Amie nodded sympathetically as Sam's friend Rebecca told them about the case again. She felt sorry for Zach if he was innocent, but if it turned out he was just twisted… he deserved everything he got. But something about this girl was so sincere, so distraught that she found it hard to believe she was deluded. Maybe there was a case here. If this man was innocent, Amie thought, she would do everything in her power to make sure he wasn't sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Amie and Dean walked out of the room, to leave Sam alone with Rebecca.
"You okay?" Dean asked.
"Me? Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Amie asked, confused.
"I dunno," Dean said, a little too quickly. Amie raised an eyebrow at Dean and he looked at her, unsure. "Just… boyfriend beats girlfriend to death. Could just be an abusive relationship... If this is too personal, if this brings up too many memories… I understand."
Amie tucked some hair behind her ear nervously. "I'm okay. I just wanna see whoever's guilty face some consequences," she said, smiling softly at Dean. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
"My brave girl," he whispered. Amie closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into his neck, wrapping her arms around him.
"Guys, Rebecca's gonna show us the… oh, am I interrupting something?" Sam asked, embarrassed. Amie and Dean jumped apart.
Dean sighed, "Nothing Sammy. Don't worry about it." Then motioned for Sam and Rebecca to lead the way. He then followed, side by side with Amie, holding her hand discreetly.
(o(o(o(o(0)o)o)o)o)
"Listen Rebecca, we're all really sorry. Sam and Dean… they just really wanted to help," Amie tried to explain, standing on Rebecca's doorstep. She felt that she had to apologise for pretending that she and Dean were cops; the poor girl had been through enough.
"I guess. But this has put Zach's whole case at risk," Rebecca shook her head, folding her arms. "Tell Sam I'm sorry, but I'll need some time to get over this."
Amie nodded. "Of course," she said sincerely. Rebecca closed the door and Amie ran a hand through her hair. She felt so bad for Rebecca… but hopefully they could catch this thing before anyone else got hurt.
She walked back to the hotel with her arms folded, going back over everything in her mind. What could she do? She felt so helpless. Maybe she could do more research when she got back. Or she could go question the police.
The Impala was parked outside the hotel. Have Sam and Dean caught the monster? Amie thought excitedly. She opened the hotel door quickly, biting her lip. She needed some good news.
Dean was the only one in the room, perched on the edge of the bed awkwardly, as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself..
"Hey baby," he smiled, staring into her surprised eyes..
"Hey," Amie replied. "Where's Sammy?"
"Out," he replied, a little too quickly.
"Did you get the freak?" Amie asked, taking off her grey leather jacket and throwing it on the chair next to the door. Dean chuckled coldly.
"Turns out he isn't a freak. It's evolution," he replied. Amie furrowed her brow… Dean wouldn't defend him. So that meant this was not her Dean.
"Where'd you say Sammy is again?"
"Drinking. Thought he'd give us some time alone," Dean said coyly, but his eyes looked troubled. He patted the seat next to him without looking away. "Come sit."
Amie didn't want to arouse the thing's suspicion, so she walked over to the bed and sat down next to him slowly. She folded her arms subconsciously.
"So, what's this about evolution?" Amie asked, looking around the room for something to use as a weapon. Or even just a phone to call 911 with; would that help at all?
"So, maybe this thing was born human but was different. Hideous and hated. Until he learned to become someone else," Dean said, a little too sympathetically. He stared off into the distance at nothing, as if he was remembering something sad. Amie nodded, trying to keep the thing content, avoid provoking this potential monster. "It's funny. I kind of understand him. He's all alone - close to no one. All he wants is for someone to love him. He's like me."
Dean's eyes looked up at Amie hopefully. Amie stared back into the eyes she didn't recognise. "Until I met you," he smiled. Amie nervously smiled back.
Dean's hand lifted and tucked a strand of loose hair behind Amie's ear, leaning close to her. She stiffened and said, "Maybe we should go find Sammy."
Dean hushed her, and leant in close enough to smell his unfamiliar scent. If there had been any doubt before, it was gone now. This was not Dean. "Baby, don't worry about him. I'll make you forget about him. I'll make you forget everything tonight," he breathed.
Amie stood up, his hushed words the final straw. "Where's Dean?" She yelled.
"Stay calm, baby," he said, looking up at her.
"Don't call me that! Only he can call me that. Where is he?" Amie asked, panicked and edging slowly towards the door.
"I'm here," he said, as if it was obvious. Amie shook her head and turned for the door, desperately trying to escape. But the shape shifter jumped up and walked over to her swiftly. He knocked the keys out of her hand. Amie screamed and tried to turn and run for the bathroom, thinking of the window she could escape out of. But the thing tripped her and she crashed to the ground with a yelp.
Dean's body knelt next to her and flipped her over roughly as she squealed, pleading for him to stop. He straddled her struggling legs, then grabbed a tie discarded on the floor. "Give me your hands!" He yelled, grabbing them and tying them together. Amie screamed and tried to punch the creature. "Shut up!" He yelled, then struck her hard across the face.
(o(o(o(o(0)o)o)o)o)
"So who's this handsome son of a bitch gonna go after?" Dean asked, climbing out of the sewer. Sam turned to Dean, looking uncomfortable. This brought back memories to Dean, of little Sammy's face when he knew things he shouldn't, when he had to tell Dean. He grew nervous. "What?"
"Well, Dean… this thing's been working in a pattern so far," Sam said, awkwardly. Dean shook his head, confused. "It's gone after girlfriends, loved ones…"
"Amie," Dean breathed, staring at Sam with wide eyes. Sam opened his mouth to say something, maybe to ask what they were going to do… But before he could get any words out, Dean was running down the street. He bolted down the road, around the corner, and past all of the shop windows. Sam followed too, wondering if he had ever seen Dean run so fast.
Dean skidded to a halt outside the hotel, crashing through the front door. He ran up the stairs, then to their room door. He pulled out his gun and turned to look at Sam, who was copying his actions. He nodded once, then Dean threw open their room door.
(o(o(o(o(0)o)o)o)o)
"Please, please," Amie sobbed in a wheezy voice. She panted, rolling her head back.
"Please what?" The shapeshifter asked, leaning in to Amie's face, wiping his bloody knife on her torn, black tank top. He never took his eyes of her pained, tired face, hungrily drinking in her fear.
"Stop, please, please stop," Amie whispered. The monster stood upright, still glaring manically at her.
"I didn't want to do this to you baby. See, I like you. I wanted you to be mine… I wasn't going to hurt you. But you rejected me. You rejected me, because you're shallow. Just like every other stinking human," he snarled.
"I didn't reject you because of your ugly true form. I don't want you because you're a murderer," Amie hissed. "And don't call me baby."
"You can't stop me," it said in a hollow voice. Then it stepped forward and bent down. "You're my baby. You will be until I kill you."
He sliced another portion of flesh open, causing Amie to shriek. "Shut up," he grunted. "Be quiet baby." Teased the monster, caressing her cheek with a clammy hand.
There was a sudden loud bang as the door flew open, then a strong, furious voice filled the room. "Get away from her you sick son of a bitch!"
The creature stood upright and whipped around, staring at The Winchesters, who looked angry and powerful. Dean didn't hesitate, didn't flinch when he shot the monster multiple times. It barely had time to move before it was hit repeatedly with bullets. It slammed to the floor, and eventually Dean stopped shooting the corpse.
After a moment of silence Dean looked up at Amie and threw his gun down on the side.
"Baby!" He shouted, causing Amie to flinch. He ran over to her and took her face in his hands gently. She whimpered and recoiled from his touch, and his left hand was wet with blood that stained her cheek. "Hey, it's me, okay? Well and truly me, Amie. Hey, hey, look into my eyes; it's me." Dean promised. Amie stared into his eyes, and they were familiar; they were the eyes she had known for so long.
"Dean," she breathed. "I'm sorry."
"Shh, it's okay baby. It's all okay now." Dean said. He lifted his head and pressed his lips lightly to her forehead, which had been left untouched. Her breath hitched in her throat. Dean squeezed his eyes shut, hating her anxiety around him. He opened his eyes and searched her face. "I'll make it better baby."
He began to untie the ropes around her hands, grunting to Sam to help him. Sam dashed over, and with both of them working she became free much quicker.
"I'm so sorry Amie," Dean gasped, leaning his forehead against hers.
"Umm, Dean; we better get going. One dead you and a lot of blood? We have to leave. Now," Sam said sternly, however Dean ignored him.
"Not your fault," Amie said weakly.
"Come on," Dean said, pulling away. He put an arm under her legs and one round her shoulders, then lifted her up easily. "I'll get you somewhere safe," he whispered, staring at her with protective adoration.
Dean rushed back to the Impala, holding Amie close to him. Sam opened the back door for Dean, then he held out his hand for the keys. Dean passed them to him thankfully then climbed into the backseat with Amie.
"Hey, baby, shhhhhhh," he said, holding her tightly. He rocked her back and forth slowly. "Sam! I think we need the hospital," he said thickly, choking on tears.
"You sure Dean? I give it half an hour before someone calls the cops after finding the dead you in our room," Sam called back, worried. He kept his eyes on the road, his face illuminated by the red light that he had stopped at.
"Sam!" Dean called pleadingly, with a tone of demand.
"I'm fine," Amie said, barely audible.
"Baby," Dean whispered, and she started hyperventilating again. "Now, Sammy, go!" Dean stroked her face and rocked her gently again, terrified and unsure of how to make her better. She had been okay a few moments ago… what had happened to cause the wheezing, panicked chokes coming from the girl in his arms. Could she be seriously hurt? "I'm going to protect you, you hear me? Don't you worry Amie. I'm fighting your corner; so don't you stop fighting either. It's okay. It will pass. We'll make the pain go away." He kept talking, rambling on in a teary, gruff voice.
Amie finally succumbed to the darkness as Dean promised nothing would hurt her again.