Chapter 17

It only took a few seconds for Dean to recover from the sting of the words and looked down at the table where he had dropped his chopsticks. He didn't know he had dropped them or when he dropped them. He could not believe what he had just heard.

"We can't just give up," Sam said. Both he and Dean had forgotten the little detail about Sherlock snooping through Sam's bag and taking out their father's journal.

"Are you certain?" John asked. He was staring at Castiel.

"I traveled across the planet," Castiel explained. "I was looking for similar items and books that would contain a spell that would return you to your bodies."

"And you found nothing?" Dean asked and picked up his chopsticks. "We just have to keep looking."

"It's not that simple," Cas continued. "Whenever I was positive there was something we needed it was gone and where it was located on shelves or in safes there was traces of sulfur."

"Demons," Sam said and smacked his head. "He was one step ahead of us. Crowley sent his goons to steal everything that could undo this."

"Son of a bitch!" Dean grabbed the edges of the table so hard that his fingernails dug into the wood grain as he stood up. He needed to kick something and stomped over to the couch. "Freaking Crowley." He kicked the couch as hard as he could. "We should have burned his bones when we had the chance, but no we had to be the bigger people." He spun around and faced Sam who had his hands on his hips.

"What do you mean?" Mycroft asked as he set his cup down and stood up. "Sherlock how long have you known?"

"Since Castiel told me while I prepared your tea," Sherlock answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I felt it would be best if we were all here and deliver the news at the same time," Sherlock delivered in an angry tone before he sighed. "I did not want it to be this way."

"This is it then," John said softly. He walked over to where Sherlock was sitting on the floor and sat down next to him before he gave his shoulder a small pat.

Dean felt the strong arms of his brother grab him and held him close. He was going to hug Sam every day before he got on the plane back to the states. He was going to give Cas a few hugs as well. The poor guy felt like it was his fault that he wasn't able to get to the items in time. He was also going to give Sherlock a hug or two. The guy was going to have to live his life and be out of his element at first.

"This is why I had your book," Sherlock said softly. "I have to learn everything about these monsters. Sam, you told me so much already, but I need to know everything. I yearn for the right information."

Sam said nothing for a full minute before he moved his lips. "I understand, just don't go through my stuff."

"Good luck with that one," John said. "He's always going through my drawers, taking my wallet and mobile, using my computer."

"Looks like some things will be the same," Sam said. "He always asks me to do the research-"

"Because you're good at it," Dean interrupted.

"Always interrupting me," Sam continued. "We have to eat at the places he wants to eat at, always plays his music. He thinks he's funny and half the time he veers off track to flirt with some girl he meets at a bar."

"Well, John, he has something in common with you," Sherlock said and earned a weak smile from John.

"Sam, you like to be boring," Dean started. "You wake me when you start your exercise routine, eat rabbit food, stink up the car with your gas."

"Are we really going to go there?" Sam asked

"How about you never bring me any pie, or when I'm just about to have a slice you tend to block me from getting any. When you do bring me a dessert you bring me cake."

"It's practically the same."

"Is it?" Dean asked and looked around the room. After the others shook their heads. He pointed at the group. "There you see."

"You are such a jerk."

"Bitch." The insult was barely out of his mouth before Sam wrapped his arms around him and held him close. Dean hugged him back.

They were quiet for a few more minutes. Sherlock had set the journal on the coffee table and gave his hands a good look, rubbing the finger tips together. He ran his fingers through his hair and stroked his chin before glancing down at himself.

Dean did the same. He stared at his pale hands and long fingers, giving each one a stroke before wrapped one the dark curls on his head around one. He stepped away from Sam and over to the mirror when he got a good long look at himself.

"I'm not bad looking," Dean said. "And I sound like this. I could have ended in someone really fugly, or a geezer, or I could have ended up as a chick. I'm not saying being a woman is bad. I'd just never leave the bathroom."

"Dean…" Sam had started. Dean knew it was working. John and Sherlock's expressions had also lightened.

"I am going to have to get another tattoo," Dean continued. "And John I suggest you do the same, you too, Microsoft."

"It's Mycroft and I am going to learn to live with you as my brother."

"It would be a great precaution," John said in agreement. "The tattoo that is."

"Molly will learn the truth," Dean said. "I don't want to deceive her, especially since I want to be friends with her and eventually asking her out."

"She should know," Sherlock said as he stood back up. "She has always been there, always willing to help." There was a bit of regret in his voice.

"I don't hear any complaints on your end," Dean said.

"Or any compliments," Sam reminded him.

"This body is very suitable," Sherlock said as he took his place in front of the mirror. "It is physically fit and also not bad looking. With enough time I can train this brain to be logical and deducting."

"You are finding a bright side?" Castiel asked.

"I do not understand what this Crowley was trying to accomplish," Sherlock said. "He should know what we would not sacrifice someone like a prophet to him, nor would either one of us give up. Dean will still be a consulting detective and I will hunt."

"I don't turn my back on people who need us," Dean agreed. "No matter what I look like." He turned to Mycroft. "Guess it's my turn to be the little brother. I'll pretend to be Sherlock when I'm out in public and when visiting family."

"They would appreciate it if you visited every now and then," Mycroft said. "Although if you actually visit they would know something is off."

"Just tell them you found some way to convince me," Sherlock said.

"That would be for the best," Mycroft sighed and finished the rest of his tea. "I will be in contact with you all." He picked up his umbrella and retrieved the dart from Castiel before he left the apartment

"You think you are up for the challenge, Sherlock?" John asked as soon as Mycroft had left. "Do you think you might be able to save the world?"

"Someone has to," Sherlock said. "Crowley is a moron."

"Singing our tune," Dean said. He walked back to the table and sat down. "Let's eat."

They had started to eat in silence. The first words were about the food. Dean did enjoy the seafood and Sam thought his kung pao chicken was the best he ever had. The conversation shifted to work. They talked about Scotland Yard and Dean amused both Sherlock and John with his encounter with Anderson at the museum. The Englishmen were more interested in some of their past cases and Dean and Sam regaled them with tales of some of their more bizarre cases, bringing up the time they encountered and enchanted wishing well and when they were stuck in TV land. It shifted to hen Lilith was trying to break the seals.

"Were you able to prevent one?" John had asked as he broke open his fortune cookie.

"Just the one," Sam said before he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "We had to keep two reapers from being killed and were able to save one of them."

"How were you able to accomplish that?" Sherlock asked.

"It was a bit difficult," Dean said. "We were spirits at the time and the demons had guns with salt rock and kept us out with iron chains."

"You were ghosts?" John asked. "You were dead at the time."

"No," Sam said and held up his hand. "We had a medium help us leave our bodies just long enough to save Tessa." They were able to leave their bodies. Why didn't Dean remember that detail before?

"Tessa?" Sherlock and John asked at the same time.

"That's it," Dean said and slammed his hand on the table.

"Tessa?" Sam asked.

"No a medium. They gotta have psychics in this country. We hire one and Sherlock and I will be able to climb out of these bodies-"

"And back into our own," Sherlock finished. "Is this possible?" He looked over to Cas who just shrugged.

"We have to try it right?" Sam asked. "It might be our only shot."

"I'll go look up every psychic and medium in town," John said as he grabbed his laptop and sat down in his chair. "I'll look for everyone outside of town. I'll call Mycroft and tell him."

Dean placed his hands behind his head and sighed. He was going to be able to get his own body back. He was going to be with his brother and Cas. He was going to drive his baby and listen to his music. His smile faded at the fact he was going to have to fly back.

He was still in a good mood when Sherlock's phone rang. He looked at the number and it was from Greg. The only reason the detective inspector would call would either be to see if they had switched back or if it was about the werewolf attacks and Dean was certain Greg wasn't going to just call him to just say. 'Are you two back yet.'

"Hello Greg," Dean greeted.

"Is this still Dean?" Lestrade asked.

"Afraid so," Dean answered. "Hopefully not much longer. The good news is the real Sherlock is here and in my body, but he is here."

"You asked me to call if that thing struck again," Lestrade said in a tense voice. "It has. We found a body and there are reports of a mad man running around Green Park."

"We are on our way," Dean said and hung up.

"Where are we going?" Sam asked as he stood up.

"Lestrade called about a mad man running around Green Park," Dean said with a smile. "Time to bag ourselves a werewolf."

Dean was happy with the precautions they had made before they left. Sherlock did have silver bullets in his apartment. They didn't bring any guns even though they had badges. They loaded up a couple of P226R pistols and a couple of glocks that Sherlock said he confiscated from a few men who broke into his place. They would take two separate cabs and get out in two different locations of the park.

"Now it is time for the student to become the master," Dean said as Sam and Sherlock were about to step inside one of the cabs, earning an eye roll from his brother. "He will teach him the way."

"And you will teach me the way?" John asked as the cab drove off.

"No because you are staying here."

"The hell I will stay behind, and don't you go puffing out your chest and talking all about how it is dangerous and you are afraid I will get hurt. I am a soldier, Dean. I have seen horrors in Afghanistan you couldn't imagine. I have assisted Sherlock in tracking down several criminals, each one more dangerous than the last. I am not about sit about on my duff while you, your brother and my friend are running around chasing after some bloodthirsty werewolf."

"This is why I like you," Dean said with a smile and held out his arm to catch the cab.

"Besides when we come across the rest of Lestrade's officers they are going to expect to see me trailing behind."

"Trail behind and make sure I give a convincing performance." Not only was he going to have to do some hunting but acting. This would be good practice for just in case the spirit walk failed.

There were several roadblocks surrounding the park, apparently Lestrade had taken the right precautions and secured the area, making sure no one would enter. It was a smart idea on the DI's part.

"Sorry mate," the cabby said as one of the officers walked up to them. "I don't think I will be able to allow you to get out here."

"Actually we will be fine," John told the man and handed him some money. "Sherlock?"

Dean stepped out of the cab as the officer was about to tell the cab driver to move along. He took one look at Dean before sighing. Dean just gave him a slightly annoyed and slightly bored expression.

"Where is Lestrade?" John asked.

"He's this way," the officer said. "But I can assure you this is not your area. We are looking for a wild animal and a madman."

"Don't be so sure," Dean said as he nudged past the cop. He headed towards the direction the cop had pointed when he heard gunshots.

"Christ," John gasped.

"That could be Sam," Dean said in triumph. "We better catch up." He took off, racing towards the direction of the guns. He looked over his shoulder to make certain John was able to keep up and to his surprise the doctor was able to follow. John had been running after his friend for a while now, Dean should not be surprised.

"Halt," a female voice shouted as they were few feet away from a motionless body surrounded by several officers. "I will not allow you to tamper with evidence." The same female officer that Dean had come across in the morgue was standing directly in the middle of the path.

"Good evening sergeant Donovan," John greeted. "Were you able to bring down the suspect?"

"It took several of our men," Donovan answered proudly. "We would not be needed your assistance this evening, nor his." She nodded at Dean's direction.

"Where is Lestrade?" Dean asked. He kept his focus on the body and wanted to get the people out of there.

"He is busy at the moment," Donovan said.

"Not that busy." Lestrade approached them. "We had to shoot him down. "

"Greg," Dean said as he got close to the DI. "Did you see its eyes or teeth or if he had claws?"

"Did he just call you, Greg?" Donovan asked. "And why is he asking about teeth and claws." She took a deep breath. "You are acting even more odd, Holmes."

"I am going to choose to ignore you," Dean said before he motioned Lestrade to follow him. Once they were alone he asked. "Well?"

"No I didn't but a few of my men have," Lestrade answered and he took one look at Dean's face. "We did kill it right?"

"Did you use any silver?" John asked.

"None of my men carry silver in their weapons," Lestrade answered before his eyes widened. "That thing will rise again?"

"Get your men out of here," Dean said as he strode up to the body. "Move, move, move." His fear grew when they just stood there and looked at him. "Get out of the freaking way!" He no longer gave a damn if he was acting like Sherlock or not.

"The body is still warm," Anderson said as he took one step away from it. The rest of the officers had common sense to walk away "You can't even wait for it to go cold before you want to subject it to your experiments?"

"I don't have time to deal with you, short bus. You have to get away now before this thing rises."

"Rises?" Anderson asked. "You are even more daft in the head than I-"He was cut off by a growl as the body rose up onto its haunches. Anderson screamed and jumped back, avoiding the werewolf by a hair.

Dean ignored all distractions and fired two shots at the monster. The first was in the head to knock it back and the second shot was right in the heart. He let out a sigh of relief and heard the sound of several people running up behind him.

"My god," Donovan breathed. "He did rise. He wasn't dead." She turned to Dean. "How did you know?"

"You didn't use silver," Dean said as he placed the pistol back into the holster.

He looked up when he saw Sam and Sherlock race up to them, despite the fact they were running around in a strange park they still looked like clean cut federal agents.

"And the FBI is here," Dean said.

"Who are you?" Donovan asked.

"Special Agent Navarro and Kiedis," Sam answered as both he and Sherlock held up the badges. "We were tracking down the same suspect"

"The suspect is now dead, agents and Lestrade. You both can compare notes and Lestrade's men and women can clean this up and once you do an autopsy be sure to examine the stomach. You will find the remains of a human heart in there, but don't let Anderson come near it. He needs to go home and change his pants and trousers." He turned on his heel, turned up his collar and walked off.

"That was bracing," John told him.

"Yeah it was," Dean said as he walked beside him "Sorry I dropped the mask back there." He glanced over his shoulder at Lestrade speaking with Sam and Sherlock. He wasn't sure but it almost seemed like Greg was happy with speaking with the real Sherlock Holmes.

"It was an emergency," John told him and gave him a pat on the back.

"I might have to learn how to keep it on," Dean said. "In case the medium fails."

"Well we just have to hope that he or she won't."