A/N-Things will move quickly in this chapter

….

The morning breeze from the open window stirred the sheer curtain and the fabric brushed against Sam's face, waking him. His eyes fluttered open and he felt for Dean but remembered they slept separately. At least he knew his brother was on the other side of that wall.

"Birds, breeze, curtain, my room… breakfast, sneak a kiss goodbye, gas up my truck and start another year of high school…"

Referring to John's truck as his still didn't sit right with Sam. Through the magic of forgery, the beast was titled in both Sam and Bobby's names. It wouldn't have been Sam's first choice of vehicle but it was paid for. He was considering selling it and buying a fuel-efficient car.

This morning he had other things on his mind.

He looked forward to school and the normalcy it brought to his life. There was something to be said for routine when you didn't grow up with one and Sam thrived on it.

He sniffed his ripe pits and headed straight for the bathroom and almost made it but Dean caught him in the hallway and kissed him breathless, not that Sam was complaining. Fuck the stale breath between them, kissing Dean was an event and this kiss was hungry. Sam jerked off twice in the shower while fantasizing all that good spunk was shot inside Dean instead of circling the drain.

Life was pretty wonderful.

…..

Ro Corp, some months earlier…

"What's the matter, Becker? Take a good long look."

The stocky little man never broke eye contact with his boss, "Sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to stare." "I did mean to stare at that ugly bite mark. I don't even know what you are anymore…"

In fact, no one in that room knew exactly what the billionaire was anymore. Gerald Bauchman had come back from a recent yachting trip with a bite wound. He didn't go into the details of the how, what and why of it. The stock holders might bolt if they found out he'd been infected and since then, the man's personality had drastically changed.

After berating everyone there and barking orders, Gerald kicked everyone out except for Becker. He tapped the image of the two young men confronting the infected, "I want these two alive, they must be related somehow to the infected man, maybe they have immunity too."

"How can, you be sure?"

Gerald snapped, "Because it's a gut feeling, I don't question my gut feelings. I want the scientist kept alive because she's still very useful but the rest are loose ends. Find a professional to tie up these loose ends."

"Sir, with the state of the world as it is with the rifts and the monsters, is it wise to waste time on this? You should be thinking of an exit strategy, we all should. Civilization as we know it could end in days, weeks, months, who knows? Its best to be prepared. Also, we don't have the backing we did before everything happened."

"This has gone beyond the military contract; I need to know if there's anyone out there who can take a bite and stay relatively normal like me."

"Relatively normal, Sir? What does that mean exactly?"

"None of your fucking business, that's what it means." His longtime employer's expression changed from a bit crazed to that of the old Gerald, "I keep you around because I can trust you, Becker and I appreciate your loyalty."

Becker missed this version of Gerald Bauchman, "I'll arrange everything."

….

Ike had the misfortune of being the first one murdered. The seasoned killer easily tracked the man to his campsite and shot him right through the heart. It didn't matter, Ike never had much of a heart to begin with.

Next to die was Ray Russo. The former Ro Corp guard took a shot to the face. There was no open casket for this guy.

…..

Missing his alpha something terrible, Jamie gave Bobby one last call before heading out on a hunt with Val. A rift had opened in the Great Dismal Swamp and creatures that would make the most dedicated cryptozoologist lose sleep, were coming through it at an alarming rate.

The omega smiled the instant he heard Bobby's gruff voice, "Hi Babe."

"What's wrong, darlin'?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice one more time before Val and I head for the Great Dismal Swamp where another rift opened up and the things that came through are supposed to be a yard across and look kinda like crabs with pinchers that could snap a guy's legs right off. Maybe I'll bring you some back and we can have 'em with drawn butter."

"I'll pass. You be careful."

"I always am." His voice grew serious, "I love you, Bobby."

Bobby was glad Jamie couldn't see him blushing, "It's pretty early in the morning for mushy stuff. I love you too, I really do."

After that call, Jamie stepped outside and filled his lungs with fresh morning air. He felt like he could conquer the world and kill a hundred monsters with one hand tied behind his back. That was the magic of love.

…

In honor of the special day, Bobby made the boys banana pancakes instead of the usual cereal for breakfast.

Dean was set to leave that morning to work on a housing project for in need omegas and their families. It would go toward offsetting some of the costs for labor and material on the cabin.

Bobby knew for Dean; this was a point of pride. Hunting was a thankless job with no pay and your life was always on the line but you did it because it needed doing. Dean had lived a lifetime in his short years on earth and Bobby wanted nothing more than for him to make a few friends, learn new skills and not have nightmares over the fate of the world for at least a few nights.

Sam was happily eating a stack of banana pancakes with bran flakes on top and talking a mile a minute about the upcoming school year.

Dean saturated his tall stack with a cow herds worth of butter and a maple grove worth of syrup. He knew his brother was watching so he made a show of stuffing the biggest bite possible in his mouth just to make Sam grimace. Butter dripped down Dean's chin and he didn't bother to wipe it off.

"I wish you'd eat healthier."

"These are banana pancakes, Sam. I'm eating fruit."

"Yeah, drowned in syrup and butter. I don't know how you poop since you don't eat vegetables and don't drink enough water."

"I have firm, manly turds, Sam. Don't worry about it."

Breakfast had devolved into pushing each other's buttons. Normally Bobby stayed out if it because usually a few minutes later they'd be laughing or act as if nothing happened. This time Bobby had enough due to the subject matter.

"Sam, stop bringin' up poop at the breakfast table and Dean, no one cares about your bowel movements except your brother." He pushed his plate away, "I lost my appetite. Both of you get out of here…idjits.

If Bobby would have known what this day would bring, he would have locked them in the panic room and guarded the door with an arsenal.

…..

Dean walked his brother to the truck where the two made up. Sam put a finger in the waistband of his omega's jeans and pulled him close, "Sorry I got so testy."

"It's ok Sam, I like your testes."

"Is there something you want to say to me about the argument last night?"

"Nope, I still think I should drive you to school the first day back. For good luck, yah know?"

Dean checked to make sure Bobby wasn't looking out the window and planted a quick kiss on Sammy's pursed lips, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll miss you. Be careful, Dean."

"I always am."

…

Sam came upon a scene of complete chaos going on outside the high school. There were police and barricades everywhere, an ambulance, worried parents, curious students and even a news van. He parked far enough away to not get dragged into whatever was going on while still having a full view of what was happening.

"Should I go down there or maybe call Bobby? What if a rift opened up…."

Sam's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the truck door and there stood a cop motioning for him to roll down the window.

"What's going on at the school, officer?"

"There's a gas leak but it's under control." The officer white knuckled the door frame, "You've got a pretty low tire in back, I think you might have run something over."

"Aw man, I can't afford a new tire."

Sam hopped out of the truck with the officer on his heels. When he crouched to check the tire something sharp pierced his neck. Sam jerked away and tried to crawl away but a heavy boot pushed him to the pavement and it was lights out. and it was lights out.

…..

Val watched as they extricated Jamie's body from the vehicle. The hunter got a glimpse of head wound that caved in half of her old friend's head. She guessed a sawed-off shotgun was used in the murder. The woman had done and seen a lot in her years as a hunter but nothing could prepare her for this. It was an exceptionally hot day and the smell of blood and flesh brought the flies looking for a meal and a place to lay their eggs.

Val ran to the bushes, dropped to her knees and vomited until all that came up was bile. She cried like a banshee, loud, disturbing, hysterical wails of grief that brought one of the officers to her side.

….

Sam woke up naked in a curtainless bathtub, wet and smelling of unfamiliar soap. His head was fuzzy, his neck painful and his movements were slow and careful while sitting up. He was stuck in some sort of plexiglass room with nowhere to hide. A room within a room.

TBC