Chapter 6

Against his better judgment, Sam drove the Impala back into Brighton. They were about five minutes away from Harper's Field, one of the locations on the map. Sam wasn't quite sure what to expect - more werewolves, shifters, or something else - and the feeling threw him off center. He couldn't help but think he and Dean were caught up in another distraction.

Speaking of Dean…

Sam stole a glance to his right. Dean was dead to the world, his head resting against the window. He'd fallen asleep not two minutes out of the barn. The transformation had taken a lot out of him. To be honest, Sam was surprised he'd lasted as long as he had. It was obvious that the changes Dean went through had been in the works for months with all the food he'd been packing.

The recent changes brought with them a whole slew of new problems. Dean was hiding something-Sam was sure of it-and wasn't about to open up any time soon. All the Watcher talk made Sam uneasy. What errand had the angels sent Dean on this time? Why did they keep reaching out to Dean anyway? Sam didn't like the connection.

Ruby's warnings kept echoing through his mind.

People had said the same thing about him. The demon blood, the powers…but he was still Sam. And Dean was still Dean no matter what Ruby thought.

Their lives weren't normal and never would be. Sam had come to terms with that ages ago. It was about time Dean did as well.

But that didn't make them monsters.

"Hey," Sam said, patting Dean on the arm. "We're here."

Dean fumbled in his seat and rubbed at his eyes. For a second, he thought Dean would roll over and fall back asleep. His eyelids drooped, and through the slits of his eyes, there was nothing but fog. Sam struggled to find any glimmer of recognition lurking in there.

Sam put the car in park before he gave Dean a good shake. Dean jerked this time, nearly hitting his head. When the sleepiness faded from his face, he scowled at Sam.

No disgusting comment or anecdote, but Sam would cut his losses and take the scowl.

"I need you awake."

"I'm awake."

When Dean blinked a few times too many, Sam started to have doubts.

"I'm going to check the public bathrooms. Bobby said this place tested positive for some activity, but his contacts hadn't gotten back to him with specifics. Whatever it is had a taste for human flesh. Several bodies were found torn to pieces."

"Wait, and the cops didn't catch this?"

Sam shrugged. "Apparently, it doesn't matter as much if you're homeless or a prostitute."

Dean's face darkened considerably, but he held back any comments. "More claws?"

"Could be. But if your Watcher theory pans out, it could be any number of things."

"Awesome," Dean muttered. "And I'm benched."

"Just keep watch. I'll be back in a few."

Sam shut the door, grabbed some supplies from the truck, and crossed the yellow tape into the park. The moon, poking in and out of fresh cloud cover, helped Sam navigate through the barren park. Life was still, aside from a black crow perched on the branch of a large elm, and two confused squirrels scurrying out of his way into the bushes. Everything else was quiet.

Sam rolled his shoulders as wind nipped at his neck. The periodic shivers attempted to throw his focus, and the snow crunching under his feet didn't help the element of surprise.

He pressed forward.

The car grew smaller as Sam headed into the park. He still could see Dean sitting in the Impala and imagined his sour face and mumbles as he had guard duty. Suited him right. It would make up for the joke he'd played back in Augusta.

Still no monster in sight.

Sam inhaled. The rush of icy air burned his lungs, but made him feel alive. He slipped into the public bathrooms.

The room had seen better days. Mold clung to the walls and everything smelled of piss and rancid burritos. There were chunks of God knew what under the sinks. Why anyone would want to get off in a place like this Sam would never know.

The CDC didn't have enough firepower to sterilize this germ battlefield.

Sam pushed the urge to wash his hands and continued toward the stalls. He kicked in the first one. Nothing. He kicked in the second. A clogged toilet. He kicked in the third. Unmentionables. He kicked in-

"Hi, Sam."

Sam spun around, gun drawn and ready, to find Ruby standing with her arms crossed.

He lowered his gun. "Why are you here?"

"Glad to see you, too."

"No, that's not-" He sighed. "Dean is right outside in the car. He could see you."

"Dean's not there."

Sam's insides ground to a halt. "What?"

"Your idiot brother isn't in the Impala."

Sam pushed by Ruby, ignored her protests, and broke back into the frigid night. While he kept all of his senses on alert, he rushed back to the Impala. Sure enough, the passenger side was empty and there was no sign of Dean.

"Dammit."

He knew how important it was to stay in the car. Dean was too unstable and worn down to be out hunting, not to mention that anyone would be able to spot him with or without those wings.

"You know, I'm tired of being your dirty little secret." Ruby saddled up beside him. "You're either in or you're out. There's no middle ground."

"Not now." He took out his cell phone and dialed Dean's number. Straight to voicemail and no immediate ring.

Sam had been out of earshot for six minutes. Dean couldn't have disappeared that fast.

"I did a little search on your problem," she said.

"Did you find anything to help him?" Sam scanned the park again. No footprints. Nothing.

"No, but I have a few more favors I can cash in. Might help if you threw me a bone."

Sam frowned. "I told you. I don't know what happened to him. He knows something, and he ain't talking." He stole a glance before he continued his search. "But you're right. It's angels."

"I knew it, Sam. I knew this was going to be trouble."

"I got in under control. Just-just find something to stop whatever is happening to him."

Ruby didn't answer yes or no, but Sam knew her well enough to understand her tacit agreement. "Why are you back in town?" she asked instead, walking with him as he cased the park. "I thought the two of you were hightailing out of here after Tweety starting paraded around his wings."

Sam scanned the side street where they'd parked as well as the immediate area. He could hear some hoots and clicks, but nothing else. "We're finishing a job with monsters," he said without looking at her. "Then we're gone."

"There's more to that story."

"Ruby, I need to find Dean." He didn't have time for chit-chat. "Check left. I'll go right."

"I didn't pop by to play hide and seek."

Sam shot her a look that meant end of discussion.

She rolled her eyes and headed left. As Sam turned right, he kept his gun drawn. The park looked normal for winter: leafless trees, frozen ground, dried out bushes. Not a soul was in sight, not a werewolf, vampire, or Dean.

Where was he?

This was the second time Dean had disappeared within twenty-four hours. Was it Castiel again? What the hell was going on?

The questions struck him over and over again, like a carousel stuck in an indefinite loop. Sam mulled over possible answers as he did another sweep of the park.

Something small crunched under Sam's foot. He lifted his boot.

A dead bug. Several of them.

Crap. He knew what had taken all those people.

"Ruby! Watch out for-"

The rakshasa slammed him into a nearby tree. Sam braced himself against the monster. The creature had already shifted into human form, though the black feathers that rained down around him were hallmarks of its previous shape.

Its hot breath, laced with stale peppermint, made Sam nauseous. He pushed harder, sharp teeth close to his arm. Sam had battled many things. He wasn't about to let another rakshasa get to him.

The brass clip on his belt. If he could only reach it.

The rakshasa grinned, the twinkle of understanding reaching his eyes. He ripped off the clip and tossed it.

And then the rakshasa disappeared.

Sam's face fell slack. That hadn't been part of the plan.

Sucking in a deep breath, Sam summoned the rest of his strength and went at the invisible rakshasa with full force. He rammed his elbow straight ahead and when the force pinning him gave way, he leveled a crunching blow to what he thought was its face.

Sam made a dive for the clip.

A hard blow hit his back. Dammit. Sam hit the hard ground, the clip jerking out of his hands.

His lungs burned, ribs pressing harder against his organs. Sam fumbled over the dead patches of grass for the clip. He didn't care how he got it or how he used it, as long as he could ram the thing in its body.

Spots danced before his eyes.

He wasn't about to give up now. He hadn't worked all this time to die alone in a park.

The invisible force knocked his head to the side. The world tipped, bringing with it a soft buzzing that urged Sam to sleep. He bit it down and spit blood.

Then it was over.

The air rushed into his lungs and Sam gasped. When he turned over, Ruby was standing above him, brass clip wound around his dagger. The blood of the rakshasa dripped from the tip.

"Thanks," he said, rising to his feet.

"I save your life and all I get is 'thanks?'" Ruby tossed the knife into the bushes. "You know how to a charm a girl, Sam."

"Think nothing of it."

Ruby rolled her eyes, but underneath the snark he saw her smile.

"Rakshasa," Sam had to admit he was surprised. He hadn't seen one in over two years. They were rare in the States to begin with, but he couldn't shake the feeling maybe Castiel's information on the Watcher and monsters held some weight.

"Two kinds of monsters in the same town?" Ruby shook her head. "It just gets better and better."

"Tell me about it." He gave her a side glance. "Any ideas?"

She shrugged. "Monsters aren't really my thing, but if I had to guess, something is drawing them here. Otherwise, they'd be killing each other."

In all likelihood, the Watcher was pulling them closer. So, where was the end point? Where were they converging? He and Dean were going to need more information if they were to find the Watcher before every monster in town did.

Dean.

Sam surveyed the park. There still was no sign of his brother. The rakshasa couldn't have gotten to him. There hadn't been enough time.

Even if Sam could convince himself that were true, it did nothing to erase the growing fear that something serious had happened.

"Dean!"

The sound of Ruby sighing snapped him out of his search.

"He distracts you, Sam. Look at you."

He was standing in a park in the dead of winter at four in the morning. When he breathed, pain flared through his lungs from the bruises on his back, while a persistent throbbing had begun in his jaw.

Sam sighed. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Ruby was right. He should be hunting down seals, and instead he was hunting down a Watcher. While hunting down monsters to find a Watcher, he was looking for Dean. When would it end?

"It doesn't matter. We'll sort it out later. Right now, I have to find him."

"He's not here."

"So, we'll look for him."

"You're not listening to me. He's not here." She waved her arm in a circle. "I don't sense him anywhere."

Dread dropped in Sam's stomach like a lead sink. "Where is he?"