Yellow Fever

They were in the middle of a couple of abandoned farmer fields. The Impala doors were wide open with Zepplin blasting from the stereo. Sam was sitting on a half broken fence while he clipped away at the fake FBI badge he was making for Rose. Sam could still hardly believe she had gone with them. He definitely couldn't believe that Dean had actually wanted that.

At first Sam had thought he was kidding. Then he thought Dean had hit his head. Finally he came to the realization that his older brother wanted a sex buddy with him 24/7. Though it had never happened before, Sam didn't put it past Dean to consider it. The last theory, oddly enough, had resulted in an enraged glare from his brother.

Rose honestly wanted to learn to be a hunter, and Dean honestly wanted to teach her. He glanced over at the two of them across the narrow field. Dean had snatched a decrepit scarecrow and set it up along the further fence line along with some old cans. He'd brought Rose to a respectable distance away and pulled out a gun. He was showing her how to load it and use the safety.

Sam finished putting together the badge, naming Rose as a one "Jane Smith", upon her own insistence. Dean had commented it was too plain and ordinary. Rose had countered with saying that that was exactly why it was so perfect. Sam slid the newly minted badge into his pocket and headed out to the other side of the field.

As he got closer he could hear Dean lecturing Rose about gun safety, sounding remarkably like their father. Rose was doing her own — incredibly accurate — portrayal of a teenage Dean.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Dean, I've held a gun before."

Dean nodded and tried to not get riled at the attitude in her tone. "Yes, but you also said you don't like guns."

"That doesn't mean I don't know how to use one!" Dean opened his mouth to continue his lecture but Rose cut him off with an angry groan. "Jus' hand me the bloody gun, Dean!"

Dean glared at her. "And if I don't, princess?"

Her eyes narrowed and her mouth pinched into a straight line. She gestured to the duffle between them that held an assortment of guns. "Or I'll shove my hand in the bag and shoot with whatever comes out, yeah?"

"Marion." Dean's voice was low as he clearly tried to keep his cool. "This isn't a joke. You need to know how to shoot, and in order to do that you first need to know…"

Dean was cut off as Rose suddenly pulled a 444 Marlin revolver from the bag. Both Sam and Dean jumped to stop her from using such a powerful weapon. Rose turned and shot the weapon, she didn't even flinch, nor did she fall back in an unprepared heap. Dean and Sam whipped around to see the head of the scarecrow had disappeared.

Sam laughed. Rose set the safety back on, twirled the gun around her finger and shoved the gun into Dean's limp hands. "You were sayin'?" She asked, all innocence.

Dean closed his mouth finally and turned his head back to the short blonde in front of him. "Who did you say you worked for?"

Rose smiled one of the most evil smiles Dean had ever seen. Which made it all the more wrong that he absolutely loved it. "I didn't." Rose said back. She looked over her shoulder at Sam and winked.

Sam laughed again. He had to admit it, he liked her. She had fire, and passion and was apparently really great with a gun. Dean had been right, Rose would make a great hunter. It was a just a shame the Apocalypse was coming. That had been something neither of the brothers had decided to discuss with the girl yet. They'd take her out on a few hunts, ease her into their world and if she didn't run away, then they'd tell her about Lucifer and the angels.

Sam cocked his head to the side. "How are you with hand to hand?" He asked curiously.

Rose turned to him and shrugged. "'m trained. But I wouldn't say I could beat either of you in a fight. Guns are easy, hand to hand is definitely something I could work on though." Behind her, Dean had begun gathering up the supplies he'd been showing her. Holy water, salt, iron, the works.

Sam nodded. "Well that'll have to wait. I just finished this." He pulled out the badge and tossed it to her. Rose caught it and flipped it open. She smiled. "And we just got a call, Maumee."

Rose looked up from her new fake ID and frowned. "Am I supposed to know what tha' means?"

Dean rolled his eyes and hefted the duffle over his shoulder. "Friggin' Brits."

Sam and Dean headed back towards the Impala. Rose stood where she was for a second, admiring her new badge, until that snide remark finally hit her. "Oi!" She shouted and ran after them.

Rose didn't think she'd ever be able to unsee that autopsy. Or unsmell it for that matter. It had been informative though, she had to admit. Two people had died from heart attacks in Maumee, and this one was just one town over. But the autopsy showed no signs of a heart attack, the guy was a marathon runner. The heart had simply given out for no reason.

Rose had noticed Dean's interest in the deep gashes along the victim, Frank O'Brien's arms. The coroner had said they were simply scratches from falling, but they seemed too deep. She'd also just caught the tan from the missing wedding ring just before Dean mentioned it. Rose was impressed. Dean knew his job and how to do it, he didn't miss anything. That thought made Rose uneasy, how long would it take for him to realize she wasn't who or what she said she was?

Rose shuddered as her mind rudely reminded her of the blood splattering across Sam's face and the heart in Dean's hand during the autopsy. She touched her uneasy stomach as she willed herself not to be sick.

They'd headed straight to the Sheriff's station from the coroners. Apparently the Sheriff was busy though, and the three were forced to wait outside for him. Rose leaned on one hip as she eyed the young deputy at the front desk. She was impatient and time was wasting. Rose glanced over at the two brothers beside her. She was following their lead, she didn't want to step on any toes.

Ten minutes went past.

Rose spared the brothers one more glance before sauntering over to the front desk. "Hi…" Rose glanced at his name tag, "Deputy Linus." Rose raised her eyebrows, falsely impressed. "Wow, a Deputy. Tha's exciting."

Deputy Linus choked and swallowed. He looked like an ant and Rose the shoe. Behind her, Sam and Dean watched on with rapt attention. Dean tightened his grip on the seats armrests as he told himself not to deck the kid she was smiling to like that.

Deputy Linus finally found his voice. "Ye-yeah, sorry about the wait again."

Rose nodded and played with her hoop earring. Dean had had a fit when he saw them. He claimed it wasn't the 1970's and Rose easily responded, "yeah, but we should definitely visit," which had received and odd look from Dean. Rose was sure her hoops didn't match her 'regulation' pantsuit, but she didn't care. The hoops were from some of her first travels with the Doctor, it felt right. He was right there with her helping her along.

"Righ'," Rose answered the Deputy with a smile and flutter of her eyes. She leaned forward on the desk and silently thanked herself for not buttoning her white blouse up all the way. She gave the Deputy a moment to bring himself together then continued. "Sorry, bit forgetful me. Why was it tha' he couldn't see us, again?"

Deputy Linus swallowed and dragged his eyes up to Rose's. "He's asked not to be disturbed. You'll have to wait 'til he's available."

Rose nodded as she took the young man's hands and played with them softly. His jaw slackened. "Yeah, suppose you're right. But I was thinkin', yeah? Maybe you could make a tiny exception." Rose let out a breathy laugh. "I know, daft me. But 's just you are the Deputy." Rose smiled and leaned across the desk to tap his badge that clearly labeled him as such. "An' if anyone can help a girl out, 'm sure it'd be you." Rose deliberately lowered her voice at the end. Deputy Linus' eyes bugged out and he fumbled for the phone beside him.

Rose smiled charmingly at him as he quickly spoke with the Sheriff, informing him that there were people here to see him. Rose heard the grumble on the other line and the loud stomps to the door of the office to the left. Rose shifted a bit but didn't drop her smile as the door to the Sheriff's office swung open.

A tall gruff looking man glared out at the room. "Linus I said…" His voice trailed off as his eyes landed on Rose.

Rose walked around the desk so the Sheriff could see all of her. "Sorry 'bout the nuisance Sheriff. 'm Jane Smith, FBI." She held up her badge. The Sheriff shook his head, trying to gain some focus. "My partners an' I were wonderin' if we could talk to you for a second?"

The Sheriff glanced behind her and finally noticed the amused looking Sam and glowering Dean. He nodded. "Sure, sorry about the wait." He held the door open and nodded for them to enter. "Come on in." Rose glanced over her shoulder at the boys and winked. Sam laughed silently as he stood with his brother and followed her into the Sheriff's office.

The Sheriff stopped them when they reached the door and gestured to a floor mat. "Shoe's off." He ordered, back to his gruffness. Rose didn't even blink at the instruction and toes off her shoes. She followed the Sheriff and shook his hand. "Al Britton." He introduced. Then quickly shook Sam and Dean's hands as they entered the office as well.

Rose took a seat in front of the man's desk as he quickly slathered his hands in hand sanitizer. Rose raised her eyebrows and glanced at Sam, who had taken the vacant seat beside her. He was sharing a look with Dean that left Rose feeling like she was missing something.

"Okay." Sheriff Britton said as he sat down behind his desk. "So, what can I do for you sweetie?"

Rose smiled past the annoyance at the term of endearment. "We've been called in to check up on the death of Frank O'Brien. As we heard it, some of your men found him, yeah?"

Sheriff Britton narrowed his eyes and tapped the desk nonchalant. "They did. Me and Frank, we were friends. Hell, we were gamecocks." Behind Rose, Dean snickered. She turned and both she and the Sheriff glared at Dean. At least the man had the decency to look abashed, Rose thought.

"That's our softball team's name." The Sheriff clarified. "They're majestic animals. I knew Frank since high school. To be honest, I just this morning got up the strength to go see him. Frank was...He was a good man."

"Yeah." Dean put in. "Big heart." Rose made a face at the mental image that brought up. She glared over her shoulder at Dean.

Sam ignored the both of them. "Before he died, did you notice Frank acting strange? Maybe scared of something?"

"Oh hell, yeah. Real jumpy."

"You know what scared him?" Sam asked.

The Sheriff thought for a moment but eventually shook his head. "No. Wouldn't answer his phone. Finally, I sent some of my boys over to check on him, and well, you know the rest." The man started and turned quickly to the hand sanitizer on his desk. He slathered his hands in it once again and rubbed as much of the liquid into his skin as he could.

Rose looked to Sam and Dean as they all shared a very confused glance. Rose had seen germ freaks before, but this was taking that idea to a whole new level. She glanced around the room quickly and noticed the trophies along the back wall for sports. Generally, when people obsessed over germs, they stayed away from sports — especially contact sports. The room was tidy, but not enough to illustrate the Sheriff's need for cleanliness. This was clearly a new development.

Rose stood up with Sam and Dean. "Thank you so much for your time Sheriff. We know how busy you are."

The Sheriff smiled charmingly at Rose and inclined his head. "Nothin' to it at all, my dear. Come 'round again any time." Rose smiled and followed the brothers out of the station and back onto the street.

Dean looked around the street as they walked, shaking his head. "No way that was a heart attack."

Sam nodded his head. "Definitely no way. Three victims, all with those same red scratches. All went from jittery to terrified to dead within 48 hours."

Rose crossed her arms against the breeze and hurried her pace to keep up with the boys. "Yeah, but wha' can do tha'? Scare someone to death?"

Dean snorted. "What can't? Ghosts, vampires, chupacabra? It could be a

hundred things."

Rose's eyes widened and she leaned forward a bit to catch Dean's eye. "Chupacabra?" She asked, and he didn't miss the hint of wonder and excitement in her voice. "Really?"

Dean nodded. "Oh yeah."

Sam rolled his eyes at the two. "So, we make a list and start crossing things off." He suggested of the predicament.

Dean agreed and asked, "Alright, who's the last person to see Frank O'Brien alive?"

Sam glanced over at Rose as he thought, she shrugged. "Uh, his neighbour, Mark Hutchins." Rose looked to Dean to see if he agreed with Sam, but the elder Winchester seemed otherwise preoccupied.

"Hang on, hang on." He raised his hand and the three of them came to a stop on the sidewalk. Rose glanced around for any threat, but didn't see anything in the immediate vicinity.

"I don't see anythin'," Rose said, "wha' is it, Dean?"

Dean turned around to face the two. He had this odd look on his face. If Rose didn't know any better, she'd say it was something akin to childlike fear. "I don't like the looks of those teenagers down there." Rose and Sam both leaned around him to look at the teenagers. They were standing around talking and playing with their skateboards.

"Let's walk this way." Dean suggested, then promptly looked both ways and speed walked across the street.

"Did that really just happen?" Sam asked Rose.

Rose frowned at Dean. She hadn't known him for long, but she already knew enough to know that reaction was not within his character. Rose silently made a note to keep an eye on Dean. Then the two of them quickly made it across the street after Dean and headed the long way around for the Impala.

The neighbour of Frank O'Brien was clearly a pet person. Not a cat person — no, a pet person. With reptiles — with snakes. Rose wasn't sure how she felt about that. She'd faced giant talking snakes, and spiders the size of houses, but there was something about normal earth snakes. Maybe it was a leftover feeling of self preservation from when she was a human. Rose didn't really know, but the idea of so many reptiles surrounding her was incredibly unnerving. Dean clearly felt the same.

He was stiff as a board beside her as his eyes darted around the room like a caged animal. Rose desperately wanted to reach over and take his hand, but they were supposed to be professionals. She turned back to Mark Hutchins as the man scanned over their ID's. He had a rather large snake wrapped around himself as he lounged in his seat across from the three fake FBI agents.

Mark nodded. "Tyler and Perry. Just like Aerosmith." He smiled abashedly at Rose. "The Smith throws it off." Rose grinned and shrugged. Dean turned in his seat as he surveyed the rest of the room and its reptilian inhabitants.

A flicker of alarm crossed Sam's face. He cleared his throat and smiled tightly. "Yeah, small world. So, the last time you saw Frank O'Brien?" Dean's eyes caught the sight of a huge lizard and he quickly spun around. Rose grabbed his wrist. The man almost jumped out of his skin and Rose quickly loosened her grip. Dean looked at her with wide eyes, she gave him a stern look that quickly melted into a warmer one. Dean let out a breath and his shoulders slumped a bit, but the dodgy way his eyes scanned the room continued.

"Monday," Mark was saying to Sam, "he was watching me from his window. I waved at him, but he just closed the curtains."

Rose gave Mark a curious look. "Did you talk to him? Did he seem scared?" Sam cast a look in Rose's direction, pleasantly surprised by their similar train of thought.

Mark nodded. "Oh, totally. He was freaking out."

Dean, who looked as though he too were freaking out, cleared his throat. "Do you know, uh..do you know what scared him?"

"Well, yeah," Mark said like it was obvious, "witches."

Sam raised his eyebrows. "Witches?" He and Dean shared a look over Rose's short head. "Like…?" Rose could barely contain her excitement. Witches. No — don't get your hopes up, she told herself.

"Well, 'Wizard of Oz' was on tv the other night, right? And he said that green bitch was totally out to get him."

Rose laughed shortly. She saw the seriousness on Mark's face and her jaw slackened. "Wha'? Seriously?" Mark nodded, eyebrows raised.

"Anything else scare him?" Sam asked.

Mark shrugged. "Everything else scared him. Al-Qaeda, ferrets, artificial sweetener. Those pez dispensers with their dead little eyes." Rose raised her eyebrows. "Lots of stuff."

Sam nodded. "So, tell me. What was Frank like?"

Mark frowned and hesitated. "I mean, he's dead, you know? I-I don't want to hammer him but, he got better."

Rose looked between Sam and Mark. Sam seemed just as confused. "Wha' do you mean?" She asked Mark.

"Well, in high school he was," Mark hesitated again, "he was a dick." Rose and Sam glanced at each other, Dean was otherwise preoccupied looking at the aquariums around the room again. The two turned back to Mark. "Like a bully." The man clarified. "I mean, he probably taped half the town's butt cheeks together."

Dean snickered. Rose elbowed him in the gut and he gasped in pain. He glared at Rose then turned to the frowning Mark. "So he pissed a lot of people off. You think anyone would have wanted to get revenge?"

"Well, I don't…" Mark paused, clearly confused. "Frank had a heart attack, right?"

Sam decided not to directly answer that. "Just answer the question, sir."

Clearly becoming a bit more concerned for the situation he was in, Mark took a moment. Finally he said, "No, I don't think so. Like I said, he got better. And after what happened to his wife…" Mark trailed off.

"His wife?" Dean asked, remembering the tan line on the dead man's ring finger. "So he was married."

Mark nodded as he absentmindedly petted his snake. "She died about 20 years ago. Frank was really broken up about it." Dean stared as the man stroked his pet. Mark noticed and smiled good natured at the petrified FBI agent. "Don't be scared of Donny. He's a sweetheart. It's Marie you got to look out for." He nodded toward the couch the three agents were sitting on. "She smells fear."

Rose and Dean turned at the same time and saw the albino snake creep over the lip of the couch and head down towards them. Rose froze and barely even registered Dean's fearful gasp. The snake reached the seat of the couch and paused. It turned and surveyed Dean and then looked to Rose. It's reptilian eyes made contact with hers and without hesitation it slithered across Dean's lap, quickly moving away from the confused blonde.

Sam barely took notice of the occurrence until he saw the confused look on Mark's face. He stared after the albino reptile as it made its getaway across the floor. What was he missing here that Mark, the snake and Rose all clearly saw?

Rose stood casually in front of the doorway to Frank's apartment as Sam leaned over the handle. A few clicks later and Sam had the door opened. The two slid into the room quietly and looked over their silent surroundings.

"So wha' is it exactly tha' we're lookin' for?" Rose asked Sam. She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped deeper into the open apartment. There was a sunken in living room and a wall at the back that separated the space from the kitchen. To the left were two doors, presumably the bedroom and the bathroom. The colours were natural, browns and greens mainly. The apartment was clearly devoid of any female living there. It was a bachelor's pad through and through.

"Any number of monsters could have killed Frank, we've got to narrow down what it wasn't, and more importantly what it is." Sam pulled out a square mechanical device. Little light bulbs sat at the top and the face looked like it was used to measure something. Sam handed it to her. "This is an EMF reader. It will tell us if there's been any ghost activity in an area."

Rose nodded as she took the device. She flipped it on. It was pretty rudimentary. Rose had handled pieces of scientific inquiry much more advanced in her time, the TARDIS being at the top of that long list. Because of this previous knowledge, it was easy for her to work the machine. She moved around the room and held the EMF reader out near objects.

Rose frowned. "Nothin's happenin'." She told him.

Sam glanced at the reader over her shoulder. "Well it's on. I'd check the whole apartment just in case." He pulled out his own EMF reader and the two of them slowly made their way through the residence. Sam glanced at Rose nervously. "So that snake."

Rose's eyes widened and she shivered visibly. "Tha' thing was massive."

Sam smiled, half amused at the confession. "It didn't seem very afraid of you."

Rose cocked her head to the side and pretended to look contemplative. "Really?" She shrugged. "Didn' notice."

Sam narrowed his eyes at her as she turned her back to him. She had noticed. He'd seen her notice. Which meant something was definitely up. They continued through the apartment as Sam silently catalogued all the monsters he knew about that could be sensed by animals.

"'m not gettin' anything, Sam."

Sam shook his head and tried to stay focused. "That's okay, it's probably not a ghost. We should check out hex bags, and sulphur." He took the EMF reader from Rose and stuffed it back in the duffle with his own. "Hex bags are usually put together by a witch, and sulphur is residue left over from demons."

Rose nodded. "Righ'. I'll check for sulphur then."

They headed into the bedroom first and Rose checked the windows and above the dressers for sulphur. Sam looked through all the usual places hex bags were kept by witches. Under the bed, behind shelves, under the sink, in books. When Rose was done checking the room she moved to help same lift the mattress to see under it.

"So why'd you wanna come?" He asked her randomly.

Rose looked up at Sam from the other side of the bed. "I thought you and Dean decided that I should learn this stuff before I learn research? Got to know wha' 'm looking for, right?"

Sam shook his head. "That's not what I meant. I meant, why did you choose to go out and hunt demons and monsters? People don't choose this life."

Rose frowned and followed Sam out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where they continued their search. "You chose it."

Sam paused by the sink. He looked long side at her as she examined the windows again. "I was raised into this life. I had no choice."

Rose frowned. "Everyone's got a choice Sam." She turned to him. "If you wanted to, you could walk away. You'd hate yourself, but you could do it. Eventually it would get to you, but you could do it. Every day you'd think of those who died because you weren't there to save them, but you could do it." Rose paused as her gaze dropped to the floor. "Sometimes I think life is too long. We live to regret the choices we make, even if they're the right ones."

Sam's mind raced as he watched the suddenly ancient woman before him. She seemed kind enough, but there was something… Something distinctly off about her. It shined like a star in the dead of space. There was something wrong with her.

"Dean'll be waiting for us." Sam finally said. Rose looked up at him, eyes wide. She had completely forgotten he was there. Rose frowned again.

"'bout Dean… Sam, I think there's something wrong with him." Sam raised his eyebrows. He'd been thinking the same thing, but more focused on the blonde before him. "'s just… he's been acting really scared. All the time, 'bout everythin'. Did ya notice?"

Sam had noticed, but hadn't thought all to much into it. Dean could get weird every once in a while, and what with these angels coming to him in his dreams and not remembering hell. Sam assumed it was just a side effect from all that stress. "You think it's something to worry about?"

Rose was visibly surprised. "You don't?" She leaned her hip against the kitchen island and crossed her arms. "I haven't known you guys for tha' long, I know tha'. But you guys hunt demons. Why is Dean scared of a couple boys on the street? Why would he be scared of anythin'?" She paused and watched the conflict cross Sam's features. "What is it here that 'm missin'?"

Sam's conflict set into a frown. "If you have any questions about Dean, you'll have to ask him."

"Sam." Rose began to apologize, she'd pushed him too far, she should have realized that. Sam shook his head though, he picked up his duffle and led the way back out of the apartment. Silently berating herself, Rose followed him.

They saw the Impala when they exited the apartment complex and both quickly made their way over to the car. Sam tossed the duffle into the backseat, which Rose quickly followed. She smiled at Dean who nodded back as he scratched his left arm. Rose narrowed her eyes at the action, thinking to the marks across the victims own arms.

Sam climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door behind him. "Hey. Any luck at the county clerk's office?"

"I'm not sure I'd call it luck." Dean replied despondently. "Frank's wife, Jessie, was a manic-depressive. She went off her meds back in '88 and vanished. They found her two weeks later, three towns over. Strung up in her motel room, suicide."

Rose gasped quietly. "Tha's awful."

Sam glanced at Rose. Things got a lot more awful then that on this job. He had originally thought she might make a good hunter, but suddenly all he could see were her weaknesses. Her weaknesses and her possibility of not being human. "Any chance Frank helped her along to the other side?" Sam asked.

"No, Frank was working the swing shift when she disappeared. Airtight alibi." Dean started the car and they began to move at a snails pace through the town.

Rose noticed it instantly — how slowly they were moving. She pursed her lips and glanced around at the slowly moving past buildings. Rose knew there was something wrong with Dean, and the longer it kept going the more she began to fear that Dean was the next victim. Sam was in denial, either because he didn't trust Rose — which was completely plausible — or because he believed there was something else that could be giving Dean a rational explanation for being scared. Rose briefly considered Dean's stint in hell. However, despite some mental and emotional scarring, the man seemed otherwise fine. So what was Sam thinking about?

"How was Frank's pad?" Dean asked. When Sam didn't answer, Rose looked up and was shocked to see Dean glancing at her from the rearview mirror.

"Oh!" Rose blushed, having been caught in a completely other world. "Uhmmm… well we checked for EMF readin's, and sulphur and hex bags. Bu' we didn't find anythin', so…"

Dean nodded. "So probably no ghosts, no witches, no demons." Rose nodded at Dean through the rearview mirror. Sam leaned his head back against the headrest and groaned in frustration. His older brother glanced at him, amused. "3 down and 97 to go."

"Yeah." Sam agreed. He took a look around and suddenly it clicked. "Dude, you're going 20."

"And?"

"That's the speed limit." Dean never went the speed limit. Dean had no limit. He just drove.

Dean looked at his younger brother offensively. "What? Safety's a crime now?" Rose bit her lip in the backseat. She knew she was right about Dean, but how was she going to prove it? Maybe Sam would catch on, especially now that she'd pointed it out. However, Sam didn't seem to trust Rose, and Rose wasn't willing to wait until he came around.

Sam's head whipped around as he saw the entrance to their motel drive past. "Dude, where are you going? That was our hotel." He glanced behind him at Rose as she rummaged through one of the duffle bags. Well clearly he wasn't going to get help from her.

Dean gave his brother a look. "Sam, I'm not gonna make a left-hand turn into oncoming traffic. I'm not suicidal." Both the brother's paused. Dean frowned. "Did I just say that? That was kind of weird."

In the silence that followed that statement the static sound of the EMF reader went off. Sam turned around and saw Rose holding it up to Dean, a triumphant look on her face. Sam's eyes widened.

Dean saw his brother's reaction and checked over his shoulder. He saw the EMF reader by him and his eyes bugged out. "Am I haunted? Am I haunted?!"

Dean worriedly shifted from one foot to the other. "Ghost sickness?"

Sam crossed his arms and nodded. "Some cultures believe that certain spirits can infect the living with a disease, which is why they stopped displaying bodies in houses and started taking them off to funeral homes." Sam glanced around, Rose wasn't there and Sam needed to take advantage of that so he could talk to Dean.

Dean nodded and braced himself for the worst. "Okay, get to the good stuff."

"Symptoms are you get anxious...Then scared, then really scared, then your heart gives out. Sound familiar?" It was exactly how their victim, Frank O'Brien, had died.

"Yeah, but Sam, we haven't seen a ghost in weeks."

"Well, I doubt you caught it from a ghost. Look, once a spirit infects that first person, Ghost sickness can spread like any sickness through a cough, a handshake, whatever. It's like the flu. Now, Frank O'Brien was the first to die, which means he was probably the first infected. Patient zero. And Frank was in Maumee over the weekend. Softball tournament. Which is where he must have infected the other two victims."

Dean nodded. "So, ghosts infected Frank. He passed it on to the other guys and I got it from his corpse?"

Sam shrugged. "Basically. But there was something else I wanted to talk to you about too." He took a breath then said it. "I don't think Marion is entirely human."

Dean's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "I'm sorry — what?" He shook his head. "Sammy that's ridiculous. We put holy water and salt into her water the first day she joined us. We know she's clean."

Sam nodded noncommittally. "Yeah I know. But it's not like we haven't met monsters that can withstand that stuff before. Or maybe she isn't a demon, maybe she's something else. I just… there's something wrong with her Dean. And I know you like her, I'm sorry, but I can't shake this feeling that…"

Dean raised his hands to his face. He pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes. "Okay… Okay, fine. Let's get me sane, then we'll deal with Marion. Seriously man, great timing. Tell me this then let me go crazy? I don't want to have to deal with this shit for the next 48 hours."

Sam made a face. "More like 24."

Dean glowered at his younger brother. "Seriously man, why me? Why not you? I mean, you got hit with the spleen juice."

Sam tried desperately to hold back his smile. "Yeah, um, you see Bobby and I have a theory about that too. Turns out all three victims shared a certain, uh, personality type. Frank was a bully. The other two victims, one was a vice principal, the other was a bouncer." Dean stared at his brother, clearly waiting for him to continue. Sam rolled his eyes. "Basically, they were all dicks."

Dean rolled his eyes back. "Yeah well a monster's a dick too."

"I'm sorry?" Sam asked, confused.

"You said dicks are being effected. You'd think that'd apply to any monsters too. Marion isn't effected, and I am and we've all been in contact with each other, so she can't be a dick. So she can't be a part evil goddess-killer-witch-thing." Dean shrugged like it was as simple as that.

Sam frowned. "You're right. I didn't even think about that… All three victims used fear as a weapon, and now this disease is just returning the favour. All monsters use fear as a weapon…" Sam sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I don't know what got into me, Dean."

Dean wasn't paying attention to that anymore. He was frowning at his younger brother, displeased. "I don't scare people."

Sam half laughed. "Dean, all we do is scare people."

"Okay, well then, you're a dick too." Dean replied with all the grace of a five year old boy.

Sam shrugged and smiled, amused. "Apparently, I'm not." Sam looked around the parking lot. "Where is Marion, anyway?"

Dean's eyes widened and he scratched the back of his neck. "Oh… Uhh… I may have asked her to move our rooms." Sam made a confused face and shook his head in a silent question of 'why?'. "It's high." Dean defended himself as he glanced up at the third floor rooms. Sam rolled his eyes.

The brother's turned at the sound of boots on gravel. Rose smiled at them. "Well, it was a bit of an effort. Bu' I got two rooms on the main floor." She tossed Sam a set of keys and Dean another. "Did we figure out wha's wrong with Dean?"

Sam nodded. "After we cut down the list and just focused on what we could fix of the train wreck, Bobby and I figured out what was up." Dean's mouth opened in protest as he glared at his brother. Sam smiled cheekily back before quickly explaining what they were up against.

Rose nodded. "Right then. How do we stop it?" Dean smiled proudly at the blonde, always happy when she sounded like a hunter.

Sam nodded and buried the guilt he felt for thinking she was evil. "We gank the ghost that started all this. We do that, the disease should clear up."

Rose nodded again. "Makes sense. So who is it then?"

Dean looked to his brother, an eyebrow raised. "You thinking Frank's wife?"

Sam nodded. "Who knows why she killed herself, you know?" He looked around the parking lot again as he considered their next move. "I'll check Jessie O'Brien's body and see where she's buried, if she's our ghost or not. You guys should get researching in case it isn't." Rose and Dean nodded and headed towards the motel. Dean stopped and ran back to the car and pulled out his box of donuts. He smiled gleefully and gestured them towards Rose.

"Oh!" She peeked into the pastry box as they headed towards their new room, ignoring Sam's rolling eyes and comments of being childish. Rose picked out a bright sprinkled one, her eyes wide in delight. "Thanks." Dean winked in response, powdered sugar already spreading across his mouth. "So wha' are we gonna do? Just learn more about ghost sickness?

Dean shrugged. "Sounds like a game plan." Rose rolled her eyes, but she was smiling fondly. Maybe Dean was simply more easygoing, or it was the obvious tension of Sam not trusting her. Rose just felt at ease around Dean. Then again, it could simply be that all Rose thought about in his presence was that kiss.

They hadn't done anything since then. They'd firmly agreed in the parking lot before she left with them that they couldn't do that while hunting together. But Rose had spent two years dancing around the Doctor in the TARDIS when they first met. Although she'd never take back that time, she really didn't want to fall into that rut again. She didn't know this universe though, she had to respect Dean's wishes. It wasn't like she could even stay with him forever, he'd eventually die — just like her Doctor in Pete's World had.

Rose set her donut down on a napkin by the table Dean and herself had set up their books at. She very suddenly didn't want the treat. Rose shook her head, knowing she had to stop thinking about the Doctor. It had been centuries. She knew she'd never stop loving him — no. That wasn't what this was about. The Doctor was her lover and her best friend — past tense. It had been centuries and Rose had moved past that part in her life. This was about Dean. She looked up at the man in question as he sat across from her engrossed in a book about as much as he was in his box of donuts. Rose barely knew Dean, but what she did know was that she didn't want to watch him die. She couldn't do that with anyone ever again.

Rose turned the page of the book her mind was absorbing without her actively paying attention. Her thoughts swirled around Dean, and their agreement to not let anything happen. It really was for the best. This way, Rose could learn what she needed from the boys and there would be no complications for her to leave afterwards. Every minute she was with the Winchesters was a moment towards their discovery of her secrets.

Rose glanced up at Dean when she sensed his suddenly agitated mood. He glanced up at the clock, a dark glare on his face. Then his eyes were back on the book, they darkened further and his fists clenched. Rose reached across the table and grabbed one of his fists.

"Hey." Dean looked up at her surprised. "You all righ'?" Dean looked around in a paranoid manner. He looked like he was going to answer, but his eyes drifted to the offending clock again. Rose looked at it too, not understanding what was wrong with it. "Can I ask you a question?" Distract him, Rose thought. Sam had mentioned the victims suffering from hallucinations. If Rose could keep Dean focused on something else, then maybe they could get through this.

Dean nodded. "Yeah, sure, what is it?" He glanced at Rose's hand over top of his own. Rose pulled her hand away and blushed prettily.

"Uhhh… I don't really think Sam trusts me… Or maybe he just doesn't like me? I was wonderin' if I'd done somethin' wrong?"

Dean's shoulder's sagged, resigned. "Damn it, Sammy. I'm sorry Marion, he just — I think he's a little overwhelmed." At Rose's confused look, Dean sighed and shook his head. "I guess you better know. I mean, it might change your opinion of becoming a hunter." Dean and Sam had decided not to tell her just yet, but what else was Dean supposed to say?

Rose frowned. "Dean wha's wrong?"

Dean stared at Rose for a solid ten seconds before he spoke. "The Apocalypse. It hasn't happened yet, but the demons are trying to start it."

Rose raised her eyebrows. She really wasn't expecting that. "The Apocalypse?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah. See, this demon named Lilith is trying to break the seals so Lucifer can be released from his cage." Dean narrowed his eyes. Alright, he could have handled that better. He watched Rose for any signs of freaking out.

"An' by Lucifer you mean—" Rose gestured with her hand, "— the Devil." Dean nodded. Rose frowned. She thought back to when she met the Beast all those centuries ago with the Doctor. She'd never actually met him, not the way the Doctor had. But he'd been terrifying nonetheless. He'd also been defeated, outsmarted by her younger self with a cute haircut and a gun. Rose nodded. "Alrigh'."

Dean's brows shot up. "Seriously?" He half laughed. "I'm not joking, Marion. This is actually happening."

Rose nodded. "Yeah, an' I believe you, Dean. 's just… well…" She paused as she tried to collect her thoughts. "If I can stop the Devil, then 'm gonna. This isn't his planet to take… and 'm not gonna let him."

Dean laughed. "What are you? Defender of the Earth?"

Rose smiled. "Yeah, I am."

Dean raised he brows and laughed. He leaned over and pulled a beer from the mini fridge. He handed it to Rose then grabbed one for himself. They popped the tops off and clinked the neck together. "Well," Dean said, "I'm glad we have a professional on the team." Rose laughed and drank her beer.

Two beers and a donut each later Sam arrived back in the motel room. He glanced at the beer bottles and closed research books. "Working hard are we?"

Dean raised his third beer and nodded slowly. "No worries, Sammy. We've got a professional." Rose smiled and winked.

Sam rolled his eyes and smiled. "Sure." He tossed the keys onto the table and sighed. "Well Jessie O'Brien was a dead end." He squinted his eyes. "Pun not intended. She was cremated, so I'm pretty sure she is not our ghost." He glanced at Dean who was aggressively scratching his arm again. "Hey, quit picking at that. How you feeling?"

Dean shrugged. "Awesome. It's nice to have my head on the chopping block again. I almost forgot what that feels like."

Rose frowned. "Does this happen often then? Gettin' infected and almost dyin', that is."

Dean nodded, a deadpan expression on his face. "If you aren't being infected by something every other hunt, you aren't doing it right." Rose nodded as she fought the smile that threatened to stretch across her face.

Dean hunched over suddenly and began coughing. Rose and Sam jumped up to help him, but he pushed them aside. He raced to the washroom as his body was racked with coughs. He chocked for a moment before he spit out a wood chip. Ignoring the blood, Dean picked it up from the sink and turned to his brother and Rose to show them.

Rose moved to his side instantly and rubbed his back. Dean barely noticed, so focused on Sam and his next words. "We've been completely ignoring the biggest clue we have, you." Rose and Dean stared at Sam, slightly aghast.

"A clue?" Rose questioned in disbelief. "Shouldn't we be tryin' to stop this, not watch and wait?" Dean glanced at Rose then back at Sam, nodding vigorously.

Sam clapped his hands together, suddenly excited. "No, think about it. The abrasions, this, the disease, it's trying to tell us something."

Dean shook his head. "Tell us what, wood chips?"

Sam smiled. "Exactly." He turned and grabbed the Impala keys from the table.

Rose glanced at Dean. "Is it just me or is he enjoyin' this?"

Dean's face stayed deliberately blank. "I'd say more so excited. Like a Chihuahua at treat time." Rose choked on her laugh.

Wow, you guys liked this a lot more than I thought you would. I can't guarantee any update schedules, but if you bare with me, we'll eventually get there.

Thanks for reading!

Comments and questions are more than welcome! I love talking about my stories and writing with anyone who is interested so just send my a PM or review below! :)