A/N: Have I told you guys that I'm blessed and cursed with a truly twisted mind? I don't know how y'all could have missed it. But, I do know that I'm just not quite right. So, after warning y'all about that, I will tell you that in dream worlds, characters tend to be OOC.
Dean in Oz
OK, maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Dean thought. Sam kept whining with every step they took. He kept tripping over the mini-Impala. Every time Sam tripped over the car, Dean would smack his younger brother in the back of the head. Although, Dean wasn't sure Sam could feel the slaps due to his long, thick hair, which had now turned to straw.
The whining really got on Dean's nerves. "How much farther?" "Do you have anything to eat? To drink?" "I don't wanna do this. I've changed my mind…"
"Sammy, would you quit scratching? You're driving me nuts!"
"The straw itches. I think I'm allergic to it."
"Sucks to be you."
They stopped in a small forest full of apple trees. Dean looked around. "These apples look good. Climb up and get a couple of them."
Sam stumbled over to a tree. He frowned and turned back to Dean. "Why me? Why can't you do it? I know what happens. The trees come alive."
Dean sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. I just thought since you're taller, you could reach more. Plus, if the trees throw you out of them, you've got stuffing to protect you. But, don't worry. I've got it."
"Thanks, Dean!" Sam sat down on the side of the road.
Dean moved to the closest tree and started to climb, all the time expecting a limb to grab him and toss him out of it. Nothing happened. He inched closer to a couple of beautiful, juicy-looking apples and plucked them. Again, the tree remained still.
Is it asleep? There's no way this can be an ordinary apple tree.
He tossed both apples to Sam who started eating one of them.
As he climbed down, he felt a hand grab his leg and yank him out of the tree. He lost his grip and fell hard onto the ground.
Dean fell so he could see Sam look at him, confused. He turned to look up at his attacker, only to look up into his own face.
Oh, shit! The shapeshifter! Dean quickly jumped to his feet.
The shapeshifter grinned. "Why, Dean. It's so nice of you to drop in like this."
Dean pulled out his gun. "I thought I killed you! Well, I won't be making the same mistake twice."
The shapeshifter held up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Peace, brother. You killed me. You put me out of my freakish misery. However, I transcended. All my anger, my pain, my rage, my hatred flowed out of me. And, I have you to thank for it. Oh, sure, I sometimes sit here and think of ways that will leave you wallowing in freakish misery. But, then I start singing 'Somewhere over the Rainbow.' Sing with me! Somewhere over the rainbow way up high. Dean killed me and now it makes me want to sit and cry."
Dean slowly backed away and crashed into Sam, who nearly fell on the Impala again. Sam caught himself. "OK. What was that?"
Dean looked over at the shapeshifter in horror. It was skipping around and singing. And still wearing his face. Dean wasn't sure what was worse—seeing that thing wearing his face while trying to kill Sam or seeing that thing wearing his face picking flowers. He's insane! Did I do that? Is this what death does to you? "I don't know what that was, Sam, but I've never seen anything scarier in my life!" He turned to Sam. "OK, I want to get out of here. Now!"
Sam nodded. "That was pretty disturbing!"
They walked further down the road and deeper into the forest. Suddenly, Sam grabbed Dean's arm. "There's a figure up on that hill. It's not moving."
Dean looked up. "Are you sure it ain't a tree?"
Sam glared at him. "Dean, it's not like my head is full of straw!" At Dean's look, he gave a sheepish grin. "Well, you know what I mean."
Dean sighed. "OK. But, if it's the Wendigo singing anything from any musical, I will start killing something."
They walked up the hill and came face to face with Cassie, frozen with a pen and paper in her hand. When they approached, she groaned something.
"Cassie? What are you doing here? Wait, let me guess: oilcan?" Dean grabbed an oilcan laying nearby.
She moaned excitedly. He smelled it. "This smells like coffee!" She moaned again. I guess I also need coffee to get me moving.
He squirted some in her mouth. She perked up. "Dean! What are you doing here?" she echoed him.
"I just asked you the same thing."
"Well, I was conducting an interview, and it started to rain, and I froze up. So, let me guess? You're after some big monster now? Why won't you settle down? With me? I could make you happy." She walked stiffly toward him.
Sam grinned. "Dean has a girlfriend! Dean has a girlfriend!" he said in a singsong.
Dean backed up. "Look, I can't do this. I don't think I have it in me. I thought I could settle down, and I once hoped it could be with you. But, that can't happen. No now. Not with everything. I'm sorry."
She stopped. "Yeah. It's better if we stay as friends. Besides, there's a guy running around here with your face I'd like to know better." She turned. "Now, where is that shapeshifter?"
She disappeared behind a cluster of trees.
Sam frowned. "What are you doing? You could have been happy! Besides, we need the tin man on this journey, don't we?"
"Not necessarily. Besides, do you really see me with her, Sammy?"
"Well, no. But, you did reveal the family gig to her."
"Well, I have the demon mad at me, so I might get her killed. Besides, I didn't feel any chemistry with her this time. I never noticed that before."
As they walked back to the road, Sam suddenly grabbed his head. Dean grabbed him as he almost tripped over the Impala again. "Sam! Is it the demon?"
Sam nodded. "And he's right behind you!"
Dean turned. The demon grinned at him. "Well, how's it going, Dean? You and the psychic wonder there find any answers yet? Well, I wish you luck because you will never stop me. I'm still gonna get you and your car! You two have caused me enough problems."
With that, the demon disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
Dean looked at Sam. "You OK?" Sam nodded. "Then we've got to get moving. We have to see JW."
TBC