SKIN [PART TWO]
___

"You wanna know something about me? I only stayed with you out of pity. I never truly loved you, how could I? Truth is, I felt tied down because of the kid."
—
"That's not true. I know that's not true."

• • •

Juliet and Sam are sitting on the couch in Becky's living room, Dean stands behind the said furniture, as Harlow sits at the table, drawing. Becky had been kind enough to fetch Harlow some coloring pens and blank sheets of paper to occupy the five-year-old as the adults go through the security footage that Becky had nabbed from the station.

Becky points to the tv screen as it shows Zack walking up to and entering his house.

"Here he comes."

Juliet flicks her eyes down to the timestamp on the security footage. "22:04, that's just after ten." She then moves her eyes up to Becky, still making sure to watch the security tape from the corner of her eye. If a hunter is good at anything, it's tracking and multi-tasking. "You said the time of death was about 10:30."

Becky nods her head, "Our Lawyers hired some kind of video expert. He says the tape's authentic. It wasn't tampered with."

It's then the security footage is quick to grab Juliet's full attention as something in Zack's eyes piques her interest and it seems Sam notices it as well as the young Winchester brother is quick to get Becky outta the room.

"Hey, Bec, can we take those beers now?"

Becky, none the wiser, nods her head with a smile on her face as she gets up from the arm of the couch. "Oh, sure." The blonde just about makes it past the threshold before Sam's voice gets her attention, once more. "Hey." The blonde turns around and looks at Sam, silently asking him what else he wants. "Maybe some sandwhiches, too?" Becky rolls her eyes and scoffs, "What do you think this is, Hooters?" The three hunters watch as she leaves the room.

"I wish."

Juliet's head snaps to Dean at hearing his voice, she raises a deadly eyebrow at her boyfriend for the comment. Dean holds up both hands, palms facing towards her, in surrender as a cheeky smile crosses his face. "Kidding. I was kidding." Juliet just rolls her eyes as Dean walks over to her from behind the couch and places an arm around her waist as he looks to his brother and then to the television, knowing his brother and Juliet have picked up on something he hasn't.

"What is it?"

Juliet looks to Sam, also, and nods her head to the remote which Sam grabs before looking to his brother and best friend.

"Check this out."

The mother and father watch as Sam rewinds the tape before playing it frame by frame. In one of the said frames, it shows Zack looking into the camera, directly. Juliet tilts her head, curious, as when the camera light shines in his eyes, they change to a silver color. The best way to describe it, would be 'lizard-like'.

Sam pauses the tape at that moment.

Dean shrugs his shoulders as he looks at the paused image, "Well,maybe it's just a camera flare."

Juliet rolls her eyes.

"C'mon, Dean. We both know that's not just a camera flare."

Sam nods his head, agreeing with the huntress.

"I agree. That's not like any camera flare I've ever seen." He looks between the two other hunter's before looking back to the television screen. "You know, a lot of cultures believe that a photograph can catch a glimpse of the soul."

Dean nods his head, like he doesn't really believe his brother's words.

"Right."

Juliet huffs at Sam's words, "You said that about the mirrors with that whole 'Bloody Mary' fiasco. Does that imply all things that can reflect people, like mirrors and photographs and so on, can capture a glimpse of people's souls?"

Sam rolls his eyes at Juliet's smartass rhetorical question before motioning to the neighbor's dog, outside.

"Remember that dog that was freakin' out? Maybe he saw this thing. Maybe this is some kind of dark double of Zack's, something that looks like him but isn't him."

Dean raises an eyebrow, on the fence of being convinced.

"Like a Doppelganger."

Juliet nods her head from side to side, thinking Sam's theory over before shrugging her shoulders.

"I mean, it would explain how Sammy's friend here, was able to be in two places at once."

• • •

Dean parks Baby behind Zack's house, the poor Winchester looks as if he's ready to go back to sleep and Juliet can't blame him as she, too, feels like she could just keel over and gain a few extra hours. The huntress side eyes her daughter, envious at how she can just fall asleep in the back of the car. She wishes she could do that right now, but she can't because work calls.

Her, Sam and Dean exit the Impala, the former and latter of the three, both look around with half-closed eyes. Juliet notices that Dean still even has his bed hair. The said Winchester brother looks to his younger sibling with a quirk of his brows. "Alright, so what are we doin' here at 5:30 in the morning?"

Juliet stiffles a yawn as she points to her boyfriend and nods her head, agreeing with his question.

"I second that. I could be asleep right now, having a lay in, so you better have a good reason for dragging our asses out here this early in the morning or so help me, Sam Winchester, I'm wooping your ass."

Sam rolls his eyes, knowing that she's never really been a morning person, even when they were kids but he decides to humor his best friend and tells them his reasoning for coming back to Zack's house so early in the morning that, and the fact Sam knows that she's being serious with her threat and wouldn't put it against her to follow through with it. "I realized something. The videotape shows the killer goin' in, but not comin' out."

Juliet walks over to Dean and the two lean against the hood of the Impala, sharing a cup coffee between them. They need all the caffeine they can get if they're starting this early in the morning. Dean replies to Sam as he passes the cup of coffee to Juliet.

"So, he came out the back door?"

Sam nods his head, "Right. So, there should be a trail to follow. A trail the police would never persue."

Juliet's eyes widen as she makes the connection as to what Sam is saying.

"Oh, right. 'Cause they think Zack's doppleganger never left."

Sam nods his head, silently telling Juliet that she's correct.

Dean looks at his brother as Juliet passes the coffee cup back to him, he takes a sip from the cup before joining in with his input.

"And they never caught your friend Zack inside." He then shakes his head, "I still don't know what we're doin' here at 5:30 in the morning." Juliet shrugs her shoulders in reply to Dean as she watches Sam look around the outside of his friend's house. She furrows her eyebrows as Sam crouches down by the telephone pole. The huntress walks a bit closer and it's then she notices what he has found, a stain of crimson red, only one thing can be that color and it isn't grape juice.

Sam turns from the crimson stain and looks to his brother and best friend.

"Blood. Somebody came this way."

Juliet looks at the blood stain before taking a look around the building herself, she shrugs her shoulders when she can't suss anything out.

"Looks like the trail ends." She then looks up at Dean, "What about you?" The said Winchester glances around the area where he's standing but once he comes up empty handed, he turns back to Juliet and shakes his head, "I don't see anything over here."

It's then a high-pitched whirring sound can be heard, it gets all three hunters attention. They watch as an ambulance speeds past them, sirens blaring. Sam, Dean and Juliet share a look with one another, the latter of the three breaks the staring match half a second later.

"We should probably go and check that out."

With that being said, the three hunters pile into the car and follow the ambulance.

• • •

Dean parks the car before looking in the rearview mirror, the Winchester child is still alseep, the siren hadn't even disturbed the young girl. He casts his eyes down to Juliet who's in the passenger seat. "It amazes me how that kid can sleep through anything." Juliet shrugs her shoulders, "Well she is your kid, as well. Must get it from her father."

Dean rolls his eyes, knowing that he isn't that bad.

The three hunters get out of the car and survey the growing crowd of the public, Juliet watches as a blonde woman is being escorted out of the building, she looks really bloody, Juliet notes, and traumatised by the way she's crying and shaking.

Dean, Juliet and Sam join the crowd outside a block of apartments, the ambulance had led them here. They watch as a man is arrested and put in the back of a cop car.

Juliet turns to the woman that's standing next to her, a look of curiosity relfected in her chocolate brown eyes.

"What happened?"

The woman glances at the brunette huntress before replying, "He tried to kill his wife. Tied her up and beat her." Her words gained both, Sam and Dean's attention. The former of the Winchester brothers, turns to the woman, a look of surprise on his face. "Really?" The woman nods her head, "I used to see him going to work in the morning. He'd wave, say hello. He seemed like such a nice guy."

The three hunters watch as the man is taken away before sharing a look between the three of them.

• • •

Juliet and Sam are 'round the side of the apartment building, looking around to see what leads they can find, this isn't a coincidence, at least Juliet doesn't think so. She watches as Sam looks inside two garbage cans, she sighs when he turns to her and shakes his head.

Nothing.

Harlow stands next to her mother, the small child hadn't woken up that long ago. The five year old rubs the tiredness from her eyes before watching her uncle and mom get to work. She enjoys days like these, where she actually gets to watch her small family work. She hates it when she gets to miss out on things.

The huntress goes back to surveying the ground, trying to find anymore blood spots, like from behind Zack's house, but she can't find anything.

The sound of footsteps makes the huntress look up, she spots Dean walking towards them, she sends him a small smile as he gets closer, he returns it before glancing between the two hunters, the smile wiped from his face, a serious expression replacing it.

"Hey."

At the sound of his brother's voice, Sam turns around. Having got his attention, Dean continues. "Remember when I said this wasn't our kind of problem?" Sam squints his eyes at his brother as Harlow's face brightens up at seeing her dad.

"Daddy."

Dean smiles as he crouches down and braces himself for Harlow's impact as she runs toward him at full speed...well, as fast as her little legs can carry her. The little Winchester rushes into her father's arms and giggles as he lifts her up in the air before catching her and setting her on his shoulders.

Sam smiles at the sight, hating to break the little moment but they have a job to do.

"Yeah."

Sam's voice snaps Dean's focus back onto the case. It takes him a second before he remembers what he was going to say.

"Well, it's definitely our kind of problem."

Juliet rolls her eyes as she looks at Dean, a deadpan look on her face.

"See, this is why you should listen to me and Sam, Mr. "I don't think it's our kinda problem." As always, it turns out that we," she motions to her and Sam with her index finger, "were right and you," the brunette then points to Dean, "were wrong."

Dean huffs a breath of air, "Yeah, yeah. I know."

Juliet smiles, "So, go on. Tell us, what did you find out?"

Dean glances between both hunters before telling the two the information that he's gotten hold of. "Well, I just talked to the patrolman who was first on the scene, heard this guy, Alex's story. Apparently the dude was driving home from a buisness trip when his wife was attacked."

Sam nods his head, having processed his brother's words, "So, he was in two places at once?" Dean nods his head, "Exactly. Then he sees himself in the house, police think he's a nutjob."

So it seems Juliet's theory was right. She looks to Dean, "If you ask me, I think that's too much to be a coincidence." Dean points at her and nods his head, "I agree with that."

Juliet jokingly rolls her eyes, "I think that's the first time I've heard you say that, ever."

The oldest Winchester brother lets out a sarcastic laugh at his girlfriend's words. "You're so funny." Juliet gives him a cheeky smile and a wink, "Oh, I know."

Sam's voice gets both of their attention, he, once again, brings them back to the case they're working.

"Two dark doubles attacking loved ones in exactly the same way."

Dean pulls a face, "Could be the same thing doin' it, too."

Juliet hums in agreement, "I don't know about you, but this all seems familiar. Like, it's on the tip of my tongue but I just can't figure it out."

Sam thinks for a second before an idea hits him, "Shapeshifter?" Dean shrugs at his brother's words as Juliet mouths the word Sam has just said, racking 'round in her brain, tryna firgure out why the name of the monster sounds familiar.

Sam continues, "Something that can make itself look like anyone?"

Dean hums, "Every culture in the world has a shapeshifter lore. You know, legends of creatures who can transform themselves into animals or other men." Sam nods his head, "Right, skinwalkers, werewolves."

It's then a thought hits Juliet, well more like a memory. She claps her hands together as it strikes her. "That was it," the brunette turns to her boyfriend, "Wasn't there a shapeshifter we hunted a few years back, but that one had a different M.O." She turns to Sam to explain as she sees the confused look on his face. "While you were at Stanford, Dean and I had a run in with a shapeshifter, but it was different. That one seemed to go after children, it found out we were on to it and took Harlow as leverage. We got her back, of course and killed the shifter."

Dean's eyes widen as he, too, remembers that hunt.

"Good thing, too. I was desperate to put a bullet in its head," He smiles as he recalls the memory of doing just that, "Good times." Juliet shakes her head at her boyfriend's wistful smile. Sam looks between the two, "Uh, guys. The case here?"

Juliet smiles sheepishly, "Sorry, Sammy." Dean lifts his head up and down in a nod as he points to his brother, "Yes. Good point. So, we've got two attacks within blocks of each other." He then nods to Juliet, "I think Jules is right. I'm guessin' we've got a shapeshifter prowlin' the neighborhood."

Sam raises an eyebrow, a question on his mind as he glances between his brother and best friend. "Let me ask you this—in all this shapeshifter lore, can any of them fly?" Dean and Juliet share a look before shaking their heads, the former of the two deciding to answer. "Not that I know of." Juliet furrows her eyebrows, curious, as she turns to Sam. "Why?"

The said Winchester brother motions to the apartment building where the beating had taken place.

"I picked up a trail here. Someone ran out the back of this building and headed off this way."

Dean instantly makes the connection, "Just like your friend's house." Sam nods his head, "Yeah. And, just like at Zack's house, the trail suddenly ends. I mean, whatever it is just disappeared."

Juliet eyes the drains as a thought pops into her head, a thought that disgusts her.

"I really don't wanna do this, but there is another way to go."

Sam and Dean look at her, confused. Juliet sighs, really wishing there was another way.

"We could go down."

It's then the two Winchester brother's notices what Juliet had, a manhole.

• • •

Juliet pulls a face of disgust as her feet touch the sewer's floor. She grimaces at the smell that hits her nose, she wrinkles it as she tries her very best not to gag at the strong odor. She looks up at the ladder which she had just descended from and watch as Sam and Dean climb down the ladder, too.

She makes sure to keep a watchful eye on Harlow, the five year old clinging to her father like he's her life line.

The mother and father were very reluctant to bring Harlow down into the sewers but they had little to no choice as it's too late to drop her 'round Becky's, not that the their daughter wouldn't put up a fight, and Juliet sure as hell won't let the young girl stay in the car alone at night, in an alley.

So, they had no choice but to bring her.

The three hunters turn on their flashlights as Sam turns to his brother and best friend while the three hunters and small child start to walk down the sewers, Dean making sure to keep a tight grip on his daughter's hand.

"I bet this runs right by Zack's house, too. The shapeshifter could be using the sewer system to get around."

Dean and Juliet stop in their tracks, both noticing something on the wet concrete. Dean nods his head, agreeing with his brother, as he tells Harlow to close her eyes before shining his flashlight on the thing that had captured both his and Juliet's attention.

"I think you're right. Look at this."

The three hunters bend down to examine the pile of blood and skin on the ground. All hunters baring looks of disgust on their faces. Sam shakes his head as Dean passes Harlow to his brother, the little girl using her uncle's jacket to shield her face as she squuezes her eyes shut and puts her hand over her ears, she doesn't like the dark and she certainly doesn't like being in the sewer.

Juliet watches as Dean takes out his pocket knife and holds up some of the skin from the pile before them. The huntress wrinkles her nose once more, swallowing the lump of bile that's beginning to form in her throat. She watches as Dean tilts his head before eyeing the two hunters either side of him.

"You know, I just had a sick thought. When the shapeshifter changes shape—maybe it sheds."

Juliet shakes her head, gagging as she looks away from the pile of skin and blood. She classes herself as an experienced hunter, she's excellent at tracking monsters and weapons shooting. Hell, she could shoot an arrow with a blindfold on and still shoot the target in the center, but there are something's, in this job, that even she has trouble dealing with, and this pile of skin and blood, with a horrendous smell, is one of them.

Sam nods his head at his brother, "That is sick."

The two best friend's watch as Dean puts the bloody pile back on the ground.

Juliet shrugs her shoulders.

"That's not to say he's not right."

Sam and Dean look to her, the former of the two, with one of his eyebrows raised. Juliet notices this and rolls her eyes, "What? I never said it wasn't a sick thought. I'm just sayin' he might be right." Dean smiles as he leans in to kiss her cheek but Juliet puts her hand up, stopping him. "You can kiss me all you like after you've had a shower."

Dean smirks as he eyes his girlfriend, "Is that an order?" He watches as she returns the smirk. "No, it's a promise."

The three hunters, plus Harlow, exit the sewage.

• • •

The three hunters, now out of the manhole, walk over to the trunk of the Impala. Juliet watches as her daughter is quick to get into the back of the car, she raises an eyebrow but doesn't think anything of it. She may of been spooked from being down in sewer and she wouldn't blame the kid if she was, because if she were in her daughter's shoes, she would be freaked as well.

Juliet watches as Dean pops the trunk and lifts open the spare tire compartment, using the shotgun to prop it up and hold it in place. The huntress looks down at the array of weapons that are in the car's trunk. Her brown eyes scan each of them before picking up a silver .44 auto mag pistol as Dean looks to his brother, "Well, one thing I learned from dad, it that no matter what shapeshifter it is, there's one su—" Juliet watches as Dean cuts himself off and looks up to make sure Harlow is still in the car before looking back to his brother. "—one sure way to kill it."

Juliet smiles as Sam is quick to finish his brother's sentence.

"A silver bullet to the heart."

Dean nods his head, "That's right."

Juliet looks up at Sam, the smile still on her face as she loads her gun with the said bullets. "Well done, Sammy. You still know your stuff, huh?" Sam rolls his eyes and goes to retort but the sound of his phone ringing, stops him. The youngest Winchester brother, fishes his phone out of his pocket and looks to the screen, seeing the unknown number.

He answers it with a furrow in his brows.

"This is Sam."

Juliet watches as he winces when Becky's voice comes through the speakers on his phone, her voice harsh.

"Where are you?"

Sam shakes his head but answers the question.

"We're near Zack's, we're just checkin' some things out."

Juliet raises an eyebrow and shares a look with Dean, both of them being able to hear Becky's replies. She sounds pissed.

"Well, look, Sam, just stop, 'cause I relly don't need your help anymore."

Sam looks to both Dean and Juliet in confusion, knowing that they can hear her words being said on the other line. He shakes his head as Juliet sends her best friend a small smile, she knows what's gonna happen and she hates to say it, but she was right. Their lie was just too big. Poor Sam though, hasn't yet put the pieces together.

"What are you talkin' about?"

Juliet winces as she hears Becky let out a deep sigh.

"I told the Lawyers that we went to the crime scene."

Juliet shakes her head and smacks her hand against her forehead as Sam scoffs, shaking his head, also. Juliet glances at him and see's the hurt look on his face at finding out that his word wasn't good enough, Becky doesn't trust him and Juliet can't help but think maybe she has a good reason not to.

Dean was right, maybe it's not a good idea to have friends when tied to this job.

Sam's deep voice brings the huntress out of her thoughts.

"Why would you do that?"

Becky huffs, "Well, I told them that we were with two police officers, one of them a deputy. And they checked it out, and they told me that there is no Detective Dean Winchester, nor a Deputy Juliet Sullivan."

Sam bites his lip as he screws his face up, holding back a sigh. He should have been honest from the start.

"Bec—"

The said woman is quick to cut him off, her words harsh and biting.

"No, I don't understand why you would lie to me about something like that."

Sam sighs, "We're just tryin' to help."

"Oh, trying to help? Do you realize that, that was a sealed crime scene? This could have just ruined Zack's case."

Juliet watches as Sam's eyes reflect hurt as he shakes his head, "Bec, I'm sorry, but—" Juliet bites her lip as Becky cuts him off once more.

"No, goodbye, Sam."

Juliet pulls a face as Becky hangs up the phone. She clocks Dean from the corner of her eye, making his way to Sam. He, along with her, notice the look of disappointment on his face and the hurt in his eyes.

Dean shakes his head as he looks to his little brother. "I hate to say it, but that's exactly what I'm talkin' about." He gives Sam a pointed look, "You lie to your friends because if they knew the real you, they'd be freaked."

Juliet watches as he runs a hand down his face and looks to his brother, "It's just—it'd be easier if—" Juliet looks to her boyfriend, already knowing what his next words are gonna be. She gives him a pointed look and shakes her head, "Dean."

But it's too late, as Sam finishes his brother's sentence with a deadpan look in his dark green eyes. "If I was like you."

Juliet sighs with a shake of her head as Dean shrugs his shoulders.

"Hey, man, like it or not, we are not like other people."

Juliet gives him an exhasperated look, "That doesn't mean you can't be different people. He doesn't have to be like you, Dean. He's his own person." The said man shrugs once again. "That may be so, but I'll tell you one thing. This whole gig—" Juliet and Sam watch as he motions to Baby's trunk. "—it ain't without it's perks."

Juliet watches as he holds up a gun for Sam to take, which he does. Sam puts the said gun in the back of his jeans.

Juliet does the same before looking between both Winchester brother's.

"Hang on a second, boys. We still have one problem. What about Harlow?"

Sam and Dean look to the little girl who still remains in the back of the car. Sam and Dean look to one another but before they can do what they're thinking, Juliet's voice stops them. "Don't even think about doing 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' over your daughter and your niece."

The two Winchester brother's give each other sheepish smiles before lowering their hands, having gone to do just that. Sam looks to Juliet, "Well, what do you want to do?" He watches as Juliet hums in thought, "We can't take her to Becky's like we originally planned to—" She gives both brother's a pointed look, "—and she sure as hell ain't coming with us."

Dean gives her a look, "We don't have much choice, babe, 'cause over my dead body is she staying here."

Juliet relents with a sigh as she nods her head, "Okay, okay but she's gonna be with Sam."

The said Winchester brother raises an eyebrow at being volunteered. Juliet sees his face and rolls her eyes. "Come on, Sammy. You're the tallest out of the three of us, so you can cover her more. That, and I know you'll look after her."

Sam nods his head before going over to the back of the car and getting Harlow.

Juliet watches as Sam says something to her before picking her up, out of the car and setting her on the floor. The huntress smiles as Sam grabs her hand, tightly. She then looks to both her Winchester boys'.

"Ready?"

They both nod.

• • •

The three hunters are walking through the sewer with their flashlights and guns, each weapon loaded with silver bullets.

Harlow tightens her hold on her uncle's back, her green eyes tightly shut as she burries her face into Sam's jacket.

Juliet holds her gun just below her flashlight, keeping her breath steady and slow incase the shifter is lurking about. The brunette stops in her tracks when Dean suddenly pauses. "I think we're close to its lair." Juliet raises an eyebrow as Sam looks to his brother and furrows his brows in curiosity, "Why do you say that?"

Dean nods to the area beside Sam, "Because there's another puke-inducing pile next to your face."

Juliet smirks as Sam turns his head and rear's back, repulsed by the sight, his dark green eyes lock onto another pile of skin and blood on the pipe, just like the one they saw before. She watches as Sam retches and shakes his head, a look of digust on his face, "Oh, God!"

Juliet's eyebrows furrow as they turn and see a pile of clothes on the floor. The shifter's clothes. "I think it's been here a lot longer than we thought." Dean nods his head, agreeing. "Looks like it's been here for a while."

Sam glances between the pile of shedded skin and the two hunters as he feels Harlow squeeze her hold on him at hearing her parents words. "Who knows how many murders he's gotten away with."

The hairs on the back of Juliet's neck stand to attention, the brunette slows her breathing, once more, feeling a presence behind her. She and her best friend turn their heads at the same time. Both of them clock the shifter, still in the form of the man that they saw get escorted into a cop car.

Juliet's eyes widen as the shapeshifter is standing behind the father of her child. "Dean!" She watches as the said Winchester turns to where she is looking, only seeing a glimpse of him before getting punched by the shapeshifter causing him to fall to the ground. The brunette is quick to crouch down next to him as he clutches his shoulder in pain, he must of banged it on the pipe when the shifter punched him. She looks down to the shoulder that's injured, assessing it with her hands, she kisses her teeth. "I think you dislocated your shoulder."

Sam watches as the shifter runs away, he flicks his dark green eyes to the huntress. "Juliet." The said hunter looks up and to the direction the shifter had run in before flicking her eyes back down to Dean, who shakes his head and motions toward where the shifter had run. "Get the son of a bitch."

Juliet helps Dean up before the three run off after the shifter, Juliet turns the gun's safety mode off as she clutches it to her, not wanting the oppoturnity to kills it, pass her by. It's only fair, Dean got to kill the last one.

• • •

The shapeshifter bursts out of the manhole, running as fast as he can as he looks over his shoulder, a worried and scared look on his face. 

A second later the three hunters, plus Harlow, come up from the man hole. Each hunter out of breath from the chase.

Sam looks to his brother and best friend, "All right, let's split up." Dean and Juliet nod their heads in agreement, the former out of the two being the one to speak, "All right, I'll meet you both 'round the other side."

Sam nods his head, "All right." He starts to walk away but Juliet's voice stops him. "Look after our daughter, Sam." The said Winchester nods his head. "Will do." She watches as he makes his way up the street. Her brown eyes then flick to Dean's, she smiles before leaning in to give him a peck on the lips.

"Be careful."

Dean nods his head, "Will do."

The two then split up, both taking an alley.

• • •

Juliet, walks down an alley with her gun drawn, ready to shoot at the shifter if he appears.

Two women pass by, looking to be in a discussion. Juliet eyes both of them, making sure neither women are the shapeshifter in disguise. The two women stop in their tracks, their words falling short as they both eye the gun in Juliet's hand before turning the other way, frightened. The brunette rolls her eyes before pocketing her gun, coming up empty.

"Hopefully Sam and Dean have found something."

She turns back and makes her way to her family, frustrated at not being able to find anything.

• • •

Juliet sighs as she sees Sam waiting on the street corner, with Harlow holding his hand. She jogs over to the two of them.

The brunette huntress laughs as she picks up Harlow, her little girl giggling as she spins her around. Juliet smiles as she places a kiss on her cheek. Harlow pulls a face before smiling up at Juliet, "Mama." The said woman laughs as she watches Harlow wipe the kiss she's just put on her daughter's cheek.

Juliet shakes her head before setting the child down on her feet. Her brown eyes locking with Sam's light green ones. "Did you find anything?" She sighs as he shakes his head, "Nothing, you?" Juliet huffs a breath before shaking her head, too. "Not a thing."

Juliet raises an eyebrow as she looks around the street, noticing that something, someone, is missing.

"Where's Dean?"

Sam shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know."

Juliet furrows her eyebrows, "What do you mean you "don't know"? How long have you been standing here?" She watches as Sam checks his watch, "Five minutes, give or take. Maybe he's found something?"

Juliet puts her hands on her hips at Sam's answer and goes to reply but the sound of running footsteps give her pause.

She turns to where the sound's coming from, a sigh of relief passing her lips as her eyes lock on to Dean's frame, watching as he makes his way to them. She lets go of Harlow's hand before making her way to her boyfriend and wraps her arms around him.

"I thought something happened to you."

She frowns as she feels Dean tense before hugging her back, but something feels different, he feels different. Juliet takes a step back, eyeing him. She looks him up and down, the frown still on her face, as she walks back to Harlow and grabs her hand before she can take off running to greet her father.

Harlow's green eyes look up at her mother, curiosity shinning in them. Why is her mother holding her back? She only wants to say hello to her Dad. Juliet catches her look and subtly shakes her head, not trusting the change of atmosphere. She looks up at Sam and tries to catch his attention but Dean speaks and catches Sam's attention before they can make eye contact.

"Hey."

Sam looks at his brother as Dean looks at him with his eyebrows raised.

"Anything?"

Juliet watches as Sam shakes his head, "No. He's gone."

The huntress eyes Dean, once more, as he replies.

"All right, let's go back to the car."

Juliet's frown deepens, Dean wouldn't say that. Dean would want to keep searching, not go back to the car. She grabs Harlow's hand, still eyeing Dean, as they cross the street. She smiles at the driver as they stop their car to let them cross. She follows after Sam while Dean follows behind them.

What both hunters fail to see, is Dean turning his head, making the headlights of the car shine in his eyes, his glowing eyes.

• • •

Juliet holds back her sigh of relief at seeing Baby, she's so worn out she feels like she could curl up in the backseat and fall asleep. She sighs as Sam and Dean stop, not making a move to get in the car. She rolls her eyes but places Harlow in the backseat, the poor girl having asked to be carried as her eyes started to droop. She shuts the car door before looking up to both Winchester brother's as Sam asks Dean a question.

"You think he found another way underground?"

Juliet watches as Dean shrugs his shoulders, "Yeah, probably."

She shakes his head at his answer, Dean's theory is that the shifter went back underground and is hiding from them, but Juliet can't shake the feeling that she has, like something isn't right. She eyes her boyfriend, like Dean isn't right.

The said man's voice brings her out of her thoughts. She looks up and finds Dean looking at Sam, "You got the keys?" Juliet watches as Sam stops, she can see the cogs turning in his brain,

'C'mon, Sammy. You have to know he isn't himself.'

Her brown eyes meet his light green ones, she can only hope that her eyes are showing what she's thinking.

Sam turns back to his brother, "Hey, didn't Dad once face a shapeshifter in San Antonio?"

Juliet looks at Dean as he shakes his head, "Oh, that was in Austin. It turned out not to be a shapeshifter, it was a thought form. A psychic projection, remember?" She turns her head back to Sam and watches as he smiles but before he can hand the keys over, Juliet holds her hand out. "Wait." Sam does as she says.

Her brown eyes meet Dean's, "How did you ask me out?" Her brown eyes analyze him as his green eyes flick to her,

an eyebrow raised in question. "Babe..Wh-" Juliet shakes her head, "Just answer the question, how did you ask me out?" Dean sighs before answering, "I took you out to see a movie and afterwards we layed on the hood of the car, blankets underneath our backs, as we looked up to the stars, I looked at you and asked you to be my girlfriend, you smiled and said yes."

Juliet eyes Dean, something still not sitting right with her, before sighing and looking to Sam, nodding her head. He fishes out the keys, "Oh, right. Here ya go." He throws his brother the keys and walks away. Juliet watches as Dean catches the keys his with his left hand, her brown orbs keep him in her sights as he moves to the trunk of the car and unlocks it, lifting up the spare-tire compartment, his eyes shinning with glee as he eyes all the weapons.

Juliet and Sam share a look before both pulling their guns out and aiming them at Dean.

"Don't move."

Dean looks to Sam at hearing his voice, his eyes widening as he sees the two guns being aimed at him. Juliet glares at what she believes to be the shifter in the form of Dean, she eyes the keys he's holding. "What have you done to him?"

Dean eyes the two of them, an unsure look on his face.

"Guys, chill. It's me, all right?"

Juliet shakes her head, "I don't think so, honey. Where's my boyfriend?"

Dean's green eyes meet her brown ones, Juliet refrains from giving in at the soft look he is giving her but it just infuriates her more, how dare the shifter wear his face and pull that look while doing so.

"You're about to shoot him. Jules, calm down."

He moves to take a step closer but Juliet places her thumb on the safety, her hold on the gun is steady.

"Don't tell me to calm down while wearing the father of my child's face."

Dean moves his eyes to Sam, a pleading look in his eyes.

"Come on, Sam. Will you please tell her?"

Sam shakes his head, motioning to the car keys in his brother's hands. "You caught those keys with your left. Your shoulder was hurt."

Dean groans as he shakes his head, "Yeah, it's better. What do you want me to do, cry?"

Juliet glares at him, "Your shoulder wasn't just hurt, it was dislocated."

Sam nods his head, having been there when Juliet assessed it. "You're not my brother."

Dean eyes him, his head titled as he flicks his eye between the gun and Sam.

"Why don't you pull the trigger, then? Hm?"

Juliet turns to Sam, stunned, as he falters. She turns her eyes back to Dean, shaking her head as he smiles at Sam. "'Cause you're not sure." Juliet looks back to Sam, disbelief written on her face. "Sam, don't be an idiot, shoot him!"

"Dude, you know me."

Dean pauses before knocking Juliet out with the crowbar he's holding. He then looks to Sam, a smirk on his face. "You really should've listened to her. She's not just a pretty face." The shifter watches as Sam goes to shoot but he just knocks the gun out of his hand before also hitting him with the crowbar, twice, knocking him out, cold.

The shifter smirks as he makes his way to the back of the car, a twisted look on his face as he eyes the Winchester descendant in the back. He opens the door and smiles as the kid looks at him, her eyes getting used to the darkness, "What's happening?" Harlow's green eyes look up to the shifter and shivers go down her spine, she may be only five but she knows her Dad and he's not him.

The shifter smirks as he sees the worry in the child's eyes. He glares as the kid starts to open her mouth and start screaming. He's quick to hit the side of her head with the butt of the shotgun he grabbed after knocking out Juliet and Sam.

Harlow immediately goes limp.

• • •

Juliet groans as her eyes open, her head hurts like hell. It feels like she's suffering from the worst hangover she's ever head. She goes to move her hand to her temple but her hands feel as if they are bound. Juliet furrows her eyebrows as she feels like her feet and neck are bound as well.

Once her eyes have adjusted to the darkness, she realizes that she's in a rusty and dingy looking place. Her eyes widen as she sees the shapeshifter standing in front of her, the memories hitting her.

How long has she been out?

Where's Harlow?

Where's Sam?

Where's Dean?

She watches as the shapeshifter walks over to her and backhands her, Juliet groans at the pain.

"Where's my family?"

Her brown eyes watch as the shifter, still in Dean's form, smirks, his face looking at her with a twisted expression.

"I wouldn't worry about them. I'd worry about you."

Juliet glares at the shifter, not taking the bait. Her family, she needs to know where they are. Harlow? Where is she? She clenches her teeth, her glare harshening.

"Where's my daughter?"

"You really don't wanna know."

The shifter laughs as Juliet's eyes widen at the reply, She swears to herself, if he's harmed her daughter in any way, she'll kill him. She watches as the shifter shakes his head, "I swear, the more I learn about your family—I thought I came from a bad backgound."

Juliet furrows her eyebrows, not knowing what he means. The last shifter they encounted, was in the form of a woman, it didn't take the form of either her or Dean. It was taking kids and hiding them somewhere, when it caught on that her and Dean were hunting it, it took Harlow as leverage. Luckily, Dean was able to kill it and they were able to set the children free and return them to their families.

"What do you mean', learn?"

The shifter groans in pain and clutches his head, grimacing as past conversations, arguments and moments that Dean and Juliet have had, stream through his head, their voices overlapping one another as it hits him.

Juliet looks at him, confused. She can't hear the things he's hearing.

"What's wrong with you?"

The shifter ignores her as he straightens up and looks at her with a look in his eye.

Hate, maybe?

"Geez, you two argue, a lot. Rhonda Hurley, who's she? You've both argued about her a few times in the past. There's another thing—"

Juliet watches as the shifter pauses and looks at her, the smirk still on his face.

"—He thinks you're keeping something from him. He doesn't trust you."

Juliet's feels her stomach drop as the words hit her, but she doesn't let it show. She just looks at the shifter, as he carries on talking, trying her best to not show how much his words are effecting her.

"Wow, he's sure got some regrets, you being one of them. You had a kid, he had to stay home. I mean, I had to stay. With you and the kid. You didn't think I wanted to do more things? I had dreams of my own and none of them was to have a kid with you. But you needed me, Dad needed me, the kid needed me." He pauses to take a breath before looking Juliet in the eye. "You wanna know something about me? I only stayed with you out of pity. I never truly loved you, how could I? Truth is, I felt tied down because of the kid."

Juliet shakes her head, her eyes brimming with tears as the shifter's words start to make her crack. They pierce her heart like arrows, shot after shot. Never ending.

"That's not true. I know that's not true."

The shifter nods his head as he kisses his teeth, "Oh, but it is. I should have stayed with Rhonda when I had the chance."

A tear rolls down Juliet's cheek, there goes another arrow, hurling through the air. She swears she can feel it make impact on her heart, joining the others. "Where's my boyfriend?" She hates herself for it, but she can't help but whimper as the shifter leans in close, she can feel its breath on her neck.

"I am your boyfriend. See, deep down, I just resent you. You have a kid and now I'm tied down. I could be free but I was forced to stay, while Sam got to have the life," Juliet furrows her eyebrows at the shifter's words but before she can say anything, he continues, "I know I'm a freak, and sooner or later, everybody's gonna leave me."

She watches as the shifter backs away, the furrow in her brows deepen, not knowing if the last part was the shifter talking or him saying what Dean actually feels.

"What the fuck are you talkin' 'bout?"

Fear clouds her eyes as the shifter advances, once more. She holds back a sob as the shifter grabs her neck and squeezes. "Sam left. Hell, I did everything you and Dad asked me to, then he ditched me, too. No explanation, nothin', just poof. Left me with a sorry excuse for a family. I know you're lyin' to me about where Dad is, you know somethin', and he's so frustrated, because you won't tell him. It drives him up the wall."

Tears are now streaming down Juliet's face.

"I-I don't know anything, I swear."

She scratches his hand as he tightens his hold on her neck, punching her face, twice.

"Don't lie to me!"

He then smirks, "Doesn't matter. Because this life? It's not without it's perks." Juliet fliches as he laughs, "I meet the nicest people. Like little Becky," His expression goes serious as his eyes lock onto Juliet's, "You know, Dean would bang her if he had the chance."

Juliet whimpers as he lets go of her neck, a smirk on his face. "Let's see what happens."

He then grabs a sheet and chuckles as he covers Juliet's head with it before walking out, leaving the poor woman to sob.

—

Author's Note

And the second part of 'Skin' has been published! I hope you enjoyed it! I hope to have the third part out soon. Hopefully before Christmas!🤞🏻

Poor Juliet, my poor baby. She's very upset right now and although she would never admit it, she feels like Dean's words are true and why wouldn't she? The shifter has taken on Dean's form, how is she to know if it's tricking her or saying what Dean really feels?

And as for Harlow, you won't be seeing her until the next chapter but I will leave you with something, Harlow isn't with Dean, Juliet or Sam.

But you'll find out in the next chapter.

As always please don't forget to vote and comment as it means a lot and would love to hear your theories.

Also, sorry for the long chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it just the same. Whether you want to read it in parts or all in one go, it's up to you.

Until next time...