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Okay, ever since I wrote Headstrong, I always wished I started it with Shifter because that was my favorite episode. Actually I wished I started with Phantom Traveler but that one was too confusing so I started with Shifter this time.
“Hey Dean, since you’re getting out anyway, wanna go inside and grab me a soda?” Janelle asked as Dean pulled into a gas station.
“What are your legs broken?” Dean asked, looking back at her.
“Yes they are. Pwease?” Janelle said sticking out her lower lip.
“Fine.” Dean caved as he got out of the car and walked into the gas station.
“I love doing that.” Janelle said, leaning forward and resting her arms on the back of the front seat. “What’cha doin Smammy?”
“I’m reading e-mails.” Sam told her.
“E-mails from who?” Dean asked as he handed the soda to Janelle and started to gas up the car.
“From my friends at Stanford.” Sam yelled out the car so Dean could hear.
“You’re kidding, you still keep in touch with your college buddies?” Dean asked.
“Why not?” Sam asked.
“Well…What exactly do you tell them?” Dean asked.
“That I’m on a road trip with my big brother and my friend. I told them that I needed some time off after Jess.” Sam answered.
“Oh so you lie to them.” Dean said.
“No.” Sam shook his head.
“It’s not lying. He is on a road trip with his big brother and his bestest buddy.” Janelle said with a small smile.
“I just don’t tell them everything.” Sam said.
“Yeah, that’s called lying.” Dean said.
“It’s not completely lying.” Janelle said.
“Hey, I get it. The truth is far worse.” Dean said.
“So what am I supposed to do, cut everyone off from my life?” Sam asked as Dean just shrugged. “You’re serious.”
“Hey man, it sucks but in a job like this you can’t get close to people.” Dean said.
“You’re kind of anti-social, you know that.” Janelle said with a smirk.
“Yeah, whatever.” Dean shrugged.
“God.” Sam said, looking at his phone.
“What?” Dean and Janelle said at the same time.
“This e-mail from this girl, Rebecca Warren, one of those friends of mine.” Sam started.
“Is she hot?” Dean asked, earning himself a hit on the arm from Janelle.
“I went to school with her and her brother Zack. She said Zack’s been charged with murder. He’s been arrested for killing his girlfriend. Rebecca says he didn’t do it but it sounds like the cops have a pretty good case.” Sam told them.
“Dude what kind of people you hangin out with?” Dean asked.
“No, I know Zack. He’s no killer.” Sam said.
“Well maybe you know Zack as well as he knows you.” Dean said.
“They’re in St. Louis, we’re going.” Sam told him.
“Sorry about your buddy but this doesn’t sound like our kind of problem.” Dean said.
“Dean, don’t be so insensitive.” Janelle said, hitting him again.
“It is our problem, they’re my friends.” Sam said.
“St. Louis is four hundred miles behind us.” Dean told him. Sam just gave him his little boy look and Dean caved like he always did. He finished filling the car, got behind the wheel and pulled away, heading for St. Louis.
“Oh my god Sam.” She said in a shocked and happy tone.
“Well if it isn’t little Becky.” Sam said with a smirk.
“Don’t give me any of that little Becky crap.” Becky said rolling her eyes and pulling Sam into a hug.
“I got your e-mail.” Sam told her as he pulled back.
“I didn’t think that you’d come out here.” Becky said as she turned to look at Dean and Janelle.
“Dean, older brother.” Dean said, shaking her hand.
“Janelle, friend.” Janelle said shaking her hand as well.
“We’re here to help.” Sam told her. “Whatever we can do.”
“Come in.” Becky said, moving aside so they could all walk in. She led them down the hall through the dining room into the kitchen.
“Nice place.” Dean said, looking around.
“Thanks. It’s my parents’. I was just crashing here for the long weekend when everything happened.” Becky told them. “I decided to take the semester off. I’m gonna stay until Zack’s hearing.”
“Where are your parents?” Janelle asked.
“They’ve been in Paris for half the year so they’re on their way back for the trial.” Becky said. “So you guys want a beer or something?”
“Hey.” Dean said with a smile.
“Can you fix a screwdriver?” Janelle asked with a smirk.
“No, we’re good.” Sam said, making Janelle pout. “Tell us what happened.”
“Well Zack went home to find Emily tied to a chair. She was beaten up and she wasn’t breathing so he called 911. So they showed up and arrested him.” Becky told them. “But the thing is, the only way that Zack could’ve killed Emily was if he was in two places at once. The police have a video tape of him coming home at ten thirty but I swear he was here having a few drinks until at least after midnight.”
“You know, maybe we could go take a look at the crime scene.” Sam said.
“We could.” Janelle nodded.
“Why, what could you do?” Becky asked.
“Me, not much. But Dean’s a cop.” Sam said. Becky turned to him and he gave a nervous laugh.
“Detective, really.” Dean told her.
“Really, where?” She asked.
“Bisbee, Arizona.” Dean told her. Janelle and Sam both gave him ‘what’ looks. “But I’m off duty now.”
“You guys, that’s so nice to offer but I just. I don’t know.” Becky said.
“Becky, I know that Zack didn’t do this. Now we have to find a way to prove that he didn’t do this.” Sam said softly.
“Alright, let me go get the keys.” Becky said before leaving the three of them in the kitchen.
“Yeah, you’re a real straight shooter with your friends.” Dean told him.
“Look, Zack and Becky need our help.” Sam said.
“I just don’t see how this is our kind of problem.” Dean said.
“Two places at once Dean.” Janelle reminded him. “Unless he has some long lost twin, that’s gotta mean something.”
“We’ve looked into less.” Sam reminded him. Dean thought for a minute before nodding.
“Alright, I’ve got the keys.” Becky said.
“Alright.” Sam said, walking out of the kitchen, Dean and Janelle following behind. As they walked, Janelle hit Dean’s arm.
“What was that for?” Dean asked.
“Bisbee, Arizona?” Janelle asked, raising an eyebrow. He just rolled his eyes as they walked out of the house and got into the car.
“Of course. I am an officer of the law after all.” Dean told them as they opened the door and hurried in.
“God damn.” Janelle muttered, looking around. There was blood everywhere, on the counters, on the tables, on the floor, and on the walls. Sam and Becky talked by the front door while Janelle and Dean looked around.
“It looks like a werewolf did this, not a person.” Janelle told him.
“Janelle, a werewolf is a person.” Dean reminded her.
“You know what I mean.” Janelle said rolling her eyes. She listened in to Sam and Becky’s conversation as she told him that someone broke into Zack’s house about a week before the murder and stole some of his clothes. Janelle heard a dog barking and walked back over to the door to see a dog in the next yard barking madly at the house.
“That used to be the sweetest dog.” Becky told her.
“Do you remember when he changed?” Janelle asked.
“Around the time of the murder I guess.” Becky said. Janelle nodded and walked back into the house over by where Dean and Sam were standing by the fridge.
“So the neighbors dog went psycho right around the time Zack’s girlfriend was killed.” Janelle told them.
“Yeah, dog’s normally have a strong sense of the paranormal.” Sam said.
“Maybe Fido saw something.” Dean said.
“So now you think this is our kind of problem?” Janelle asked.
“No probably not.” Dean said, shaking his head. “But we should look at the security tape, just to be sure.”
“Yeah.” Sam and Janelle nodded, rolling their eyes.
“So the security tape. Think your lawyers could get their hands on it?” Dean asked Becky as she walked up.
“I’ve already got it.” Becky told them. “I don’t want to say this in front of a cop but I stole it off a lawyer’s desk. I just had to see it for myself.”
“Alright, lets go.” Dean said, leading her out. Janelle rolled her eyes as she walked out of the house and got back into the Impala.
“There he is.” Becky said, looking at the video which showed Zack walking into his house.
“22:04, that’s just after ten.” Janelle said.
“You said time of death was just after ten thirty.” Dean mentioned.
“Our lawyers hired some video experts. They say that the video’s authentic.” Becky told them. Janelle nodded and looked at the screen. At the top left there was an angle showing Zack’s face. As he turned toward the camera, Janelle saw the flash in his eyes.
“Hey Beck, can we take those beers now?” Sam asked.
“Oh, sure.” Becky said, getting off the couch.
“You think…” Janelle started.
“Yeah, I got your screwdriver.” Becky said smiling.
“Thanks.” Janelle smiled.
“Oh and maybe some sandwiches.” Sam said as she started walking out of the room.
“What do you think this is, Hooters?” Becky asked before walking out of the room.
“I wish.” Dean muttered, getting off the couch arm and walking over to where Sam and Janelle were already standing. “What is it?”
“Check it out.” Janelle said as Sam rewound the tape. He pressed play and they watched as Zack’s eyes flashed silver again.
“Maybe it’s just a camera flare.” Dean said.
“Not like any camera flare I’ve ever seen.” Sam muttered.
“You know a lot of cultures believe that a camera can catch a glimpse of the soul.” Janelle told them.
“You know that dog that was freakin out, maybe he saw this thing.” Sam added.
“Maybe this is some dark double of Zack’s. Something that looks like him but isn’t him.” Janelle said.
“Like a doppelganger.” Dean nodded.
“That would explain how he was in two places at once.” Sam said. Becky came back a few minutes later and they had their drinks and talked before deciding it was time to get back to the motel they had checked into when they first arrived in St. Louis.
“Alright, so what are we doing here at five thirty in the morning?” Dean asked.
“I realized something. The video tape shows the killer going in but not coming out.” Sam told them.
“So he came out the back door.” Janelle said.
“Right, so if he did there must be a trail to follow.” Sam said. “A trail that the police would never peruse.
“Because they thought they caught the killer, your friend Zack inside.” Janelle nodded.
“I still don’t know what we’re doing here at five thirty in the morning.” Dean muttered.
“Aw, do you need your beauty sleep De?” Janelle asked with a smirk.
“I’m not worried about me, I worried about you Nelle.” Dean said, causing Janelle to hit him hard. “What was that for?” Dean asked.
“For being a smart ass.” Janelle told him.
“Blood.” Sam said, breaking up their fight. Janelle turned to see him pointing to the blood on the telephone pole. “Somebody came this way.”
“Maybe the trail ends, I don’t see anything over here.” Dean said, looking at the ground around the Impala. Sam opened his mouth to say something when an Ambulance passed by toward the front of the apartments. They all looked at each other before following after it to find a bunch of people standing outside the apartment.
“What happened?” Janelle asked a lady that was looking at the ambulance.
“He tried to kill his wife. Tied her up and beat her.” The woman told them.
“Really?” Sam asked, looking around.
“I always saw him in the morning on the way to work. He would wave and say good morning. He seemed like such a nice guy.” The woman told them.
Dean stayed out front while Janelle and Sam walked in the back, looking around for anything that could help.
“Hey.” Dean said, walking back to meet them. “Remember when I said this wasn’t our kind of problem?”
“Yeah.” Sam nodded.
“Definitely our kind of problem.” He told them.
“What did you find out?” Janelle asked.
“I talked to the patrolman who was first on the scene who talked to the guy. Apparently the guy was driving home from a business trip when this happened.” Dean said.
“So he was in two places at once.” Sam said.
“Exactly. Then he sees himself in the house, police think he’s a nut job.” Dean told them.
“Two dark doubles attacking loved ones exactly the same way.” Sam started.
“It’s the same thing doing it. It’s a shape shifter.” Janelle told them.
“You think?” Sam asked.
“Every culture has a shape shifter lore. A creature who can make itself look like any man or animan.” Dean said.
“Right. Skin walkers, Werewolves.” Sam nodded.
“I’m guessing we got a shape shifter problem in the neighborhood.” Dean said.
“Well let me ask you this, in any of the shape shifter lore, can any of them fly?” Sam asked.
“No.” Janelle told him.
“I got a trail, someone ran behind this and just disappeared.” Sam said. Janelle looked around and saw the manhole right beside the building.
“There’s another way to go.” Janelle said, gesturing for the manhole. They all went down, Dean first, then Janelle, then Sam. Janelle looked around and made a disgusted face.
“Little Queasy?” Dean asked.
“Shut it.” Janelle muttered.
“I bet this thing runs by Zack’s house too. That’s how the shape shifter’s been getting around.” Sam told them.
“I think you’re right.” Dean said as he led them off in one direction.
“What the hell is that?” Janelle asked, looking down at what looked like a pink pile of goop. Dean knelt down and took out his pocket knife, flicking it open and picking up some of the substance on the blade.
“You think it’s from it’s victims?” Sam asked.
“You know, I just had a sick thought.” Dean said, turning to them. “What if when the shape shifter changes shape, it sheds.”
“That would be a sick thought.” Janelle said, putting her hand over her mouth. They went back up to the Impala to stock up on their weapons.
“One thing I learned from dad, no matter what kind of shape shifter it is, there’s one sure fire way to kill it.” Dean said.
“Silver bullet to the heart.” Sam and Janelle said at the same time. Sam’s phone rang a few seconds later as Janelle helped Dean with the guns.
“This is Sam.” Sam started. “We’re near Zack’s, we’re just checking some things out.” Janelle heard Sam say. “What are you talking about?” A pause. “Why would you do that?” Another pause. “Beck.” Janelle looked up to see Sam sigh and lean against the car. “We’re just trying to help.” pause. “Beck I’m sorry but.” Another sigh as Sam hung up his phone. Janelle took the gun that Dean handed her and tucked it between her belt and jeans.
“Hate to say it but that’s exactly what I’m talking about.” Dean said, walking over to Sam. “You lie to your friends because you know that if they knew the real you they’d be freaked. It’s just..It’d be easier if…”
“I was like you.” Sam finished, rolling his eyes.
“Hey, like it or not, the three of us are not like other people.” Dean said. “But I gotta tell you, this whole gig. It aint without it’s perks.” Dean pulled out another gun and handed it to Sam. Sam sighed and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans as they walked back to the manhole.
“Cheer up Smammy.” Janelle said, giving him a quick hug before dropping down into the sewer again.
“Just a few more minutes.” Dean told her. They continued to walk in the darkness, the only light coming from the small flashlights.
“I think we’re close to it’s lair.” Dean told them after ten minutes.
“Why do you say that?” Janelle asked.
“Because there’s another puke inducing pile next to Sam’s face.” Dean told them, making Sam jump and Janelle laugh.
“Oh god.” Sam said, disgust in his voice as he turned to face the direction he was walking in before.
“It looks like he’s been here for a while.” Janelle said, looking at the pile of clothes on the floor.
“Who knows how many murders he’s gotten away with.” Sam said, looking around. Sam and Janelle both turned to Dean and saw the shape shifter right behind him.
“Dean!” They both yelled as Dean turned around and the shape shifter knocked him to the side, hurting his left shoulder. Janelle and Sam both aimed at it and shot, but they each missed. Janelle moved to help Dean up who was holding his shoulder.
“Get the son of a bitch.” Dean told the both of them. Sam ran off first, trying to stay as close as possible.
“You alright?” Janelle asked.
“Janelle, go I’m fine.” Janelle nodded and took off after Sam and the Shape shifter. She followed them up another manhole and found Sam up there, looking around. About a minute later they were met with Dean.
“Alright, lets split up.” Sam told them. They all nodded and took off in three different directions. Janelle took off down an alley and found a bunch of people walking around but no one who looked like the shape shifter.
“I really hate you fuckers.” Janelle muttered, as she continued to look around, keeping hold of her gun that she just put in her jacket pocket.
About an hour later with no sign of the shape shifter, Janelle met up with Sam outside a store a few blocks away from the Impala.
“Hey.” They both turned to find Dean walking toward them. “Find him?”
“No.” Sam said.
“He like disappeared.” Janelle finished.
“Alright, lets get back to the car.” Dean said. They all nodded and headed back to the Impala. As Janelle walked, something felt wrong but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
“You think he found another way underground?” Sam asked.
“Probably.” Dean shrugged. “You got the keys?”
“Yeah.” Sam said, reaching for the keys. He paused for a minute and turned to Dean. “Hey, didn’t dad once face a shape shifter in San Antonio?”
“That was Austin.” Dean corrected. “And it turned out not to be a shape shifter but some thought form. Psychic projection, remember.”
“Oh right.” Sam nodded, tossing Dean the keys. Janelle watched as Dean reached up and caught them with his left hand. She followed Sam to the other side of the car as Dean opened the trunk.
“That’s not Dean. His shoulder was injured, remember.” Janelle whispered.
“I know.” Sam said, taking out his gun and walking over to the trunk. “Don’t Move!” He yelled, pointing the gun at Dean.
“What have you done with him?” Janelle asked.
“Dude chill, it’s me, alright.” Dean said calmly.
“No I don’t think so.” Sam shook his head. “Where’s my brother?”
“You’re about to shoot him. Sam calm down.” Dean said, holding his hands up.
“You caught those keys with your left, your shoulder was hurt.” Janelle told him.
“Yeah, it’s all better. What do you want me to do, cry?” Dean asked.
“You’re not my brother.” Sam told him.
“Why don’t you pull the trigger then, hm. Cause you’re not sure.” Dean said. “Dude, you know me.”
“I don’t.” Sam said, shaking his head.
“Janelle does.” Dean said, looking at her with a smirk.
“You’re not Dean.” Janelle shook her head. Dean just nodded before hitting Sam’s arm with a crowbar, knocking the gun out of his hand before knocking him out. “Sam!” Janelle yelled before she felt something hit her head and everything went black.