Sam who is lying on the floor beside a motel bed and coming out of the vision. The door opens and Dean enters, chewing on jerky, and carrying a six-pack of beer. Ana was eating a burger, and in her other hand was a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Sam sits up, panting. "Sam?" Dean asks his brother.

"No..." Sam whispers barely audible.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Dean is driving, Sam is navigating with a GPS device which speaks, directions. "Continue on O-R Two-Two- Four West." The GPS replies.

"There are only two towns in the US named Rivergrove." Sam says.

"How come you're so sure it's the one in Oregon?" Dean asks, as Sam has a flashback to the vision.

"There was a picture. Crater Lake." Sam says.

"Okay, what else?" Ana asks as she took the last bite out of her burger.

"I saw a dark room, some people, and a guy tied to a chair."  Sam says as Ana gives him a weird look.

"And Dean ventilated him?" Ana asks.

"Yeah, he thought there was something inside him." Sam says.

"What, a demon? Was he possessed?" Dean asked.

"I don't know." Sam says.

"Well, all your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed bitch somehow so was there any black smoke? Did we try to exorcise it?" Dean asks.

"No. Nothing, you just plugged him, that's it." Sam says.

"Well, I'm sure I had a good reason." Dean says.

"I sure hope so." Sam says.

"What does that mean?" Dean asks. "I mean, I'm not gonna waste an innocent man." Dean says as Sam raises his eyebrows. "I wouldn't!"

"I never said you would!" Sam exclaims.

"Fine!" Dean exclaims back.

"Fine! Look, we don't know what it is. But whatever it is, that guy in the chair's a part of it. So, let's find him, and see what's what." Sam says.

"Fine." Dean says.

"Fine." Sam says.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The brothers and Ana pull into town past a large billboard advertising Crater Lake. They pull up in front of a wooden shop; out front the older man is cleaning a rifle; he wears a short-sleeved blue shirt with a multi-pocket brown vest. The brothers and Ana get out and approach him.

"Morning." Dean greets the man.

"Good morning. Can I help you?" The man asks.

"Yeah." Dean says as the three of them pull out their badges. "Uh, Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Natasha Carson. US. Marshals."

"What's this about?" The guy asks.

"We're looking for someone." Dean says.

"A young man, early twenties." Sam says. "He'd have a, a thin scar right below his hairline."

"What did he do?" The guy asks.

"Well, nothin'. We're actually looking for someone else, but we think this young man could help us." Sam says.

"Yeah, he's not in any kind of trouble or anything' well, not yet." Dean says as he glances down at the man's arm which shows a distinctive tattoo. "I think maybe you know who he is... Master Sergeant." Dean says with a small smile. "My Dad was in the Corps; he was a Corporal."

"What company?" The man asks.

"Echo-2-1." Dean says.

"So, can you help us?" Sam asks.

"Duane Tanner's got a scar like that. But I know him. Good kid, keeps his nose clean." The man says.

"Oh, I'm sure he does." Dean says.

"Do you possibly know where he lives, by any chance?" Ana asks.

"With his family, up Aspen Way." The man says.

"Thank you." Dean says.

The three of them leave and cross the street. Sam bumps into a telephone pole and glances at it in passing. He stops in his tracks and sees something carved into the wood. Which is a single word. 

Croatoan. 

The brothers and Ana approach the pole, as Sam points at the word with a significant look. "Hey." Sam says.

"Croatoan?" Dean says, as he looks at the word carved into the pole. 

"Roanoke? Last colony? Ring a bell?" Ana says to her boyfriend who looks at her blankly. "Did you ever pay attention in history class or were you to busy making out with girls."

"Shots heard 'round the world. How bills become laws." Dean says as Ana furrowed her eyebrows at Dean.

"That's Schoolhouse Rock, idiot." Ana says.

"Whatever." Dean says.

"Roanoke was one of the first English colonies in America, late 1500s?" Ana says.

"Yeah, I do remember that. The only thing they left behind was a single word carved in a tree. Croatoan." Dean says.

"Yeah, and I mean, there were theories -- Indian raid, disease, but nobody knows what really happened. They were all just gone. I mean, wiped out overnight." Sam says.

"You don't think that's what's going on here, I mean..." Dean says.

"Whatever, I saw in my head, it sure wasn't good. But what do you think could do that?" Sam asks as Ana shrugs her shoulders.

"Beats me, and that's a shocker." Ana says.

"Well, I mean, like I said, all of your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow, so..." Dean says.

"We should get help. Bobby, uh Ellen, Ash or Mia, maybe?" Sam says.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Dean says as he pulls out his phone and then frowns at it. "I don't have a signal."

Both Sam and Ana do the same and they shake their heads. "We don't either." 

The three of them walk to a pay phone, which Ana picks up, then there is an out of service beeping as Ana clicks the receiver several times. "Line's dead." She says as she hangs up. "If I was gonna massacre a town, I'd cut the line first and any signal."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The Impala is parked outside a cabin-like house in the middle of nowhere, and the brothers and Ana approach the front door of the house. By the door there is a small, tacky plaque that reads "BORN TO FISH; FORCED TO HUNT". Ana knocks on the door and a teenage boy with dark spiked hair opens it. "Yeah?" The teenager asks.

Ana flashes her badge along with the brothers who did the same thing that she did. "We're looking for Duane Tanner; he lives here, right?" Ana asks with a small smile.

"Yeah, he's, my brother." The teenager says.

"Can we talk to him, please?" Ana asks.

"Oh, he's not here right now." The teenager says.

"Do you know where he is by any chance?" Dean asks.

"Yeah, he went on a fishing trip up by Roslyn Lake." The teenager says.

"Are your parents' home?" Ana asks.

"Yeah, they're inside." The teenager says.

"Jake? Who is it?" A voice asks as Ana is guessing it is the father.

"Hi, US. Marshals, sir, we're looking for your son Duane." Dean says.

"Wh-why? He's not in trouble, is he?" The father asks.

"No, no, no, no. We just need to ask him a couple of routine questions, that's all." Ana says.

"When's he due back from his trip?" Sam asks.

"I'm not sure." The father says.

"Well, maybe your wife knows." Sam says.

"No, I don't know, she's not here right now." The father says.

"Well, that's not what your son says." Ana says to the father.

"Did I?" The teenager says as Ana narrows her eyes, but she doesn't say anything to the teenager.

"She's getting groceries. So, when Duane gets back, there's a number where he can get a hold of you, three?" The father asks as Ana shakes her head no.

"Oh no, we'll just check in with you later." Ana says as the three of them turn and walk down the steps as the Tanners shut the door behind them.

"That was kind of creepy? A little too Stepford?" Dean asks as Ana nods her head at what he said.

"Big time. They're hiding and lying about something." Ana says as Sam looks at her. "What? I watch crime shows, sue me."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Beverly Tanner is tied to a chair and gagged; Her son Jake comes around behind her as he has his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, Mom. It's not gonna hurt." Jake says to her, as Mr. Tanner comes out of the next room with a kitchen knife. 

Jake stands in front of his mother and casually rolls up one sleeve; his father cuts into his arm and lets the blood drip onto a wound in Beverly's shoulder.

Outside the house, the Winchester brothers and Ana arm themselves and kick down the back door. As they rush in, with their handguns raised, Mr. Tanner rushes at them with a knife. Ana shoots him twice in the chest, Jake jumps out of the window, shattering glass, and darts off into the woods. Sam aims at him through the window but hesitates, giving him time to geta way.

Beverly is in the backseat of the Impala with Ana, as they pull up in front of the clinic, Sam helps her out and leads her to the door. Dean opens the trunk with Ana beside him as Dean looks around furtively.

Sam leads Beverly inside, the clinic is quiet, dim and empty. "Hello? Hello? We need a doctor in here!" Sam calls out as a young woman rushes out concerned.

"Mrs. Tanner, what happened?" The doctor asks.

"She's been attacked." Sam states.

"Doctor Lee?" The doctor rushes.

"Bring her in." Dr. Lee says.

"Okay." Sam says.

Pam leads Sam and Beverly into a back room as Dr. Lee follows. Dean enters carrying the body of Mr. Tanner hoisted over his shoulders. 

"Is that--" Dr. Lee says.

"Mr. Tanner." Ana says.

"Was he attacked too?" Dr. Lee asks.

"Uh, no, actually he did the attacking and then got himself shot." Ana says.

"Shot?" Dr. Lee asks as Ana nods her head.

"Yeah." Dean says.

"And who are you two?" Dr. Lee asks the couple as Ana brings out her fake badge. Natasha Carson is on Ana's badge.

"US. Marshal." Ana says as Dr. Lee nods her head.

"Oh, sorry, bring him back here." Dr. Lee says.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Beverly is seated on a stool with her shirt off, Dr. Lee sits across from her, treating the wound on her left shoulder. The brothers and Ana are standing by the door, and as Beverly is talking to the nurse and the doctor, she is leaning her head onto Dean's shoulder, as he has his arm around her. "Wait, you said Jake helped him? Your son Jake?" Dr. Lee asks.

Beverly nods her head. "They also beat me and tied me up."

"I don't believe it." Pam says.

"Pam. Beverly, do you have any idea why they would act this way? Any history of chemical dependency?" Dr. Lee asks.

"No, of course not. I don't know why. One minute they were my husband and my son, and the next they had the devil in them."

The brothers and Ana are listening to this, and the three of them share a look at her last words. "We gotta talk." Dean says as they exit the lab. "Those guys are whacked out of their gourds." Dean says.

"What do you think, baby? Multiple demons, mass possession?" Ana asks her boyfriend.

"If it is a possession there could be more. I mean, God knows how many, it could be like a friggin Shriner convention." Dean says as Ana nods her head at what he said.

"Great." Sam says sarcastically as Ana nods her head at what Sam said.

"Of course, that's one way to wipe out a town, you take it from the inside." Dean says.

"I don't know, man. We didn't see any of the demon smoke with Mr. Tanner, or any of the other usual signs." Sam says.

"Well, whatever. Something turned him into a monster. And you know if you woulda taken out the other one there'd be one less to worry about." Dean says.

"I'm sorry, alright. I hesitated Dean, it was a kid!" Sam says.

"No, it was an 'it'. Not the best it me for a bleeding heart, Sam." Dean says as Ana rolls her eyes at the brothers.

Just then Dr. Lee stalks out of the lab, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. "How's the patient?" Ana asks.

"Terrible! What the hell happened out there?" The doctor asks.

"We don't know." Dean says.

"Yeah? Well, you just killed my next-door neighbor." The doctor says.

"We didn't have a choice." Ana states.

"Maybe so, but we need the county, Sheriff. I need the coroner..." The doctor says.

"Phones are down." Sam says.

"I know, I tried. Tell me you have a police radio in the car." The doctor says as Ana shakes her head no. 

"Yeah, we do, but it crapped out just like everything else." Sam says.

"I don't understand what is happening." The doctor says.

"Har far is the next town?" Dean asks.

"It's about forty miles down on Sidewinder." Dr. Lee says.

"Alright, me and her will go down there, see if we can find some help." Dean says as Ana follows Dean. "My other partner'll stick around, keep your guys safe."

"Safe from what?" Dr. Lee asks as that's when Ana turned around. 

"We'll get back to you on that." Ana says.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Dean pulls up behind a wrecked car with Oregon plates that read 'WTF 4C7', he stops the car to investigate, both him and Ana carry their handguns. The windows on the car are smashed and blood covers the seats; on the ground by the driver's side is a large bloody knife. Ana picks up the knife as she turns to Dean and shows him the knife covered in blood. The couple share a confused look.

They then get back into the car, as Ana is sitting next to Dean, her head is rested on his shoulder as he has his right arm around her. The road to the bridge is blocked by a roadblock which consists of several cars and a half-dozen locals with guns. One of the locals, Ana recognized to be Jake. Dean stops the car, frowning, something bangs down on the roof of the car and he and Ana jump, as a man leans over into the frame.

"Sorry, roads closed." The man says.

"Yeah, we can see that. What's up?" Dean asks.

"Quarantine." The man says.

"Quarantine? What is it?" Ana asks. 

"Don't know. Somethin' is going on around here." The man says.

"Uh-huh. Who told you that?" Dean asks.

"County Sheriff." The man replies. 

"Is he here?" Ana asks.

"No. He called. Say, why don't you get out of the car, and we'll talk a little?" The man says.

"Well, you are a handsome devil, but I don't swing that way, sorry." Dean says.

"That and um, he has a girlfriend." Ana says as she threw up a peace sign.

"I'd sure appreciate it if you got out of the car, just for a quick minute." The man says.

"Yeah, I'll bet you would." Dean says as he puts the car into a quick reverse, the man grabs Dean's collar and is dragged along. The men at the roadblock begin firing, and Dean swings the car around shaking the man off and zooming away.

Dean is driving back into, the man from earlier steps into his path brandishing a rifle, and he stops the car. "Hands where I can see 'em!" The man says.

Ana looks at Dean with wide eyes as she squeezed his hand. "D..."

"Get out of the car! Out of the car!" The man says, as Dean opens the door and gets out slowly.

"Alright, easy there, big guy." Dean says as he stands, Ana hands him a gun where the guy couldn't see and he points it at Mark. "Alright, put it down!"

"Lower it now!" Ana says as she has her own handgun.

"Are you two one of 'em?" The man asks.

"No! Are you?" Ana asks as she has her gun pointed at the man.

"No!" The man replies.

"You could be lying!" Dean replies.

"So could you two." The man replies.

"Alright! Alright. We could do this all day, alright? Let's just uh, let's take it easy before we kill each other." Dean says, as the three of them lower their guns slightly.

"What's going on with everybody?" The man asks.

"I don't know." Dean says.

"My neighbor... Mr. Rogers, he--" The man says.

"You've got a neighbor named Mr. Rogers?" Dean asks as Ana gives him a side-eyed look.

"Dean." Ana scolds quietly under her breath as Dean looked at her for a moment and sees her 'bitch' face on her face. 

Just like Sam.

"Not anymore." The man says. "He came at me with a hatchet. I put him down. He's not the only one. I mean, it's happening to everyone." The man says.

"Me and her are heading over to the Doc's place, there's still some people left." Dean says.

"No, no way. I'm getting the hell out of here." The man says.

"There's no way out, they got the bridge covered, now come on." Ana says to the man.

"I don't believe you."

"Well, then go to the bridge and find out." Ana sarcastically says.

Mark hesitates then changes his mind, he pulls out a handgun and keeps it pointed towards Dean and Ana as he gets in the backseat behind Ana. Instead of Dean having his gun pointed at Mark, Ana has her gun pointed at him, while remaining as close to Dean as possible.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Dr. Lee is looking through the microscope, Pam huddles against the far wall. "What if we all have it? What if we all go crazy?" Pam asks.

"You've got to stay calm. All we can do is wait. The Marshal's bringing help." Dr. Lee says.

"I can't, I... I've got to go." Pam says.

"Pam!" Dr. Lee calls out.

"No, no you don't understand. My boyfriend's out there, I gotta make sure he's okay." Pam says as she hurries out of the lab with Sam following her into the lobby.

"Alright, wait, wait. Please, look, I know you're upset, alright? But it's safer if you stay here for now. Help is coming." Sam says as he then hears the impala pulling up outside.

"There they are." Sam says.

"Sam! Open up." Ana calls out to the younger Winchester.

"Did you guys, uh get to a phone?" Sam asks the couple.

"Roadblock." Ana says as Dean turns towards Mark.

"I'm gonna have a word. Doc's inside." Dean says.

"What's going on out there, guys?" Sam asks

"I don't know, I feel like Chuck Heston in the Omega Man. I mean, Sarge is the only sane person I could find. What are we dealing with, do you know?" Dean asks,

"Yeah, Doc thinks it's a virus." Sam says.

"Okay, great. What do you think?" Dean asks.

"I think she's right." Sam says.

"Really?" Ana asks.

"Yeah, and I think the infected are trying to infect others with blood-to-blood contact. Oh, but it gets better. The uh, the virus? Leaves traces of sulfur in the blood.

"So, a demonic virus?" Ana asks.

"Yeah, more like demonic germ warfare. At least it explains, why I've been having visions." Sam says.

"It's like a Biblical plague." Dean says sarcastically.

"Yeah, you don't know how right you are, Dean. I've been poring through Dad's journal, found something about the Roanoke colony." Sam says.

"And?" Dean and Ana ask in unison as they do their fist bump.

"Dad always had a theory about Croatoan. He thought it was a demon's name. Sometimes known as Deva or sometimes Resheph. A demon of plague and pestilence." Sam explains as Ana nods her head.

"Well, that's terrific. Why here, why now?" Dean asks.

"I have no idea, but Dean, who knows how far this thing can spread? We gotta get outta of here, we gotta warn people." Sam says.

"They've got one! In here!" Mark says.

The brothers and Ana enter the next room. "What do you mean?" Ana asks.

"The wife. She's infected." Sam says.

"We've gotta take care of this. We can't just leave her in there. My neighbors, they were strong. The longer we wait, the stronger she'll get." Mark says as Dean barely hesitates before pulling out his gun and stalking into the lab.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"You're gonna kill Beverly Tanner?" Pam asks.

"Doctor, could there be any treatment? Some kind of cure for this?" Sam asks.

"Can you cure it?" Dean asks.

"For God's sake, I don't even know what 'it' is!" Dr. Lee exclaims.

"I told you it's just a matter of time before she breaks through." Mark says.

"Just leave her in there, you can't shoot her like an animal!" Pam says.

"Sam." Dean says.

They go to the door to the utility room, where Beverly is being held. Dean, Mark and Ana hold their guns ready. Sam carefully opens the door, and Dean, Mark and Ana take up offensive positions. Inside, Beverly is huddled on the floor, knees drawn up. She jumps at their approach.

"Mark, what are you doing? Mark, it's, it's them! They locked me in here, they, they, tried to kill me! They're infected, not me! Please, Mark! You've known me all your life! Please!" Beverly says begging.

"You sure she's one of 'em?" Ana asks as Sam nods his head as his face twists in distress. Mark pulls back in near tears as Ana steps forward and fires twice.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The shades are drawn, as Mark peers through them cautiously. A few people are gathered outside. Behind him Sam pulls out a hunting knife and checks the blade as Dean and Ana loads their guns. In the lab, Pam has just dropped a vial of blood, and she screams. 

"Oh God! Is there any on me? Am I okay?" Pam asks.

"You're clean, you're okay." Doctor Lee says.

"Why are we staying here? Please, let's just go!" Pam says.

"No, we can't because those things are everywhere." Ana says.

"Oh god." Pam says as she sinks down.

"Hey, shh, shh." Dr. Lee says.

"She's right about one thing. We can't stay here. We've gotta get out of here, get to the Roadhouse? Somewhere. Let people know what's coming." Sam says as Ana nods her head.

"Yeah, good point. Night of the Living Dead didn't exactly end pretty." Dean says.

"Well, I'm not sure we've got a chance. Lots of folks up here are good with rifles -- even with all your hardware we're, we're easy targets. So, unless you've got some explosives..." Mark says as Sam glances up at a shelf of medical supplies and gets an idea.

"We could make some." Sam says as he goes to the shelf and takes down a bottle of Potassium Chloride. Just then someone starts pounding frantically on the front door, Dean and Ana run out.

"Hey! Let me in, let me in! Please!" A voice says.

"It's Duane Tanner!" Mark says as he opens the door and lets Duane in, he has a backpack and is limping.

"Thank god." Duane says as Ana is standing next to Dean, as he has an arm around her.

"Duane, you, okay?" Mark asks.

"That's the guy that I uh..." Dean says.

"Yeah." Ana says.

"Who else is in here?" Duane asks.

"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there, chief. Hey Doc! Give Duane a good once-over, would you?" Dean says.

Dr. Lee leads the group into the lab. "Pam?"

"Who are you three?" Duane asks Dean, Ana and Sam.

"Never mind who we are. Doc." Dean says.

"Yeah, okay." Dr. Lee says.

"Duane. Where you been?" Mark asks.

"On a fishing trip up by Roslyn. I came back this afternoon. I... I saw Roger McGill being dragged out of his house by people we know! They started cutting him with knives! I ran; I've been hiding in the woods ever since. Has anybody seen my mom and Dad." Duane says.

Dean turns to Sam, attempting a joke. "Awkward..." Dean whispers to Sam, as Ana nudged Dean in the side.

Duane is sitting on a stool; his left leg has a deep dash in it. "You're bleeding." Dr. Lee says as Ana's face scrunched up at seeing the deep cut on Duane's leg.

"Where'd you get that?" Dean asks, as Ana covered her mouth to keep her food inside. 

"I was running, I must have tripped." Duane says.

"Tie him up, there's rope in there." Dean says.

"Wait...." Duane says.

Dean pulls his gun on Duane. "Sit down!"

"I'm sorry, Duane. He's right, we gotta be careful." Mark says.

"Careful? About what?" Duane asks.

"Did they bleed on you?" Ana asks as she cleared her throat.

"No, what the hell? No!" Duane exclaims.

"Doc? Any way to know for sure, any test?" Sam asks.

"I've studied Beverly's bloodwork backwards and forwards." Dr. Lee says.

"My mom!" Duane exclaims.

"It took three for the virus to incubate. The sulfur didn't appear in the blood until then, so... no, there'd be no way of knowing. Not until after Duane turns." Dr. Lee says.

"Dean, I gotta talk to you, two." Sam says, as Dean and Ana glance at Mark as they leave the lab.

"Sit in that chair." Mark says.

 ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"This is my vision, Dean. It's happening." Sam says.

"Yeah, I figured." Dean says

"You can't kill him, alright? Not yet. We don't know if he's infected or not." Sam says.

"Well, I think we're pretty damn sure. Guy shows up out of nowhere, he's got a cut on his leg, his whole family's infected?" Dean asks.

"Alright, then we should keep him tied up, and we should wait and see." Sam says, as Ana crosses her arms over her chest.

"For what? for him to Hulk out and infect somebody else? No thanks, can't take that chance." Dean says as he starts to push past Sam, who stops him with a hand on his chest. "Hey, look man, I'm not happy about this, okay? But it's a tough job and you know that."

"It's supposed to be tough, Dean. We're supposed to struggle with this, that's the whole point." Sam says.

"What does that buy us?" Dean asks his brother, as Ana just watches his happen.

"A clear conscience, for one!" Sam says.

"Well, it's too late for that." Dean says as Sam stops him again. 

"What the hell's happened to you?" Sam asks.

"What?" Dean asks.

"You might kill an innocent man, and you don't even care! You don't act like yourself anymore, Dean. Hell, you know what? You're acting like one of those things out there." Sam says.

Dean pushes past Sam for a third time, Sam tries to stop him again, but Dean hurls him against the far wall. He goes back into the hall and lock the door behind him. Ana's eyes widen at the sight of what just happened.

"Hey!" Sam says as he rattles the lock. "Open the damn door, Dean! Don't do it, Dean! Don't!"

Dean is now in the hallway with Ana beside him. Ana drops the clip out of the gun and taps it against the butt, then replaces it. Dean opens the door to the lab and shuts it behind him. Duane who is tied to the chair and Mark, Pam and Dr. Lee stand nearby. "No, you're not gonna.... No, no, I swear it's not in me!"

"Oh God. We're all gonna die." Pam says scared.

"Maybe he's telling the truth." Mark says.

"No, he's not him, not anymore." Ana says.

"Stop it! Ask her, as the doctor! It's not in me!" Duane says as Ana cocks the gun at Duane.

"I... I can't tell." The doctor says.

"Please, don't. Don't please. I swear, it's not in me, it's not in me. I swear, I, I swear it's not in me. No, don't." Duane says sobbing.

"We have no choice." Dean says as Dean has his own gun pointed at Duane with his finger hovering over the trigger like Ana. Duane is sobbing, as the others are watching in tense silence. Ana trembles and hesitates and lowers her gun with a grimace.

"Damn it." Ana mutters under her breath as Duane pants in relief as then Dean and Ana leave the room.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The brothers and Ana are preparing explosives with rags and glass bottles. Dr. Lee enters, with her hands in her pockets. "It's been over four hours. Duane's blood is still clean. I don't think he's infected. I'd like to untie him, if that's alright." 

Ana lowered her head as her thoughts are racing in her head. The brothers shared a look as Sam nods his head.

"Sure. Yeah." Sam says as the doctor then leaves as Sam turns his attention back to Dean. 

"You know, Ana I'm gonna ask you why." Sam says to the redhead as she brings her head back up as she wasn't paying attention anymore. Her anxiety is spirling right now. 

"Yeah, I know." Ana grumbles under her breath as Dean furrows his brows as he was going to ask something, but he stopped himself. Then Ana stood up as the brothers looked at her. "We need more alcohol." She says as she gets up and goes into the dispensary and finds Pam already there.

"How are you holding up, Pam?" Ana asks.

"Good. It'll be over soon." Pam says as she shuts the door and locks it as Ana has her back turned as she didn't notice. "In fact, I've been waiting for this the whole time."

"For what?" Ana asks.

"To get you alone." Pam says, as before Ana could say anything Pam lashed out and knocks Ana to the ground. Pam sits on Ana's stomach and hits her hard across the face. Panic takes over Ana's body, as that's what her biological father used to do to her when she was three-years old. 

Outside the room, Dean and Mark hear the commotion and arm themselves with their guns. Pam has a scalpel in one hand which she slices across Ana's chest and then across her own palm, placing her wound over the redheads. Dean kicks the door open and shoots Pam three times in the back. She convulses and falls to the floor. Ana reaches out a hand to Dean, who starts to lean over to take it, but Mark pulls him back.

"She bled on her, she's got the virus." Mark says as Ana pulls her hand back, as Dean looks from Ana to Pam.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Ana is now sitting on the stool, with a bandage pressed to her chest. Her eyes are down, as she has some tears on her cheeks. The others surround her as Dean paces angrily. "Doc, check her wound again, would you?" Dean asks as there was a pause. "Doctor!"

"What's she need to examine her for? You saw what happened." Mark says.

"Did her blood actually enter your wound?" Dr. Lee asks.

"Come on, of course it did!" Mark says.

"We don't know that for sure." Dean says.

"We can't take a chance." Duane says.

"You know what we have to do." Mark says as Ana's eyes slowly look up at Mark.

"Nobody is shooting my girlfriend." Dean says.

"She isn't gonna be your girlfriend much longer. You said it yourself." Duane says.

"Nobody is shooting anyone!" Dean says louder.

"She was gonna shoot me!" Duane says pointing a finger at Ana.

"You don't shut your face, I still might!" Ana says which made the room go quiet, as she then turns to Dean. "They're right, baby. I'm infected; just give me the gun and I'll do it myself." Ana says to him.

"Forget it, sweetheart." Dean says to her.

"Dean, I'm not gonna become one of those things." Ana says.

"Sam, we've still got some time." Dean says, not wanting to lose his girlfriend to some virus.

"Time for what? Look, I understand, he's your girlfriend, and I'm sorry, I am. But we gotta take care of this." Mark says as he pulls out a handgun. 

"I'm gonna say this one time -- you make a move on her, and you'll be dead before you hit the ground. You understand me? I mean, do I make myself clear?!" Dean says to Mark and also everyone else.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Mark asks as Dean tosses Mark his keys.

"Get the hell out of here, that's what. Take my car. You've got the explosives; there's an arsenal in there. You go with him. You've got enough firepower to handle anything now. My brother Sam will go with you also." Dean says.

"What about you?" Mark asks.

"Dean, no. No. Go with them. I'm gonna be okay. This is your only chance." Ana says as her voice cracked.

Dean turned to Ana with a softer look than before. It is a look that she has seen numerous times when it's just the two of them. A look of love but this time it has concern. He wasn't going to leave Ana and let her die from a virus. Even if he does lose Ana, he wants to be there for her. "You're not gonna get rid of me that easy, sweetheart."

"No, she's right, come with us." Mark says as there was a beat of silence. "Okay, it's your funeral." mark says as he leads Duane, and Dr. Lee out the door.

"I'm sorry. Thanks for everything, Marshals." Dr. Lee says as she leaves as Dean shuts the door behind her. He turns slowly to face Ana who starts to cry.

"Wish we had a deck of card, or a foosball table or something." Dean says attempting to joke, but Ana didn't look up as her lip was trembling. When Dean turns to his girlfriend and her lack of reaction, as his heart breaks at seeing her. "Sweetheart..." He mutters to his girlfriend as she slowly looks up at him, seeing her puffy eyes.

"Just go, baby. I'm sick, and I don't wanna get you sick either." Ana says merely above a whisper to her boyfriend as he wanted to move closer to her and hug her and tell her that everything is going to be okay. "Just go."

Dean shakes his head at what she said. Him leaving her will be the last thing that he'd do to her. Given the fact that the last time that he had left her, him and Ana broke up for a couple days. That will be the last thing that he'd ever do.

"I'm not leaving, baby." Dean says to her as he sits on the counter across from Ana. 

"You can keep going." Ana mutters to Dean as he shook his head.

"Who says I want to? Besides I want my trusty beautiful sidekick with me. Not the Moose I have for a brother." Dean says to her as Ana lips curled up slightly, but the small smile didn't meet her eyes nor Dean's.

"I'm tired, baby. I'm tired of this job, this life... this weight on my shoulders, baby. I'm tired of it sweetheart." Dean says as Ana raises her eyes to Dean.

Before Ana could reply there was a noise outside, a moment later there's a knock on the door, Dean picks up both his handguns and crosses to the door. Dr. Lee is there, as he opens the door.

"You'd better come see this." Dr. Lee says, as all of the survivors are standing just outside the clinic, everything else in sight is deathly silent. "There's no one. Not anywhere. They've all just... vanished."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Dr. Lee is looking through the microscope, Ana is seated on the exam table. "Well, it's been five hours and your bloods still clean. I don't understand it but I think you dodged a bullet." Dr. Lee says.

"But I was exposed. How could I not be infected?" Ana asks.

"I don't know. But you're just not. I mean, you come it with the Tanner samples." Dr. Lee says as she looks through another microscope. "What the hell?" She asks.

"What?" Ana asks.

"Their blood. There's no trace of the virus. No sulfur, nothing." Dr. Lee says.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Mark and Duane are loading up a truck, Dr. Lee stands in the doorway of the clinic. "Hey, the Sarge and I are getting the hell out of here, heading south. You should come." Duane says.

"I'd better get over to Sidewinder, get the authorities up here. If they'll believe me. Take care." Dr. Lee says as Mark waves her and the Winchester brothers who are leaning against the impala with Ana.

"What about her?" Dean asks as he pointed to Ana with his other hand that isn't wrapped around her. Glad that he can finally touch her again, because the virus is gone.

"She's going to be fine. No signs of infection." Dr. Lee says as she goes back inside as Mark and Duane pull away in the truck. Dean turns to Ana.

"Don't look at me, I got no clue." Ana says.

"I swear, I'm gonna lose sleep over this one. I mean, why here, why now? And where the hell did everybody go? It's like they just friggin' melted." Dean says as Ana shrugs her head.

"Why was I immune?" Ana asks.

"Yeah, you know what? That's a good question, but all that matters is that you're okay." Dean says as Ana softly smiled at him which made him return it.

Sam looks at Ana happy that she is okay and no longer sick which was weird as is. She was sick and now it suddenly disappeared like it wasn't there in the first place. "We're both glad that you're okay, Ana." Sam says.

"I know that we, by we I mean me, almost died because I was the unlucky one who got sick. But can I get food." Ana says as Dean chuckles a little at what she said.

When Ana wants food, Ana gets food, after all she is his babygirl, and anything the babygirl wants, the babygirl gets.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

After getting Ana food, the Impala is parked by the side of a road, overlooking a river. Ana is eating her food and looking at the river, Dean and Sam lean against a fence, drinking beer. "So, what happened last night?" Sam asks, as Ana gave Sam a side-eye, but she turned her attention back to the river in front of her.

"And if I don't?" Dean asks.

"Then I guess I'll just have to keep asking until you do." Sam says as Ana shook her head with a small eyeroll. The brothers are always fighting and or disagreeing over something and she is slowly getting tired of it. 

"I just think maybe we oughta go to the Grand Canyon." Dean says as Ana softly smiled at what he said.

"What? Why?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, you know all this driving back and forth across the country, you know I've never been to the Grand Canyon? Or we could go to TJ or Hollywood?" Dean says.

"You're not making any sense." Sam says to his brother, as Ana shrugged her shoulders at what he said.

"Try living and dating him. Then come to me." Ana says butting into the brother's conversation as Dean gave her a 'bitch' face look.

"Annie, don't make me take away your food." Dean says pointing a finger at Ana as she just stuck out her tongue at him. 

"Why are you saying all this?" Sam asks, getting back onto the conversation as Dean shakes his head turning away.

"You're my brother, alright? So, whatever weight you're carrying, let me help you a little bit." Sam says, as Dean didn't his head back to his brother.

"I can't. I promised." Dean says as Sam turns to his brother as does Ana. Because this is the first that she's hearing this herself.

"Who?" Sam asks.

"Dad." Dean replies.

"What are you talking about?" Sam asks the very question that Ana herself had in her mind?

Dean looks down to the ground avoiding Sam's eye contact. "Right before Dad died, he told me something." Dean says as he takes a deep breath then looks at Sam. "He told me something about you."

"What? Dean, what did he tell you?" Sam asks his brother as Ana took a bite out of her burger that she got, that was originally Dean's, but she took it.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

hannah speaks!

hope you like this chapter!