Chapter Two

The new day started with a jarring shake that nearly had Sam falling out of his bed with a shout. He jerked his legs out and sat up sharply, just missing decking Dean as his brother pulled away while chuckling wickedly. “Dean! The fuck?!” he snapped as he flopped back onto the bed and covered his eyes with a muscled arm.

“Wake up, sunshine! We gotta head to the beach!” Dean replied with a wide grin and another shake to one of Sam’s large feet. He laughed huskily as Sam kicked at him in protest while growling a curse and a promise of retribution as Dean turned towards where he’d placed their breakfast for the day. Doughnuts, muffins, juice, and coffee waited for them.

“What the hell time is it?” Sam mumbled as he turned onto his side, causing the sheet to slide down and reveal well muscled, if scarred flesh to Dean’s appreciative gaze. Dean’d never admit to such an admiration because that just crossed so many levels of wrong that even he balked at it, but he would firmly admit that what he saw was as a result of him. Raising Sam to be at the level that he was at was an accomplishment that Dean held onto even when he knew that he had nothing else going for him.

“Eh, mid-morning. Oh...wait...ah, according to the clock right next to your big head, it’s about five thirty,” Dean answered nonchalantly and laughed again as a pillow was flung at him along with a rapid fire string of curses. He *so* loved doing this to Sam.

“You are the devil incarnate...how the hell did you end up out of bed before me?” Sam asked gruffly as he sat up and rubbed the back of his head before stretching and yawning.

“Eh, just did. Now hurry it up...we ain’t got all day ya know, sleepy head,” Dean retorted before biting into a juicy raspberry-filled pastry. He grunted as he caught the long oozing strip of sticky goop with his finger as it spurted out with his first bite of the sugary treat and sucked the gooey gel into his mouth while chewing on the doughy bite that he had taken. He sat in the closest chair and stretched his legs out, letting them fall open in a look of complete relaxation, though that was hardly ever the truth with Dean. He’d have to be knocked out and drugged in order to be completely relaxed, but that was the life of a hunter.

Sam had looked over to retort, but stopped as he watched his brother sucking on the red goo covered finger and felt a flutter in his stomach when Dean groaned happily in obvious pleasure from the treat. He swallowed hard and stood up abruptly, clearing his throat. “Er, save some for me. I’m...gonna shower now...” he mumbled as he pointed between the bathroom and where Dean was sitting sprawled out in the chair next to the food. He looked like he was going to say something else, but promptly shut his mouth when Dean glanced up at him while chewing and cocked an eyebrow in expectation when he stood still for longer than was necessary. “Um...yea...going now...” he muttered before turning and heading into the bathroom, head ducking in embarrassment for how he’d reacted.

Shaking his head as he chuckled, Dean swallowed and took a gulp of the juice, scrunching his face a bit at the bitter taste that sweetness and OJ created in his mouth. “Kids....how often does he have to shower?” he commented to thin air before taking another bite of his doughnut. He had finished about two more doughnuts by the time that Sam had finished with his shower and returned to the room to dig through his bag. “So, wearing a swimsuit?” Dean suggested and grinned as he tapped his foot against the leg of the table.

“Dude, you’re kidding right? Since when did you buy a swimsuit?” Sam asked incredulously before pulling on his t-shirt. He grabbed his jeans and boxer briefs before heading into the bathroom area to finish dressing.

“Well, we’ll be on the beach and all!” Dean called out as he shifted just a bit and craned his neck, catching a glimpse of his bare-bottomed brother in the mirror. He smirked as he watched Sam turn away and bend over to pull on his jeans. “I mean, we wouldn’t want to stick out too much, ya know?”

Sam shifted out and stared at him, not even noticing as Dean shifted back into position with a quick shimmy of his body. “Dean, did you eat something that looked like poisonous mushrooms? When have you *ever* worried about us sticking out while investigating?” he asked in disbelief as he buttoned his jeans. He then went to his bed and sat down to pull on his socks and sneakers while bending his head up to look at Dean.

“Hey! It’s so we *don’t* stick out that’s important! And the sight of two tall handsome guys in jeans and t-shirts on a beach full of nearly naked people is suspicious!” Dean retorted pointedly before sipping his coffee. He made a face and glared at the cup as if it were at fault for the extremely bitter taste it held before refocusing on Sam, who was staring at him, hands still holding the tied laces of one shoe. “What? Got something on my face?”

“No...it’s nothing...” Sam replied quickly before looking down and standing up, using his hands on his knees to push up into a standing position. He stretched and groaned as he felt the familiar pull of muscles needing to elongate before he let his arms drop with a huff of air. “So, let’s get going,” he declared as he came over.

“Eat yer breakfast,” Dean ordered as he pointed at what was left with his cup before taking another gulp of the bitter caffeinated drink. He made another face, sticking his tongue out in disgust. “Jesus, did they just grind the beans right into this?” he asked before swallowing the rest.

Laughing softly around his mouthful, Sam shook his head as he shifted on his feet. He worked to swallow what he had chewed and grabbed his cup of juice, grimacing at the bitter taste of the orange juice mixing with his sweet doughnut. He popped the rest of it into his mouth and grabbed the last muffin and his coffee after draining the juice. “Come on...let’s get going,” he said before biting into the muffin and heading for the door.

Sweeping his legs in and standing in one smooth motion, Dean grabbed the keys and the bag of weapons that he had cleaned that morning already and followed after the taller man, grinning as Sam choked on the coffee when he took a swig. “Told ya,” he remarked as he locked up the hotel room and started towards the car, going to the back to put the bag into the trunk before going forward.  He slid into the car after an absent-minded pat on the black roof and started the car, revving it as Sam slipped inside as well. He pulled out of their parking spot at the same time that Sam balanced his cup on the dashboard and pulled out the map of Pensacola they’d swiped. As they drove along in the early morning, Dean could feel that something was pulling at him, like a string in the center of his chest as well as a tone which only he could hear. He followed them instinctively, never questioning the feelings since they felt natural to him and didn’t make him feel like there was any danger.

Pulling the Impala into the beach parking lot, Dean glanced around briefly before sliding out of the car with Sam. They went to the trunk and each grabbed a hand gun which they tucked into their belts before inserting a dagger into their belts as well. Nodding at each other, they headed towards the beach. At the edge of the sand, Dean stopped, swaying as he felt an overwhelming impulse wash over him. Bending down, he ignored Sam’s inquiry as he removed his boots and socks before stepping out onto the sand. He sighed happily as he closed his eyes while scrunching his toes in the heated sand grains. After a bit, he glanced over at Sam, who was watching him in bemusement. “What? Didn’t want sand in my boots,” he explained gruffly, though he didn’t move from his spot.

“Uh huh...and this is different from diggin' up corpses how?” Sam asked with a smirk, but he also removed his shoes and socks. He grabbed their footwear and took it back to the car, but Dean ignored him as he focused on the feeling of the sand between his toes and the utter connection he felt. He was jolted from his contemplations as Sam clapped a rough hand onto his shoulder and he glared up at his brother. Sam grinned, but there was concern in the hazel eyes. “You ok, Dean?” Sam asked quietly.

“Yea I’m fine. Let’s go,” Dean replied harshly as he shook off Sam’s hand and headed towards the shoreline near the pier that loomed up from the beach. He could sense Sam going in the other direction and relaxed a little bit as he got closer to the softly lapping waves that were touching the wet sand. He stopped suddenly though when he heard the sound of something singing.

The sound was like nothing Dean had ever heard. It was a sweet crystalline voice calling to him as he stood on the beach, the words almost entreating in their indecipherable plea. He glanced over at where Sam was slowly walking down the shore with the EMF reader in his hand and considered calling his brother over. But instead, he simply looked back towards the ocean. Unerringly, he started into the foaming water and shivered as he felt the salty waves touch his bare feet. When he’d taken his boots off earlier, it had been because he had strangely needed to feel the hot sand, but now it was the need to feel the water.

He kept going, not even hearing Sam calling for him as he focused on a shape that had suddenly glided out of the water at the end of the pier. As the water rose up his body, Dean felt his mind become calmer, almost certain in his path. Soon he was treading water and yet still he pushed out.

Feeling the need to stop, he did so and looked around in a daze, vaguely catching Sam yelling at him frantically. But it all disappeared as he felt something run slowly up his leg and torso before a hand followed by an arm pushed up from the dark water. Dean just watched serenely as a greenish colored head came up out of the water and black eyes focused on him. The pale green lips on the scaled face smiled at him, but it was gentle and happy and Dean couldn't help but smile back. His arms came up and held the creature's slimy body to his as the creature kissed him.

Suddenly, Dean's world became under the water, his only lifeline being the lips on his own. He parted his legs and wrapped them around the thick tail that swirled close to his body, balancing them as they floated down until they stopped against the sandy bottom. He floated a hand out and braced them against one of the rotting wooden pillars that held up the mile long pier as their lips moved against each other in a passionate clinch. Air flowed into him steadily as he arched slowly against her, feeling the need for her to do something overpowering his will. Her song was flowing into him, nearly drowning him like the ocean would if they weren’t careful.

Her cool clawed hand brushed along the waistband of his pants and he arched again, almost breaking their kiss at the sheer *want* that shot through him. But her other hand laced in his hair and held him steady, a silent pleading warning him to be careful and he understood. Her lower hand brushed along his waistband again and pulled out the soaked t-shirt, letting it float between their abdomens as her fingers caressed along his belly. She pressed closer, sliding along him carefully as she breathed air into him, sustaining him while she nestled nearer to him. The hand in Dean’s hair slid down to the small of Dean’s back and pushed him to her tenderly.

As if thinking as one, they arched simultaneously and pressed their bellies together as their kiss deepened into passion. Dean jolted suddenly as he felt something pierce his solar plexus and push in until they were almost fused as one. He broke the kiss, nearly choking before he thought to hold his breath as he opened his eyes and stared at her in confusion and sudden fear. She cupped his face comfortingly and smiled sweetly, but held him steadily against her body as they undulated in sync within the blue green water that was around them. They kissed again so she could feed him oxygen and keep him close as they bonded.

Dean could feel his mind swirling as something worked into his body from where they were connected, changing him as they moved with the tidal shifts. He shuddered slightly as his body trembled and a whimper worked into the back of his throat from the pain that began to rise within him. He wrapped his arms around her body, confused and nervous from the changes he could feel going through his body, but comforted from her crooning into his mouth and against his body.

Suddenly, the connection between them was abruptly torn apart as a strong arm wrapped around Dean’s chest and pulled him away from her. Dean cried out in pain and panic as he was ripped free and nearly choked on the water he inhaled with that. He struggled in the hold that had him, reaching for her as his rescuer swam away with Dean in a firm grip after kicking her away from Dean. His panic increased as he began to black out from lack of oxygen, but they broke through the surface just as he was wilting. He gasped for air and shouted, struggling as he worked to get air into his lungs. “Lemme go! I need to go with her!” he cried as he was hauled back through the water until they landed on the beach. He coughed and rolled onto his side and found himself staring into Sam’s fear-filled eyes. “Why?” he whispered hoarsely as he trembled, still struggling to suck in oxygen into his shaking body.

Eyes widening as he also panted, Sam stared at his brother in shock. “W-Why?! Dean, you could have drowned! That creature was doin’ somethin’ to you and you expected me to leave you?!” he demanded in utter disbelief before flopping onto his back. He covered his eyes with a sandy arm and groaned. “What the hell was that, anyways?” he muttered before looking over at his resting brother. He became more focused as he saw that his brother was still breathing heavily while lying with his fingers curled in the sand weakly and his eyes closed within his ashen face. “Dean?”

“Let me go back...” Dean whispered harshly as he opened his eyes and stared at his brother with eyes that were almost black from his dilated pupils. Sam reached over and touched his brother’s clammy arm and Dean almost flinched. “Please Sam...I need her...” he gasped out before swallowing hard.

Shaken, Sam scooted closer and held Dean to him, trying to warm his trembling brother. “No, Dean...no, you’re with me now...I’ve got you...” he whispered and just embraced Dean even more, encasing his brother in his hold in an effort to warm and comfort Dean. He continued his gentle whispers as he sought to soothe his brother and eventually Dean relaxed. He carefully stood up and gathered Dean into his arms and carried his shaking brother to the car. Tucking Dean into the seat, Sam shut the passenger door and went quickly to the other side, where he slid behind the wheel. Reaching over, he kept his hand on Dean’s hand while driving them back to the hotel, growing more and more worried as Dean mumbled and shuddered, barely aware of anyone or anything that was going on around him. But their hands were laced tightly and it was the only thing keeping Dean in their world.

At the hotel, Sam laid Dean out onto the bed and stripped him of his wet clothes. He stopped though as he saw the puncture wound in Dean’s solar plexus. “Oh...god...Dean...” he murmured in sudden, alarming fear and realization. He began checking his brother’s body and stopped again as he found scales starting along Dean’s jaw line and the slight hint of slits in Dean’s neck. Leaning his head down onto Dean’s heaving chest, Sam fought the urge to cry. He was *not* going to lose his brother to that thing! “Don’t worry...I’ll take care of you,” he whispered into Dean’s neck as he held onto his brother’s shaking body.

“Sammy...” Dean’s voice was barely heard as he turned his head towards Sam’s dark head and nuzzled close. “Sammy...”

“I know...I know...I’ll take care of you...” Sam mumbled as he rubbed his hands along Dean’s shaking sides before reaching for the blankets from his bed. He covered Dean’s body with them and stripped before crawling in and hugging Dean close to him. “I’ve got you...just sleep...”

“...go back....let me...go...” Dean faded off as he snuggled close to his brother. He brought his hands up and gripped Sam’s arms as he went unconscious and Sam choked back a cry as he saw the claws and webbing on the slender fingers. He would not lose Dean!

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