. "It's a f**king tent!"

It wasn't that he was against sleeping in a tent, when it was unavoidable but in his opinion NOW was not one of those times. They'd worked hard, driven far and they, he deserved a little bit of comfort. "WE COULDA HAD ONE OF THOSE CABINS." He was aware that he was shouting to thin air but it made him feel better.

The Cabins had looked okay for cabins in the middle of nowhere. They'd passed two on the way up from the parking area; the happy-looking occupants waving to them from their, solid, warm and dry, I've got a proper walls and doors lodgings as Sam had dragged him up the neat edged path to this... He shook his head as once more he gazed around. "…And how the hell are we supposed to salt the windows."

Sighing, aware that they'd actually slept in worse places and that tonight he would be able to sleep stretched out to his full length, Dean picked up Sam's bag from the couch, dumped it on the floor and replaced it with his own. If he was going to have to sleep here then he was damn well gonna claim the best spot, although how the hell you were supposed to fit, what was it Sam said, six people in here was beyond him.

The 'living' area was small with two couches, one a guest bed, of the kind that had an extra mattress that rolled out from underneath and the other fitted the description of a bench, narrower and shorter than Dean's choice. He chortled to himself, Sammy was gonna have to hang his butt over the side to fit on that. There didn't appear to be too much else inside, a chest of drawers, a cupboard and Dean noted with another rush of irritation no bathroom.

Outside, through a lockable door, was a pleasant decked area with a rail running around its perimeter and an awning shading over half its expanse. A rustic wooden table with two benches tucked underneath stood in one corner and a camping stove/barbecue in the other.

Suddenly something dropped into place in Dean's brain. That was what Sam had bought when they'd stopped in the last town, 'supplies'. Dean hadn't twigged at the time, he'd had no reason to but Sam had returned to the Impala with two large carriers from the small mart. When asked all Sammy had said was, "Supplies." Dean assumed, wrongly, that his brother had meant deodorant and other crap like that.

His brother had been a devious little busy bee, he'd obviously planned the whole thing from booking the…the …Yurt through to making sure they had eatables. Dean huffed a small laugh "Sammy, Sammy you sly dog." It amused the tall hunter still more that Sam actually wanted to stay in something like this. It was a bit…bit…he searched his mind for the right word…clean!

Their experience of camping had been Dad leaving them in some godforsaken spot with nothing but a backpack each and a map. The first time he'd left them with a tarp but that was a one-time luxury after that they'd had nothing between them and the elements.

Dean had enjoyed these adventures until one trip when Sam must have been around seven it had rained constantly for three days. His brother had got soaked and was headed for hypothermia until Dean had pulled him close, covering his shivering form with his own body and held on until, them not having showed up at a check point, their Dad had come to find them. Camping after that had lost its allure for Dean and had become a chore to be endured.

However, Sam seemed to be non-the-worse for his experience and had revelled in 'the great outdoors' collecting fungi, cataloguing beetles and other various flora and fauna. It must be the geek in him Dean had thought more than once as his brother, in all seriousness, had held up some disgusting organic object or insect for his inspection. Sammy in those days had never seemed happier than when he was caked up to his eyeballs in gunk, except perhaps when ensconced in a library surrounded by books.

Dean wondered casually as he settled himself, pulling a cushion behind his head, what had happened to turn Sam into such a girl and make him to want to stay here in 'Camping for Wimps 101'.

When Sam arrived back arms full of sleeping bags Dean remained where he was, full length on the couch, ankles crossed, hands behind his head.

"'Bout time."

"Look, Dean…"

"I have nothing to say to you except that I'm hungry and unless they have dial a pizza…" Dean propping himself up on one elbow and with heavy sarcasm said, "Oh No, I forgot, no cell reception. Then it looks, little brother, very much like you're it on the cooking front."

Satisfied that he'd made his point Dean laid back down and resumed his posture of studied relaxation.

XXxxxxxxxx

Pushing his plate away Sam leant back against the rail and watched Dean wiping his bread around his, catching the last of the gravy before cramming the soggy mess into his mouth. A smile twitched on Sam's lips and he wished that it were always this simple to put his brother in a good mood.

"You've been holding out on me Sammy, this is good."

"Don't sound so surprised."

Dean still chewing was looking up at him. "Hey, I remember your speciality, Wheeties on toast."

The laughter burst out of Sam and he felt a rush of warmth towards his brother. "You said it was your favourite." He teased.

"I didn't wanna hurt your feelings, you'd done it special for my birthday and you gave me a…" Dean leaned over and rummaged in his jacket pocket.

" Oh Yeah," Sam sat up clicking his fingers delving into his memory, "…a key ring with a … "

Dean joined in "…four leafed clover. Where the hell you got it from I don't know. I know you didn't have any money."

Flushing Sam dropped his eyes for a moment and confessed. "I stole it…from the office of the motel, they had a whole bunch in a box."

"My, my Sammy I never knew…" Dean shook his head as he produced the said item with a flourish, dangling it from his finger, "…I was the recipient of stolen property."

Sam was in shock. "You…you kept it?" He could hardly believe it, he must have been what, all of five and Dean had saved his present, in fact he carried it with him.

"'course I did Sammy I got everything you ever gave me."

Not knowing what to say Sam sat marvelling at the person who was his brother. Dean rarely showed this side of himself, the softer almost sentimental streak was kept well hidden. His brother didn't like being so open and vulnerable so usually he kept everything clamped down inside his armoured guard of quips and smirks. Sam loved it, loved his brother and was wary of spoiling the sense of easy togetherness that the shared memory had given them. He decided that a smile was all that was needed and his heart swelled as Dean smiled back.

"Hey." A man dressed the light beige shirt and dark trousers of a Park Ranger stood at the bottom of the few steps which led up to their piece of decking.

"Hey."

"Hey." Sam tensed without visible movement, readying himself and saw his brother quietly reach towards the jacket and presumably his gun.

"Ranger McFarlane. I like to meet all my new guests," The smile was genuine and the man appeared at ease. "…make them welcome and check there are no problems." Sam relaxed slightly, maybe he was what he seemed. "I haven't seen you boys out this way before…first time in these parts?"

"First time in Wallace Falls but we've passed through this area before. Beautiful place." Sam knew what he was doing, echoing part of the Ranger's speech back to him and using a compliment to set up rapport.

"Sure is and we like to keep it that way." A tone of authority crept into the Ranger's voice. "You boys planning to go hikin' or bikin'?"

"Hiking, We were gonna check out the trails tomorrow." Sam kept it casual. "Which ones would you recommend?"

"Ah now that depends on what you want to see and how far you wanna go to see it?" The teeth flashed with a smile and the Ranger leaned on the post. "There are two main trails up to the falls. Both start off down by the Ranger's Office but a after a little ways they split, you can't miss the junction. The trail to the left is easier but it's less interestin' in my opinion. It takes a roundabout route that goes away from the river. It's also about a mile longer. The one to the right is steeper and runs up through the forest. Mind you either route gives you magnificent views of the Lower, Middle and Upper Falls."

"Cool." That was Dean. "What if we want to go off trail?" The ranger looked him up and down and Sam could see that his brother's ripped jeans didn't rest well with the man.

"It's me." He drew the Rangers attention away from Dean. "I'm a Biology Major."

"Oh yeah?" The suspicion remained.

"I want to photograph some species for my paper. Dean volunteered to drive me all the way up here."

"He did, did he."

Sam willed Dean to keep quiet the last thing they needed was for Dean to get snarky. "That's why we want to go off trail…to find the rare plants. I've heard there are some splendid specimens."

"To photograph you say."

"Yeah."

The Ranger brightened, suspicion gone. "Well you heard right we sure do, over a hundred rare plants. If you come down in the mornin' I'll search out a leaflet and you can mark your route and leave it with the Ranger on duty."

"Thanks." Sam had every intention of lodging a route but no intention of keeping to it.

"I hear you had some folks go missing." Dean's query seemed casual but Sam knew that every sense his brother had was focused on the Park Rangers reaction.

"Folks always go missin' round here." The Ranger looked very serious but then his face cracked and laughter deep and resounding came from his belly. "Two yards from their door they get lost." There was contempt mixed in with the amusement. "But yeah, had one only last week. Was missing three days according to the couple who reported it. We searched for two days but nothin'"

Sam noted that the Ranger sounded like he hadn't expected to find anything. "You called off the search?" Two days didn't seem a long time given the amount of area they had to cover.

"Wasn't much point continuin', it rained hard so any tracks were washed away and we had no idea where to start lookin'. He didn't lodge any routes with us." The Ranger spat on the ground. " We had another one 'bout a month before, same thing, first we knew he was missin' was when his wife called the cops saying he hadn't come home. He'd been up here for twenty days, on his own. We had no idea how long he'd been gone, it could a bin anything from two days to over a week. You've seen the forest, a man could be lyin' two yards away from you an' ya wouldn't see him. Idiot probably didn't even have a map just one of those gizzmos."

Sam could see that his brother's interest was aroused. "Sat Nav? Does that work up here?"

"Hah! your welcome to try but I wouldn't wanna stake my life on one of those things. You'd probably end up in Texas." They all joined in the laughter at that one and the Ranger straightened. "Well if there's anythin' you need the Ranger's Office is open from six am and you'll find an information sheet in the top drawer of the chest. Then reminding them firmly to lodge a route plan in the morning, he took his leave.

XXxxxxxxxx

Dean was laid out in what was fast becoming his favourite place. He'd shifted the couch over so that from where he lay he could see out through the door and most of the ways down the path to the car.

He was feeling very agreeable his foul mood of the last week was dissipating rapidly, he had a full belly and he'd almost forgiven Sam for the tent, almost but not quite. Dean exhaled slowly letting his gaze wander the scene in front of him. The Trees cool and green, contrasted the warmth and beauty of the evening sunlight which cast itself through the leafy tops bathing everything in a golden hue. Even his brother looked handsome, he mused, as he watched the freakishly tall figure walk up the path.

Sam had been down to the wash house and Dean could see that his brother's hair hung wet about his face dripping on the towel draped around his neck. Sam ducked as he entered the Yurt.

"You gonna lie there all evening?"

Dean in his new found mellowness refused to be riled and bit down a churlish, "What's it to you Sasquatch?" but then he got a whiff of clean Sam. He made a face, covered his nose and couldn't help making a comment. "Ugh what the hell girly stuff did you use on your hair?"

Sam checked the label on the bottle. "Fruits of the Forest."

"Well sleep downwind or I might eat you in the middle of the night."

Sam huffed a laugh and sat on the couch opposite rubbing the towel over his damp hair. Dean smirked to himself and relaxed a little more, stretching out his legs with an appreciative and puckish "Ahhhhh"

"Comfortable?" Sam stopped his rubbing to look over at him.

Relishing the fact that he'd managed to get the point across to his brother, Dean smirked, "Yes thanks," and he again emphasised the length of the couch, pointing his toes and arching up with a push of his arms above his head. "Think I might go get a shower and turn in."

The silence from his brother was very, very loud.

Dean regarded his sibling for a few moments. Sam, keeping his head down was rubbing harder and was, Dean noticed, failing to look at him. "What?" Still no answer and no let up in the rubbing. "Saaam!" He drew out the pronunciation a suspicion growing in his gut, a nasty suspicion. "Don't tell that this freaking place doesn't have showers."

"Alright I won't tell you." Sam's voice was muffled by the towel but Dean heard.

"You'll be telling me next that there's no hot water either."

Again with that significant silence.

"For gods sake Sam the last motel was sh*ty enough but it at least had basic amenities."

Sam came out of hiding, "This has the basic amenities."

"Yeah Boo Boo in the world of Yogi Bear." Swinging his legs round Dean sat up and scraped his duffle towards him. He rummaged muttering under is breath, life had nosedived again and at the moment Sam was high on the list of people to blame he had to get out, get away find a bar, however damned far away it was and have a drink.

He and Sam had been on their previous hunt for three days, working close, very close and then added to that were the five days on the road, sharing the same small space practically living in each other's pockets. Dean swore, at least throughout that time he'd had the promise of something better at the end of the line. Now that dream had been dashed just like every other f**king dream he'd had. He stopped hand still inside his bag realising that maybe he was being a little over-dramatic but hell he couldn't back down now. Straightening, withdrawing his hand and pocketing his wallet he grabbed his jacket.

"Where're you going?" Sam was staring at him in surprise.

"For a drink, do I need your permission Grey Owl?" He turned to walk away not caring at this particular moment how far he was gonna have to drive to get one.

"Dean…" The name came out and Dean stopped, tilted his head back and raised his eyes to the ceiling.

"Sammy you're my brother, I get it but I don't do the bonding thing, sitting around a campfire singing is not…"

"Dean… " Sam interrupted his brother flow, "It's not that ..."

"What Sam? Afraid to be on your own in the dark?"

"The park closes at ten."

"Excuse me?"

Gabbling Sam continued. "It's in the handouts the Ranger mentioned? Last exit and entry is at ten pm and …."

"Go on." Dean defied his brother to come up with anything else that could possibly make this place worse.

"…and they turn the generator off."

"Generator?"

"Yeah, for the light."

They have generators. No showers, no hot water but they have electricity?" His credulity was being stretched to its limits. How could a place that generated its own electricity not have f**king hot water. Dean turned slowly challenging Sam to answer.

"I'm sorry." Sam gave an apologetic smile and shrugged his shoulders.

For Dean there was nothing more to say and thoroughly pissed with the whole place, the hunt and Sam he decided to go to bed, after all there was nothing else to do.

XXxxxxxxx

Rearranging his cover for the umpteenth time Sam tried to protect the exposed parts of his body. Even though the evening had been warm as soon as the sun had sunk below the tree line the air had cooled rapidly and he was cold despite still being fully clothed. He'd decided against undressing because, as Dean had so eloquently put it as he'd zipped himself into his bag, "There's all kinds of crap out there and only a thin piece of canvas between us and it. I'm not getting caught with my pants down." Sam had agreed and said so but Dean was already asleep, soft snores issuing from the wrapped heap on the double bed.

Sam had sat reading until lights out at ten. He'd had to admit, although only to himself that it was a bit like being at a 'Summer Camp' not that he and Dean had ever attended such a scheme, their Dad had disdained the very concept saying that it was a fast way to get yourself killed. Sam wondered if their father had ever grasped the notion of fun. It was hard to imagine the John Winchester he knew letting go enough to fully enjoy something. There had been times when Sam was very young that they'd all played ball or gone swimming on a hot day but he'd never seen his Dad dance or helpless with laughter.

It was absolutely black with the lights out. In a town or even the countryside the lights of humankind lit up the night sky but here where there was little or no habitation there was no light to reflect. Sam fumbled his way to his smaller couch, he'd noted earlier how Dean had grabbed himself the best bed but hadn't challenged him on it. He'd learnt fast as a younger sibling when to push his brother and when to back off and literally let sleeping Deans' lie.

He felt for the flashlight. The bright light crashed into his painfully into his retina making him squint as his senses were overloaded. He waited then played the beam over the untidy pile of belongings that Dean had pushed over to Sam's side of the tent until he found his sleeping bag. Then he unzipped it and lay it over him like a blanket curling as best he could on the narrow bed, there was no way, given his length that it would have covered any more than his legs and abdomen if he'd left it doubled over.

He laid, waiting for sleep, schooling his mind to shut down, hardly able to tell if his eyes were open or shut the darkness was so complete and eventually he drifted, lulled by Dean's breathing, into a soft slumber.

It had been two hours later by his watch that he'd woken stiff from holding himself tense against the cold. He'd again pulled the thickness around his body and tried to rest. Tossing and turning he slipped in and out of sleep for the next few hours but the bag-blanket kept slipping from his body. Now tugging on the corner he registered in his half-sleep state that it was trapped, he pulled harder. The quilted cover unrolled spilling Sam onto the hard floor with a loud thud.

"Sonofabitch Sammy, make more noise why don't you."

Slightly dazed Sam sat rubbing his banged knee as the bag slid off the bed whispering as it fell into a heap next to him. He heard Dean shift, thumping his pillow before sliding an arm back underneath it and burrowing his head with an irritated sigh; so much for sympathy.

Dawn light filtered through the Squares of window, greying the blackness within the tent. Running his hand up over his face Sam pushed back the hair, which had fallen into his eyes and peered at the luminous hands on his watch. Quarter after four.

Sighing Sam climbed back onto the couch, pulling his pillow down and tucking the cover back over himself. He tried to settle lying flat on his back rather than his usual semi-foetal position but it became so uncomfortable that he had to turn. A beetle skittered, traversing the deck and along the line of salt across the threshold. It made tiny tapping noises with its feet and seemed totally unaware of Sam following its progress. It passed by going about its business and left him to try and regain the calm of sleep.

Twenty-five after four, quarter of five, five and Sam gave up. It was now light enough to read and he felt he could better use his time doing some research; although Dean seemed convinced that they were dealing with another Wendigo, Sam wasn't so sure. Before they'd left civilisation Sam had printed out a whole 'forest' of information not sure if he'd be able to hook up his laptop. Up until last night he'd not had time to do more than skim through.

As far as he could make out there were several options as to what could be snatching people and making them completely disappear.