Warnings and disclaimers: See chapter 1

Many thanks to CorieHall for the beta on this story.

Chapter 7 Trust your instincts

Before Sam went to bed, he sat down at the table with Dean.
"You should go to bed to Dean, you look beat."
"Yeah soon Sammy."
"Dad's not happy with the way things are going with this hunt is he?"
"No. Another body turned up this morning. The guy had been dead a few days but we don't seem any closer to finding who's doing it."
"Who? Didn't dad say it was a skin walker?"
"Skin walkers don't torture and stick with one type of person."
"One type? Oh young males. What's the age range?"
"Eighteen to twenty-one."
"That is pretty specific."
"Yeah I know. The methods of kill are all over the shop as well. It's like it's…"

Dean trailed off realizing he was thinking out loud.
"It's what Dean?"
"Nothing."
"Don't start then stop. Tell me. Trust your gut like you keep telling me."
"The body's look like they have been tortured before they were killed. There are some burns like soldering irons or electric prods, needle marks to the inner arms like they have been drugged, choke marks, and various slash wounds. It's inconsistent but the main wounds are puncture wounds in various parts of the bodies. Almost like someone is practicing or testing different methods. The others look like they are trying to throw anybody looking off. It's the only thing that makes sense to me."
"You think a person is doing this?"
"Persons maybe yeah but I have no clue why I'm thinking that. Dad thinks the skin walker is draining bodies for blood to perform sacrifices or something. His idea seems more solid than mine."
"Only to dad."

Dean sighed. "All I know is something's not right. I can't protect dad all day because he has us split up to cover more ground. You're at school so you're kind of safe. Dad hopes you're outside the strike zone but I really don't think there is one. The only saving grace is that so far you guys are outside the age range. The places the guys are taken from seem random but I think that is what they are hoping for."
"You have obviously had plenty of time to think about this. Any idea where they are based?
"To the south."
Sam was a little surprised at Dean's immediate answer.
"Dad is sending me there in the morning but it's the first time we have looked at the area. He is keeping me to the north of the river but there are still factories on the southern side as well."
"Be careful Dean. You are in the right age group."
"You bet I will."

Sam heard something behind the words.
"Did you find something?"
"No. I just had that feeling of being watched yesterday. You know that feeling."
"But you told dad that area was clear."
"It is. It was just a feeling. No big deal."
"Just be careful Dean. I for one would be freaked if something happened to you."
"You be careful as well. We can't trust this MO to stay the same and.. cause…I would be…freaked too."

Sam punched Dean in the arm lightly with a smile and Dean stood slowly.
"Let's head to bed. You have school in the morning."
"Any idea when dad will be back?"
"Hopefully soon or I will be running plenty of miles in the morning."
"Doesn't seem right does it? He has a hangover so you run miles."
"Life's not fair Sammy and too short to bitch about it."
"Okay jerk. Seriously come get some rest."

Dean washed up for bed and climbed in next to his brother.
"Dean seriously take care of yourself, please?" Sam turned so he was on his side facing Dean.
"I will Sammy." Dean mumbled into his pillow.
Sam grabbed Dean's jaw in his hand and turned his head so he could see his eyes.
"I'm not joking Dean. If that happens to you I will kick your ass myself."

Dean knew Sam was talking about the dead bodies.
"You got it Sammy. Can't afford to have my little brother pissed at me now can I?"
"No you can't Dean. Believe me I can get pretty angry when I want to."
Sam let go of Dean's head and Dean smirked at him wanting to lighten the mood.
"Feel the wrath of Sammy. That's kind of cute. The truth is there will be no one to buy you ice-cream."
"Shut up jerk."
"Goodnight bitch."

Dean's prediction came true the next morning and he found himself doing laps around the local football field while his dad sat on the bonnet of the Impala nursing what had to be a giant headache and a large coffee. Dean knew from the way John was squinting and how red and bloodshot his eyes were he had to be pretty sore. Dean had to do so many sit-ups and pushups he was still breathing hard when they returned to the motel and he woke Sam for school. Dean wanted to stay in the shower longer and sooth his sore muscles but knew it would make Sam late for school so he sucked it up and grit his teeth through his morning chores.

Dean drove Sam to school once they were both ready. As Dean had predicted John had given Dean an area south to look at that morning. As Dean drove up to the school and parked in the drop off zone Sam's friend Joe jogged up to the car and leaned in Sam's window.
"Hey Sam."
"Hey Joe."
"Hey Dean."
"Hey."
"I know its late notice Sam but I have a dentist appointment this morning and I was wondering if you could take notes for me in history and science."

Joe extended two notebooks towards Sam who took them and placed them on his knee.
"No problem."
"Thanks Sam. I hate falling behind and I clean forgot. I will get them off you Monday if that's okay."
Sam nodded and Joe started to move off.
"Gotta go before dad takes off without me. See you."
Joe waved as he moved off towards the front of the line of cars in front of them. He disappeared into the crowd quickly.

Dean turned to Sam as he lifted his backpack off the floor and went to put Joe's notebooks inside. Dean gasped and slipped one of the books out of Sam's grasp looking at the cover.
"Joe Mengele? He is using Joe Mengele?"
"I think it's his real name Dean."
Sam took the book off Dean and into his bag with a frown.
"No way Sam. If that was anyone's real name they would change it."
"Why?"
"Joseph Mengele was a Nazi doctor. He was the guy who did the gas chambers at Auschwitz ."

Sam's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"How the hell do you know that?"
"I had a history teacher in senior high, his family was Polish. He made sure we knew who all the bad guys were in the Second World War. His grandparents were killed in the chamber. His stories were horrifying. I had nightmares for weeks."
"You're sure?"
"I'll never forget it. He was called the angel of death. Be really careful Sammy. I will try to find out more about his family this afternoon. In the meantime…keep your eyes peeled. Be nice but don't make him think you think anything is off."
"You be careful too, Dean. See you this afternoon."

Sam slid from the car and walked into the school building turning his troubled glance over his shoulder once to be meet by Dean's equally troubled eyes.

TBC