Later that same day, more like in the middle of the night, in the abandoned farmhouse on the ass end of a dead-end dusty unpaved road, located in bumfuck nowhere- Dean sat up with a pained grimace; Bruises made themselves known across the left half of her body. Grunting she finally made it to her feet. Swaying, every bit as unsteady as she looked, she whipped out her lighter. Shifting her eyes here and there with a paranoid gleam. she stumbled over to the pile of human bones she'd uncovered not even ten minutes ago. A woman who'd died because she'd gotten pregnant out of wedlock. The family covered up their daughters mistake themselves. With the baby's death Charlotte dived headfirst into depression and had ended it in the barn, hoping to find her baby in death.

She knew the iron bar only worked for so long, but her fingers were too damn stiff from the cold. They couldn't seem to catch the lighter right. Swearing to herself, she thanked whatever god that she decided not to use matches this time around, and that she'd decided to leave her leather with Sam. She was drenched. Water still dripping down her face in cold rivulets. Had she mentioned she'd almost been drowned earlier as well? Well she had. It was horrible.

As soon as she saw flame she tossed it onto the decayed pile. Not a moment too soon as the woman screeched her final cry.

Shielding her eyes, Dean sighed in relief. She brushed her hand through her hair, which stuck in a slicked back style.

"Very nice." a voice she'd remember no matter what, complimented with applause.

Whipping her face to the intruder. She growled.

"You."

~o~

The first thing Sam thought when he woke that day wasn't about the glorious coffee from his favorite cafe down the street, his usual fixation nowadays. No, as it been before his venture into the normal, his first thought was of Dean. His second, was how he'd managed to fall asleep yet again in the bathroom tub. He sat up, the delightful warmth that is never present when he finds himself in this situation falls from his shoulders. Massive hangover aside, seeing one of his brothers most valuable possessions is enough to bring on the homesickness he thought he fought off months ago.

"Dean?" He calls before he can stop himself. He berates himself when he's met with silence.

He checks his phone- six messages.

The first three are from his friends last night, he deletes them without a thought. Its the fourth one that stills his breath. A female voice he hadn't begun to get used to speaks with all the familiar nuances he wouldn't hope to forget- Dean.

"You have got to stay away from the liquor bro, it's not good for you. Seriously, you'd think you were the girl instead with the way you were talking... Anyway, sorry I had to ditch. Things to do, people to see, you know how it is. I'll call later. But, in commemoration of last nights events I've sent a photo. Later geek boy."

Sam listens to the the message again just because he can before he saves it. He almost dreads his next message. Which, as he confirms the sender is from his brother, is the aforementioned photo.

His thumb hovers over the delete button, knowing that what lays within could range from childishly silly to embarrassment to the nth degree. Curiosity wins out in the end and he opens it.

He is instantly struck with the clear image that is his brothers new profile. He focuses on this new face like he couldn't last night through the haze of his alcohol addled mind. Green eyes he has yet to see anywhere else stare into his own. Straight nose, high cheek bones, pointed chin, cheeky smile- his brother who very much resembles a young Katee Sackhoff. He knows his brother would never stoop to wearing make-up, but it's hard to believe there isn't a touch of something on that face.

He takes a much needed breath.

He can't believe he hadn't put two and two together. This smiling face is every bit the brother he knows just set on a female one... with short hair that's been growing for well over a month.

He almost wants to ask himself why, when he set eyes on this blonde stranger, he forgot all others. How he had found her more attractive then even Jessica Moore who he'd been crushing on since the end of last semester. How he decided to overcome his almost crippling shyness to go up and speak to this girl because just the thought of some other guy picking her up had brought up jealousy he hadn't ever felt before. He almost wanted to ask himself. But that would have opened a whole closet of skeletons he didn't ever want to go over.

Getting out of the tub, precious jacket in hand, he sets to gather clothes for a quick shower. His hangover ever present, he needs to feel human again. He's a jumbled mess of mixed feelings, and though he knows he promised he wouldn't call John, he never said anything about not calling Bobby. Which he'll do right after the shower, hopefully before Dean decides to call back.

He rubs his hands against his face feeling the sort of worried stress he'd only feel about stuff like this. As much as he knew that this stuff would happen even when he was gone, seeing the proof was an entirely different matter. He's not sure if what he feels about that is entirely welcome or not. In either case it's obvious now that things have changed between his brother and their dad.

Dean is keeping a pretty big secret and he's managed to keep that secret for over a month. Whatever the circumstances, he needs to know.

For one thing. If Dean has been hunting alone as long as he thinks he's been. He's not sure if he's comfortable with him doing it alone. If he'd been normal, sure, okay, not much of a big deal. Dean's a guy he could take care of himself. He's his big brother, he's a superhero.

But...

Hazel eyes glance down at the cell he had yet to put down. To the picture still on display. To the girl smiling carefree, eyes bright with mischief.

Sam doesn't know if he could let his big sister hunt alone.

And that's probably what he's been debating since listening to Dean's message.

~o~

"Why Deanna. What dark bruises you have." The Trickster greeted cheeky smile ever present.

"Litte Red Riding Hood... really?" Dean deadpanned.

"Tut tut Deanna, I'm only voicing the concern I feel for one such as you marring such valuable flesh."

"Cut the crap. I've been looking for you ever since... well you know-" the Trickster made a motion for her to continue. "I haven't been able to even get a clue as to where you could be and suddenly you show up like this?" Dean raved. "What do you want?"

"No small talk? No witty banter... snide remarks?" The Demi-God mock pouted. "You were so very vocal the last time we met."

"You changed me into a girl pal. I didn't exactly want to push my luck." Dean muttered gesturing to her broken body.

The Trickster nodded in acknowledgment walking around the various obstructions that separated them, drawing closer to the area in which she stood. Even if she'd wanted to, Dean knew she didn't have a chance in hell of getting away from this meeting. This confrontation is exactly what she'd been hoping for since her change. She would have been more optimistic if they'd met on her terms though.

When she finally had a clear view of him, how vulnerable she currently was hit her like a tons of bricks. She shifted, wincing as it aggravated her ribs. When he raised his fingers and gave them a good snap she couldn't stop the full bodied flinch that resulted. A step back and her body's ailments were no longer.

She was completely healed but still a woman.

"What do you want?" She repeated glare making it's first appearance now that she was physically fine.

"Dean Dean Dean." With every word the creature took a closer step and Dean found she couldn't move. "I've been watching you longer then you'd probably care to know, and you've grown on me. You're special."

The fire from the burning corpse had spread by now and had made it's way along the wall behind the Winchester. With the Demi-God's arrival Dean hadn't the time to put it out. The farmhouse was old with plenty of kindling to feed it for hours. This was not going to end well.

"Just think of me as the little angel on your shoulder and remember, I do this for you."

Green eyes widened at the words before her world exploded in pain and she fell into darkness. She didn't feel the strong arms that caught her as her legs gave out. She didn't see the shadow of wings as they left the burning barn.

~o~

With a duffel in hand Sam willingly left his dorm. A phone call to Bobby and he knew where Dean's hunt was taking place, knew the motel and the name under.

His choice was made.

He was leaving and he didn't regret it one bit. Because as much as he wanted the normal life. He'd regret it more if he wasn't there to watch his brother's back and something worse than a gender switch happened. Something that was more likely now that he knew for sure Dean was strictly on solo-hunts. As he rounded the corner onto Main St he bumped into Jessica.

"Uh sorry, about that." Sam apologized. Awkward shyness no longer present.

"Sam!" Jess greeted, smile on her lips. "I was just on my way to get you."

"Get?"

"Didn't you get my message?" The blonde pouted. The look very much resembling the Look Dean had given him the night before to convince him to lay off on calling John. "Why are you carrying a duffel?" she added once she noticed the luggage.

"Just something I gotta do." he replied airily checking the time. Dean still had yet to call and the bus he needed to catch was going to leave in forty minutes.

"Want company?" she offered, already siding beside him a smile gracing her lips. It was more a smirk, and it was one he recognized on someone else. If he hadn't seen it so recently he would have forgotten the feeling of nostalgia he usually got when hanging around Jess. But he had seen it.

Last night in fact.

It was in that moment that awareness hit Sam like a punch to the gut.

The similarities between Jessica and a female Dean. If you took gender away, Jessica was the person Dean could have been if they had had the normal life. Their sense of humor, sharp wit, god even down to the way walked was the same. But where Dean was solid and sharp edged from the hunter lifestyle, Jessica was soft and carefree in a way Dean could never be. For this reason alone, Sam suddenly found he needed to get away.

Averting his eyes, he caught sight of a nearing taxi and waved it down.

"Sorry, I'll catch you later another time." He apologized with the endearing smile he used on more then a few occasions to con his way into something. "Bye."

He got in the car and shut the door before Jess, the girl of his dreams, could say a word.

"Greyhound terminal." he all but ordered.

He didn't look back.

Not once.

"Alrighty." The cabby chirped glancing in the review mirror. Caramel eyes with flecks of gold catching hazel before going back to road and driving on.

He bit into his chocolate bar, humming quite cheerfully to himself.

A/N

I realize I said this was to be the last chapter. But another one, I see, is needed. SO rejoice! xD I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. :3 How did you guys like?

XII