Back in the Winchesters motel room…
Dean, Travis and Angel all sat around the table fixing gas cans into mini flame throwers.
Dean looked up at Travis, "So fire, huh?"
"The only way I found to kill these bastards; deep-fry 'em."
"Well, that's gonna be…" Dean grimaced, "Horrible."
Angel raised a brow, "I'm assuming that's what you did to Jack's dad?"
"Uh-huh."
Sam walked in just then, papers in hand, and eyed the three of them with a small smile, "Not wasting any time, are you?"
"None to waste." Travis answered, "The guy hulks out, we won't be finding bodies, just remains."
Sam took a careful seat next to his sister who watched him closely. The youngest Winchester was tense. He looked like he wanted to broach a subject he was sure was going to get backlash.
"What if he doesn't hulk out?" They all stared at him blankly, "I did a little homework. Uh, I've been checking out the lore on rougarous."
"What?" Travis narrowed his eyes in offense as Dean and Angel watched the exchange on edge, "My 30 years of experience not good enough for you?"
"What? No. No, I- I just wanted to be prepared. I mean, not that you didn't-"
"Sam loves research. He does. He keeps it under his mattress right next to his KY. It's a sickness." Dean quickly interjected, a little glare directed right at Sam, "It is."
"Look…" Sam pressed on, "Everything you said checked out, of course, but uh… I found a couple of interesting stories about people who have this rougarou gene or whatever. See, they start to turn, but they never take the final step."
Angel pursed her lips, "Huh."
Dean also looked interested, "Really?"
"See, if they never eat human flesh, they don't fully transform."
"So…" Angel eyed him, "All they have to do is stay vegetarian and they get to keep their human qualities?"
"Basically. Or in this case, eat a lot of raw meat, just not…"
Dean snapped his fingers, "Long pig."
"Right."
Dean smiled and Angel looked over her little brother impressively. Travis however, after watching and listening to the three of them, dismissed him.
"Good on you for the due diligence, Sam." He got up, "But those are fairy tales." Walking over to the room's little pantry he poured himself another cup of coffee, "Fact is, every rougarou I ever saw or heard of… took that bite."
"Okay, well…" Sam stood as well, "That doesn't mean that Jack will."
Dean watched the two of them tensely and got up in case he needed to be a buffer. Angel however rolled her eyes at all of the tense masculinity. She set her stuff aside before leaning back in her seat to watch the three of them closely.
"So, what do we do?" Travis turned to Sam, "Sit and hope and wait for a body count?"
"No, we talk to him. Explain what's happening. That way he can fight it."
"Fight it?" Travis scoffed before laughing in Sams face, "Are you kidding me? You ever been really hungry?" That got Dean's attention, who had been shuffling through the papers Sam brought with him, "I mean, haven't-eaten-in-days hungry?"
Dean went serious, "Yeah."
"Yeah." Travis nodded, "Right then. So somebody slaps a big, juicy sirloin in front of you, you walking away?"
Dean looked thoughtful for a second before admitting a small no without words, only raising his eyebrows. He slowly looked over at Sam, who didn't hold conviction in his face. He wasn't buying it. Sam turned slightly, making eye contact with Angel, who in turn got up to join them as she crossed her arms.
"That's what we are to him now, meat on legs. I'm sorry. I'm sure he's a stand-up guy, but it's pure, base instinct. Everything in nature's gotta eat. You think he can stop himself because he's nice?"
"I dont know." Sam's voice turned firm and unwavering, "But we're not gonna kill him unless he does something to get killed for."
Angel and Dean both looked to their brother at his outburst. Angel couldn't really blame him for it, nor was she exactly surprised at his outlook. She wasn't sure if she agreed with him or not though, but she supposed she should take it into consideration. Taking a few calming breaths, Sam looked away from all of them and walked out of the room.
Travis looked a bit puzzled by Sam's reaction, "What's up with your brother?"
Dean shook his head at the door, "Don't get me started."
Angel sighed as everything went through her head at once. On the one side every bone in her body said to gank this guy but Sam did have a point. If there was a possibility he could live a normal life then why not give him that chance? She knew the whole reason he was getting so attached to this case was because he felt connected to this guy's story somehow. Yet Angel couldn't really put Sam and this Rougarou into the same basket, no matter the similarities.
Back at the Montgomery residence…
Michelle was in the kitchen in her nightgown, pouring tea. Her hand was now bandaged with stitches and gauze. When she turned around, Jack was standing just behind her and startled her enough to jump slightly.
"God." She placed a hand to her heart, "You scared me."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you. How are you feeling?"
Michelle put down the mug as a look of anger and annoyance crossed her face, "I'm feeling pissed, Jack." She walked away from him, but stayed in the kitchen as she turned back to face him, "I had to drive myself to the hospital last night. I was there until 2."
Guilt crossed Jack's eyes, "I'm so sorry."
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I saw your blood and I- I… got dizzy, and I just had to get out."
"Well, you could have called. I left you a dozen messages."
"I know. My phone died. I couldn't find a payphone. I… it was a mess. But I am… sorry." Michelles anger seemed to have melted somewhat from his words, "And I promise it won't ever happen again. Certainly. Not to a wife as stunning as you."
He walked up to her, smiling and she melted into his arms.
"Better not. I swear, you know. One little cut." Jack kissed her bandaged palm, "Blood's never bothered you before."
"Well…" He shrugged before leaning down and kissing her lovingly, "I've changed."
"This doesn't get you off the hook, you know." Jack smiled at that, "No, no. Think, think diamonds. Think Kobe-sized." Jack 'mhmd' before kissing her again and then lifting her up on the counter and trailing hurried kisses down her neck, "What has gotten into you?"
"I don't know."
He pushed away her hair and continued to kiss her neck. Michelle laughed but then Jack became more and more rough making her a bit unsettled.
"Hey, Jack." She managed to push him slightly away from her neck, "Just slow down." He didn't verbally respond, instead grabbing her by the back of her head and kissing her hard again, "Jack." He roughly kissed down to her neck and throat again, "Jack, I mean it. Stop." His hands went between them and he pulled up her nightgown as she tried to stop him, "Jack." Ignoring her pleas he slammed her against the cupboard, but didn't leave her neck, "Ow! Jack! Stop! Stop it!" Finally she managed to frantically push him off her, "Stop it!" As she jumped down from the counter, Jack looked almost stunned at what he'd just done, "You son of a bitch!"
"I- I'm sorry."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know." Hurriedly he bolted from the kitchen, "I don't know."
Later on, in the Impala…
Dean spoke from behind the wheel, "Alright, so we're gonna go have a little chat with this guy, which, you know… I'm down." Angel sat quietly in the back flipping through their dad's journal as Sam stared out the front windshield, "But I just want to make sure… if push comes, you're gonna shove."
Sam glared, "Meaning?"
"Well, odds are we're gonna have to burn this guy alive."
"This guy has a name and a wife."
"Yeah, who we're probably gonna make a widow, okay? I mean, you heard Travis. He's gonna turn. They always turn."
"Cmon Dean, we've let monsters go before." Angel dismissed, "This is no different. If the guy can control it then we handle it from there."
"Let's not act like we don't all know what this is really about."
Sam angered at that, "And what's that Dean?"
"Your emotions are obviously clouding your judgement." Confusion filled Sams face, "Think about it." Dean pressed on, "Nice dude, but he's got something evil inside. Something in his blood. Maybe you can relate."
Sam didn't respond or look at him at those words as anger and hurt filled him. His body language was extremely tense and it was clear he had had enough judgement from the both of them.
"Stop the car."
"What?"
"Stop the car or I will!"
The boys each shared a tense look before Dean pulled off to the side of the road. Before the car completely slowed to a stop Sam had already opened his door and was getting out. As Angel and Dean followed, Sam slammed his own door shut and turned around to them, livid.
"You want to know why I've been lying to you guys? Because of crap like this!"
They walked around the front of the car as Dean frowned, "Like what?"
"The way you guys talk to me!" He stormed passed them, now completely fed up, "The way you two look at me like I'm a freak!"
"We dont think youre a freak Sam." Angel shook her head, "We're just worried about you."
"You two talk to me like i'm an idiot! Like I don't know the difference between right and wrong!"
He stepped back, turning his back to them as he paced. Stopping he put his hands on his hips as he reared back around. His eyes narrowed as he immediately noticed the two of them sharing an obvious look between themselves.
"What?"
Anger laced Dean's voice, "Do you know the difference, Sam?"
Sam scoffed and looked from him to Angel with some slight hope in his eyes that she would understand.
"Look, Sammy, I love you, okay? I'd do anything for you, you know that, but…" Her voice dropped sadly, "I mean, you've been kind of strolling a dark road lately."
"You guys have no idea what I'm going through! None."
Deans voice rose as well, "Then enlighten us!"
"I've got demon blood in me! This disease is pumping through my veins, and I can't ever rip it out or scrub it clean! I'm a whole new level of freak! And I'm just trying to take this- this curse… and make something good out of it. Because I have to."
Angel and Dean watch him for the next few moments as he hung his head in shame, and studied the ground. Each of their hearts hurt for Sam and for the fact that they couldnt seem to help him through this one.
"Look…" Angel sighed deeply, "Lets just… lets just go talk to this Jack guy, okay? Figure out what his deal is and then move on from there."
After a moment, Sam gave a small almost non-existent nod, but didn't look at either of them.
At the Montgomery residence garden…
Jack stood at the front of his garden with a hose in his hand as he watered the plants. Angel, Dean and Sam all emerged through the backdoor behind him.
"Jack Montgomery?" Jack didn't turn right away, taking a moment, before finally turning to the three of them, "I'm Sam Winchester. This is my brother; Dean and my sister; Angel. We need to talk."
He studied Angel and Dean before looking back at Sam, "About?"
"About you. About how you're changing."
"Excuse me?"
Angel stepped in, "You're probably feeling your bones move under your skin…"
"And your appetite's reaching, you know, 'hungry hungry hippo' levels." Dean added, "How are we doing so far?"
Confusion filled Jacks face, "Who the hell are you guys?"
Dean shrugged, "We're people who know a little something about something."
"We're people who can help." Sam glared at him so he'd shut up before pressing on, "Please, just hear us out."
"Jack…" Angel looked at him softly, "You're a Rougarou."
"A- a…" He swallowed, "What?"
"A rougarou." Dean repeated, "Sounds made-up, I know, but believe me, it's not."
"Alright…" Jack shook his head, "I've noticed... certain things. I mean, some strange things, but I just, I- I don't know. I'm… I'm sick or something."
"Your father was one of these things." Jack whipped around to Sam at that, "Your real father. He passed it on to you."
"No. Are- are you guys listening to yourselves? You s- sound like you're-"
"Skip the whole 'you guys sound crazy', shall we?" Dean interrupted, "You're hungry, Jack. You're only gonna get hungrier."
"Hungrier for…?"
"Long pig." Dean shrugged, "You know, a little manburger helper may have crossed your mind already."
"No."
"Look, all we're trying to say is that it doesn't have to be like this." Angel pressed further as she shuffled closer to him, "You can fight it. Live a normal life."
"No."
Sam nodded, "Others have."
"We're not gonna lie to you, though." Dean crossed his arms, "It's not gonna be easy. You're gonna feel like an alcoholic swimming around in whiskey. But I'm telling you. You gotta say no… or-"
Jack instantly angered, "Or what?"
"You feed once, and it's all over." Sam eyed him sadly, "And then we'll have to stop you."
"Stop me?" He scoffed, "My dad, did uh, somebody stop him?"
"Yes."
"He was killing people, Jack." Angel raised a brow, "Innocent people."
"Get off my property right now." He demanded, "I see you three again, I'm calling the cops."
Sam pressed hurriedly, "Jack, your wife, everybody you know, they're in danger."
"Now!"
Jack's neighbour, who was busy cutting a bush, looked over at them when Jack raised his voice. Sam sighed and they began to walk away.
Dean nodded, "Good talk."
Later on that night, Jack sat on a bench as he listened to a voice mail message from Michelle on his cellphone.
"Jack, I don't know where you are but you're scaring me. Come home. We need to talk. Please?"
The mailbox beeped before Jack lowered his phone and closed it. He then looked up at the building across the street where a woman was undressing a few stories up. He watched her for a bit but when she closed her drapes he slowly stood. With his eyes fixed on her window, he crossed the street.
Instantly the Winchesters were on red alert as they watched him from the impala. Angel handed the boys the torches from the back seat before they exited the car hurriedly. They ran up to the building, looking up at Jack before heading for the stairs to the entrance.
Sam and Dean kicked down the door to the woman's apartment, flamethrowers at the ready. They were all met with a woman who had just come out of her bedroom. The sight of the three of them scared the living hell out of her. She screeched in horror before bolting into her bedroom.
"Hold on!" Angel yelled as the lady slammed her bedroom door shut and the three of them looked around the empty room in confusion, "What the…?"
"Whoa, uh…" Dean cleared his throat and looked around, "We're here to save you, I guess."
Angel eyed the empty apartment, "I dont think anyones here."
The woman's terrified voice sounded from the bedroom, "I'm calling the police!"
Sam nodded, "We should go."
"Yeah. Quickly, boys."
They hurried out, but before leaving Dean turned around and closed the broken door with a little embarrassed laugh.
Back at the Montgomery residence…
Jack came in through the front door, looking up at the top of the stairs. He walked over to the foot of them, and smiled a little as he called out to his wife.
"Michelle! I'm home!" She didn't respond, the only noise coming from the house was the ticking of an old clock, "Hey, babe?!" He started walking towards the living room to find her, "Are you here?"
Suddenly Jack heard a muffled sound and heavy breathing. He stopped in shock upon seeing Michelle sitting tied to a chair, with a gag. She began to move in the chair, screaming to him through her muzzle.
"Michelle?"
Suddenly an arm came around Jack's neck and a piece of cloth was put over his nose and mouth to knock him unconscious.