—SNS-SNS—Chapter Three-SNS-SNS-
Henriksen was trying very hard not to laugh. There was a battle raging between the brothers over who was going out hunting tonight, and it was a toss up who was going to win. Dean was in protective big brother mode, determined to keep Sam safely in the cabin, while Sam was adamant they were not going without him. He turned away to hide his smile, busying himself preparing his weapons. A door slam announced Sam's retreat to the bathroom, while stomping boots alerted him to Dean's approach.
"We go now." Dean growled.
"He'll just follow." Henriksen cautioned. He might not have spent much time around these stubborn guys, but enough to know they were both fiercely protective of the other. Dean might think he could force Sam to agree, but it was clear as day Sam wasn't going to follow his orders.
Dean sighed. "He's as stubborn as - "
"As you?"
Dean just glared a response, checking his weapon and then prepping Sam's. He might have to give in to Sam's accompaniment, but he didn't have to like it! Sam joined them both at the table, taking his gun and checking it again himself, then nodding and saying "Let's go." He then headed out of the cabin, confident that whatever mood Dean was in he would still follow.
"Dammit!" Dean growled under his breath, following his wayward brother. Henriksen let out a chuckle as the screen door slammed, then joined the brothers as they made their way into the surrounding woods.
Victor and Dean had poured over a map earlier while Sam slept, and had agreed that the werewolf pack was likely using one of the other remote hunting cabins in the woods as a home. Dean pushed ahead, leading them towards the first potential location, and Sam fell in behind him comfortably, with Victor trailing. They walked in silence for some time, finally arriving at the first cabin. It had clearly not been used for some time and they quickly moved on towards the next one. The trail widened for a bit and Victor caught up to Sam, eyeing him to see how the kid was holding up. He appeared to be walking easily, but a slight hitch in his breath was noticeable when he stepped wrong. Henriksen opened his mouth to ask how he was doing, but just then Sam held up a hand and stopped, head tilted, listening. They both looked ahead to Dean, who had also heard something and had paused to glance back at them. Henriksen wrinkled his brow, initially not hearing anything, but then a noise began to grow in volume…something was crashing through the bushes to their left, coming rapidly toward them. How did they hear that? He puzzled, even as they all raised their weapons in preparation, then quickly lowered them as a woman burst out of the undergrowth and nearly ran Sam over. He caught her, wincing, but she fought for release.
"Easy, easy!" he soothed. "I'm not trying to hurt you, we're here to help."
"H-he-he's coming!" she gasped, breathing heavily. She was young, no more than 20, clothes torn and her long blonde hair disheveled by her flight. "We were kissing, and then - " Eyes wide with shock, she shook her head in disbelief.
"Then what?" Henriksen prompted.
"He. I don't know. Bit me?" her hand went up to her neck, even as Sam and Dean exchanged worried looks. "And I tried to hit him, but he grabbed my wrist, and he had such long fingernails…" She held up her wrist to show them the scratches on it. "I panicked, and ran, and he started chasing me…" As she was speaking they heard the sound of another person or animal in the forest. She started, and whirled to run, but Sam kept a hold of her.
"Stop. Stay. We'll protect you." he urged. "What's your name?"
"Stacey."
"Ok, Stacey. I'm Sam. That's my brother, Dean. That's our friend Victor. We're out here hunting what attacked you."
"What do you mean? Fred attacked me." she stopped trying to pull away, looking puzzled.
"Fred is a werewolf." Dean said abruptly. Stacey turned to stare at him in disbelief. "Long claws, bites people..."
"You're insane."
"Am I?" Dean raised his weapon as the sounds of her pursuer gained in volume. "We need to get her out of here."
"Not leaving Dean." Sam stated firmly. Before the argument could begin the werewolf burst onto the trail and lunged at Stacey. He was halted by multiple silver bullets as Dean and Victor both fired. Stacey lost it, fighting Sam and screaming, finally pushing him off balance so he was forced to let go as he fell. Even as he was falling she took off again, disappearing down the trail ahead of them.
"Sam!" Dean ran towards his brother. "Victor, go. If she really was bit, she may be our next problem." He nodded and ran off after her. Dean bent down, helping Sam back to his feet. Sam bit back a cry of pain as he got up, unwilling to give Dean the satisfaction of an 'I told you so.'
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, sure you are." Dean cuffed his head lightly, looking him over with a critical eye to make sure he wasn't bleeding again.
"Dean, you need to go after Victor. If she turns, he'll need back-up."
"We'll go together. Come on." Without waiting for a response he turned to head up the trail, a small smile gracing his face at the surprised look Sam had given him. Sam had been sure they were going to have another argument. Gratefully, tamping down on the pain he was definitely feeling, he forced his body to follow after the others.
The Winchesters caught up with Victor on the edge of a clearing. He was staring at another cabin, this one larger than the others, and watching a light flickering in the window. In response to their questioning looks, he replied, "She ran inside, but she's not alone."
Dean immediately took point, indicating Victor should follow Sam, who without command was already slinking through the brush to the left, and then he himself melted into the forest to the right. Victor tamped down on his frustration. He knew that while he was accustomed to being the one giving orders that he was the least skilled in this scenario. Following Sam as silently as possible they reached the side of the cabin undetected. Peering through a window they saw an empty bedroom and door open to a hallway beyond. Testing the frame and finding it latched, Sam pulled his knife out and gently slipped it through the crack where the windows joined to flip the latch open. A firm glance from Victor had him backing away slightly to allow him to lift the window, and then both men slipped inside, pausing to ready their handguns before approaching the doorway. Sam pointed to his eyes, clearly reminding Victor to keep an eye out for Dean before firing, and then he led the way further into the cabin.
The hallway had multiple doors leading off of it and appeared to lead to the main rooms. Glancing briefly in each doorway as they passed, all were found open and empty until they reached the last door on the left, which was was closed. On a silent count of three Sam flung the door open and Victor rushed in. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Stacey was rising from where she had been sitting on a bed, and he grabbed and muffled her as she opened her mouth to scream.
"Shh." He ordered, staring into her eyes. "We're here to help you, but you have to be quiet." She glanced wildly from him then over to Sam, who smiled reassuringly back. Slowly she nodded, and Victor released her mouth, still holding her arm gently.
"Get her out of here. Watch her." Sam ordered, "Go. I'll cover you." Victor leveled a glare back at him, feeling like with his injuries it made more sense for Sam to be taking her and getting out, but he already had his back to him, peeking around the doorway. Confirming it was still clear he waved them both back down the hallway to exit the way they had entered. A commotion sounded from somewhere on the other side of the house, and with a final admonishing look at Victor and the girl, Sam slid down to the end of the hallway and disappeared from sight.
Victor spared one more glance toward Sam, but upon hearing more commotion quickly led Stacey back down the hallway and out the window. He understood that she couldn't be left alone, but he hated not being able to back-up the Winchesters. Shelving his frustration, he refocused on the task at hand. 'Watch her.' Sam had said...he obviously thought she might turn. Grabbing her arm he pulled her deeper into the forest, watching for pursuit as they quickly covered ground. However, they were barely hidden from the cabin when she began to pull back and fight him. "Dammit girl..." he growled, finally looking directly at her, "...oh shit."
