SKIN [PART THREE]
___

"Dean...wait."
—
"What is it? What's wrong?"

• • •

The shifter, still wearing Dean's face, approaches the front door of Becky's house. He frowns at the tugging sensation on his hand. He looks down to the kid and yanks her back causing her to yelp.

Harlow bites her lip as the monster looks to her, glaring.

"Stop tryin' to escape."

Tears brim Harlow's eyes as the monster squeezes her hand tightly.

"Shut up and just act normal!."

Harlow whimpers as she sniffles at being spoken to so harshly. She just wants her mommy and daddy, she just wants to be with them, safe. She watches as the monster, wearing her father's face, knocks on the door. She recongizes the house, it's her uncle's college friend's place.

The shifter is quick to grab Harlow's face and wipe harshly at the girl's cheeks, getting rid of the tears. Harlow makes a noise and tries to get out of his grip but it's too strong. She goes to bite him but he sees this and just smacks her upside the head, stunning her.

He straightens up just in time as the door opens.

Becky answers the door but is surprised to see Dean and Harlow there. She stares at them with wide eyes, "Oh. Hi."

The shifter pulls a face, "I know what you're gonna say."

Becky crosses her arms as she eyes the man.

"Oh, you do?"

The shifter sighs as he shakes his head, "Well, no, not exactly. But I can take a guess. Get off my porch?"

Becky laughs as she shakes her head, actually finding Sam's brother to be funny. "That's about right."

Dean sighs, "I admit, we lied. Thought I'd try to explain myself. Sam, and Jules, they told me not to come, but, you know, I thought, what the hell, I have to try. So, took Harlow and here we are."

Becky sighs as she eyes Sam's older brother with apprehension, but can't help but cave when he shoots her a smile, she returns it and opens her front door wider, to let them in. It could't hurt to hear him out.

• • •

Juliet, still covered with the sheet, sniffles as the tears continue to stream down her face, she hates herself for being so weak, but the shifter's words have really shaken her up. She shakes her head,

'Come on, Juliet. Pull yourself together. Find a way out.'

Her breath is caught in her throat as she hears rustling from beside her. She remains quiet, scared the shifter is back. That is until she hears what sounds like rope rubbing against something.

"Damn it."

Juliet holds her breath at hearing the voice, a voice which brings her some sort of comfort.

"Sam?"

There's a pause.

"Juliet?"

The said woman breathes out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, my God. I am so glad to hear your voice. Are you okay?"

Before Sam can reply, they both hear someone coughing from another area in the room. A voice then follows.

"That better be you, Sam, and not that freak of nature."

Sam chuckles, as Juliet sighs in relief, at hearing his brother's voice. "Yeah, it's me." Juliet hears shuffling, as she manages to get the sheet off her face as her voice cracks when she speaks, "He went to Rebecca's , lookin' like you."

Dean's heart soars at hearing his girlfriend's voice, though he frowns at hearing the crack in her voice. Her nose is stuffy like she's been crying. What has the shifter done to her?

• • •

Harlow looks around Becky's living room before looking down to the monster's hand, which is still keeping a tight grip on her's.

The three are sitting on the couch, Harlow next to the monster and Becky sitting next to the monster, a respective gab between the two. The blonde tries to wrap her head around what she's just been told, to be honest it sounds completely barmy but it does also sound reasonable, she knows that it wasn't her brother in that security footage.

"So, you're saying that there's something out there that made itself look like my brother."

She watches as Dean nods his head as he hums.

"Mm-hmm."

Becky looks at him with an eyebrow raised.

"What'd you call it?"

"A shapeshifter."

The shifter watches as Becky laughs and rolls her eyes, still not on the cusp of believing it. The shifter clocks it, too.

"Yeah, maybe we're crazy. But what if we're not? I mean, look, you said yourself that Zack was in two places at once. Now, tell me how that can happen."

Becky shakes her head, "Okay, so, this thing—it can make itself look like anybody?"

The shifter nods his head, "That's right."

The blonde chuckles, "Well, what is it, like a genetic freak?"

Harlow looks up at the monster as it laughs, but even she can tell it's a forced one. Becky's words hit home, even for the monster. Looks like monster's are capable of feeling.

"Maybe. Evolution is about mutation, right? So, maybe this thing was born human but was different. Hideous and hated. Until he learned to become someone else."

Rebecca looks around, uncomfortable, her heard is turned just as the shifter's eyes glow. Harlow, however, didn't miss it and winces as the shifter sneers down at her, squeezing her hand tightly, his eyes screaming at her to keep quiet.

• • •

Dean, Juliet and Sam are still trying to untie themselves as quickly as possible. The huntress's voice continues to break as she explains what the shifter was like. "The thing is, he didn't just look like you, Dean. He was you, or becoming you." She winces as her voice wavers, she hears a snapping sound before footsteps start to make her way towards her. She hears Dean's voice from nearby.

"What do you mean?"

Juliet shrugs her shoulders, "I d-don't know, he clutched his head in pain, like he was downloading your thoughts and memories."

"You mean, like the vulcan mind meld?"

Juliet nods her head, "Somethin' like that."

She feels someone's hands grabbing her wrists, she jumps.

Dean furrows her eyebrows at that action, she hardly ever jumps at his touch. She always recognizes it. "Hey, calm down. It's just me." The furrow in his brows deepen as his voice doesn't seem to bring her any comfort like it normaly does.

He continues untying her wrists as Sam's voice gains his attention.

"That vulcan mind meld? Maybe that's why he doesn't just kill us."

Once Juliet is free, he walks over to start working on Sam's rope-bound wrists.

"Maybe he needs to keep us alive. Psychic connection."

Once Sam's hands are free, he unties the rope around his neck and feet before jumping up and glancing between Dean and, a now free, Juliet.

"Yeah, Come on, we gotta go. He's probably at Rebecca's already."

Sam walks off as Dean looks to Juliet, wincing at the sight of a big gash on her forehead. She looks like she's been in the wars, her right cheek is busted and bruised. Dean can see the swelling. He cups her cheek but raises an eyebrow as she shrinks back at his touch. Before he can say anything, Juliet's broken voice greets his ears.

"We gotta go, he has Harlow."

Dean's eyes cloud with fury at hearing that the shifter has their daughter.

The two run to catch up with Sam.

She can feel Dean's glances but she refuses to look back. She knows that the shifter wasn't Dean, but he had his face and his voice and if the shifter is still processing memories and thoughts from Dean, what's to say what the shifter said, is what Dean is actually feeling and thinking.

Does he really not trust her?

• • •

Juliet's breath is labored as she, along with Sam and Deam, climb out of a window and down the ladder which brings them to an alley. The three continue down the alley, leading them onto a street.

Sam looks to his brother and best friend

"Come on. We gotta find a phone, call the police."

Dean furrows his eyebrows at that, he's quick to grab his brother's arm and spins him around so they're facing each other.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You're gonna put an APB out on me."

Juliet looks to Sam, who shrugs his shoulders, not really having any other choice.

"Sorry."

Dean pulls a face before sighing, "This way."

He steals a glance at Juliet, the hunter being uncharacteristically quiet. He notices the dry tear stains on her cheeks and he also notices how she's pulling away from him, building a wall around herself...from him.

When all of this is over, he's going to find out what that shifter did.

He shakes his head as the three start running down the street.

• • •

Harlow watches as Rebecca sits back down on the couch, a look of uncomfort on her face as Dean scootches closer, a look in his eye.

"It's funny. I kind of understand him. He's all alone—close to no one. All he wants is for someone to love him. He's like me."

Becky looks at Dean, completely uncomfortable with the situation.

The shifter ignores the look and continues, "You know, everybody needs a little human touch now and then. It's so hard to be different."

Harlow looks on with wide eyes as the shifter tucks a lock of blonde hair behind Becky's ear. The said blonde looks very uncomfortable, now and shrinks away out of his touch. She looks to Harlow and then back to Dean.

"You should go."

The shifter ignores her and Harlow watches as the monster leans in closer to whisper something in her ear, something Harlow can't hear. She assumes something bad as straight after he's whispered it, she pushes him away and stands up from the couch, a disgusted look on her face.

"You are disgusting, you have a girlfriend and kid! You're sick. Just get the hell out of here!"

The shifter stands up, letting go of Harlow's hand as he does. The said Winchester child takes this as her chance to sneak away, she slowly gets up from the couch and keeps a watchful eye on the monster, who's looking to Becky, his hands up in surrender, palms facing outwards.

"Rebecca, just calm down."

Becky looks at him, horrified.

"Calm down? What is wrong with you?"

The shifter becomes angry, that's two people who have asked him that. There's nothing wrong with him. Harlow shrinks back as she notices the look of fury on his face.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?"

Becky, quite scared, goes for the phone, "I'm calling the police." At hearing that, the shapeshifter advances quickly and grabs hold of the phone and throws it to the floor. He smirks as Becky screams and tries to make a break for it, Harlow looks on, worried, as the monster trips her up, causing the blonde to crash to the floor, her head hitting the corner of the table as she does.

The little Winchester whimpers as the monster straddles her, putting his body weight down on her, not letting the blonde get up. He grabs the telephone cord and uses it to tie her wrists, but the blonde continues to fight back, wriggling her hands.

"Give me your hands!"

Becky continues to scream but the shifter just rolls his eyes.

"Shut up!"

Harlow scurries back as the shifter looks to her, a sadistic grin on its face.

"Now, for you."

Harlow walks backwards as the monster starts to advance towards her, the child trips over her own feet and is quick to scamper upright as the monster just gets closer and closer. She makes a run for it but the shifter is faster, he grabs ahold of her hair, causing Harlow to yelp as she is dragged back.

She watches as he backhands her around the face, that's all she can remember before her world goes black.

• • •

Harlow groans as she opens her eyes, blinking her eyes. She hisses as her head pounds in pain, her hair feels like it's been ripped out, she feels as if her scalp is on fire. She looks around the room and notices that her uncle's friend is tired to a chair next to her. It's then the little girl realizes that her mouth is gagged with a piece of cloth, Becky's mouth is, too.

Harlow looks away as she sees that Becky is bloody and beaten, she has a small feeling that she doesn't look any better. She just wants to go home, she wants her mom and dad, her family.

The shifter stands in front of the two, a knife in his hands as he looks at Becky.

"You're a nice girl, Rebecca. I mean, I liked you. Believe me, that makes this harder." Harlow whimpers as he holds up the kitchen knife and examins it before looking to Becky once more, "But I gotta do what I gotta do."

The shifter moves towards her, knife held in the air, ready to hit its destinantion, her.

Harlow jumps as a crash is heard from the hallway. Her eyes widen as he places a hand over Becky's mouth while holding the knife to her throat. He looks to Harlow, a deadly look in his eye. "Shh."

Harlow watches as the shapeshifter leaves the room, going through the door and into another.

The shifter smirks as he passes the S.W.A.T team, their backs being turned as he goes into the second bedroom, shutting the door behind him as he goes for the balcony. He smirks as, just when he opens the door, the S.W.A.T team enters. Guns pointed and ready to aim at him, "Freeze! Drop the knife! Drop the knife! Drop the knife!"

The shifter rolls his eyes and throws the knife at the police officer, it hitting him in the leg, blade first.

The rest of the team, seeing the injured officer, begin shooting at the monster, missing it. The shifter kicks another one of the officers before jumping off the balcony and onto the grass below, a smirk on its face.

The police officer looks to his comrades and he makes a motion with his hand, "Come on! Come on! Go! Go!"

The shifter runs away, the team continuing to shoot at him, but miss him...several times.

The shapeshifter makes it back to the sewers, unscathed. Though, he does look weak. The shifter takes off his shirt and jacket, falling to his knees. He screams in pain as he starts to shed his skin.

• • •

Dean, Juliet and Sam, stop in front of a store window, all three of them out of breath.

The three hunter's join the widening crowd as a news report is shown on one of the Television's in the display. The news anchor shuffles his papers as he looks at the camera, "An anonymous tip led police to a home in the Central West End, where a S.W.A.T team discovered a local woman and a child bound and gagged—"

Juliet's heart soars with relief, knowing that the child is Harlow. It would make sense why the shifter would take Harlow with him, Becky would let him in if he was with Harlow, it's the perfect cover. She looks back to the news anchor.

"—their attacker, a white male, approximately twenty-four to thirty years of age, was discovered hiding in the local woman's home."

Juliet feels a shiver go down her spine as a sketch of Dean appears on the screen, causing Dean to shake his head, "Man! That's not even a good picture."

Juliet and Sam look around cautiosly, both of the hunter's seeing people begin to turn and look at them. The two best friend's share a look as the latter of the two looks to his brother, "It's good enough." Juliet watches as Sam starts to walk away, she looks to Dean. "Come on!"

Dean looks back to the television screen, pulling a face as he sighs.

"Man!"

The oldest Winchester brother follows after Juliet and Sam.

• • •

The three of them make it to another alley, Dean groans as he steps into a puddle which causes him to pause.

Juliet and Sam look back at him, the latter of the two rolling his eyes, "Come on." Juliet watches as he pauses, thinking back to the news report they just saw. "They said attempted murder. At least we know—" Dean cuts his brother off, "I didn't kill her."

Sam nods his head, "We'll check with Rebecca in the morning, see if she's alright."

Dean agrees, "All right, but first I wanna find that handsome devil and kick the holy crap out of him." He looks to his girlfriend, knowing that would get a laugh out of her, but he furrows his brows when he sees no reaction, she's just staring at the ground, no emotion on her face.

The three hunters stop walking as Sam turns to his older brother.

"We have no weapon. No silver bullets."

Dean sighs, agitated.

"Sam, the guy's walkin' around with my face, okay. He's hurt my daughter and has obviously done something to Juliet. It's a little personal, I wanna find him."

Juliet looks up at the mention of her name and shakes her head, her voice a little hoarse from not speaking a lot. "I'm fine." Dean huffs as he turns to her, "Really? Jules, you have hardly said a word. You won't even let me grab your hand, something's off I can tell."

Sam glances between the two before nodding his head, "Okay. Where do we look?"

Dean kisses his teeth, "Well, we could start with the sewers."

Juliet shakes her head, "Dean, we have no weapons. He stole ours guns, we need more."

Dean, Juliet and Sam pause to think before the latter of the three voices what he's thinking.

"The car?"

Dean nods his head, "I'm bettin' he drove over to Rebecca's."

Sam looks to him, "The news said he fled on foot. I bet it's still parked there."

Dean looks at his brother, upset.

"The thought of him drivin' my car."

Sam ignores him and carries on walking, "Come on."

Dean sighs, "It's killin' me."

Juliet and Sam share a look, both of them rolling their eyes as the former of the two looks back over her shoulder.

"Let it go."

• • •

Juliet sighs in relief as she sees Becky's house in the distance.

The three hunters walk around the side of the house, Dean sighing in relief as he see's Baby parked outside the house.

"Oh, there she is! Finally, something went right tonight."

Juliet groans as just as he says that, a police car appears and parks next to the car. Dean tenses, "Oh, crap." The three hunters turn to run down the opposite way, but another police car is parked a few yards away. He faces the only other escape, the fence. He looks to Juliet and Sam. "This way, this way." Him and Juliet move for the fence. The latter of the two looking back when Sam isn't following, she raises an eyebrow at him, which he sees.

Sam motions with his hands for them to keep going, "You go. I'll hold 'em off."

Dean looks at his brother, shaking his head, "What are you talking about? They'll catch you."

Sam sighs as he glances between his brother and the police officer's that are starting to make their way towards them.

"Look, they can't hold me. Just go, keep out of sight. Meet me at Rebecca's," He watches as Dean and Juliet climb over the fence, "Stay out of the sewers alone." He rolls his eyes as he hears no reply. "I mean it!"

He smiles as Dean's voice can be heard, followed by Juliet's.

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Don't worry Sam, I'll keep an eye on him."

He smiles at that as the police officer's advance towards him.

"Don't move! Keep your hands where I can see 'em."

Sam raises his hands in the air.

• • •

Juliet sighs as they make their way to the car, the police officer's no longer near the Impala, having been distracted by Sam. The huntress bites her lip as she eye's her boyfriend.

"Dean..wait."

Her brown eyes meet his green ones, which are shining with concern for her.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Juliet sighs as she decides to just come out with the truth.

"Do you think me and Harlow are tying you down? I mean, I never thought to ask about what you wanted and your dreams. Maybe you were better off with Rhonda Hurley...you would be free, not burdened with me and Harlow and I get it if you don't trust me, I haven't been myself lately and I haven't been a great girlfrien—"

Dean cuts her off, a furrow in his brows, confused.

"Woah, woah, woah. Where is this coming from?"

Juliet bites her lip before sighing, tears in her eyes. "T-the shifter, he said that you don't trust me, that you felt forced to stay and how you are tied down because me and Harlow. That you should have stayed with Rhonda and how you had dreams of your own and none of them involved having a child with me."

Dean is quick to shake his head with a glare, "I'm gonna kill him."

At seeing the broken look on Juliet's face, he grabs both her hands in his.

"Jules, baby. You and Harlow are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Was our daughter planned? No. Does that make me love her any less? Also, no. My place is here with you, and I don't feel tied down, or burdened by either you or Harlow. Juliet, I love you and always will and nothing can change that. I trust you with my life."

Dean places a kiss to her cheeks before looking into her brown orbs, a soft smile on his face as he caresses her cheek, his smile brightening as instead of shying away from his touch, she leans into it.

"Forever and always?"

Juliet smiles at that as she leans in to kiss him, he can feel her breath on his lips as she talks just before their lips touch.

"Forever and always."

The two smile into the kiss, it only being short and sweet before they pull away from one another.

Juliet chuckles as Dean opens the trunk and grabbing two weapons, passing one over to Juliet.

"Now, what do you say we go kill this son of a bitch and get our daughter back."

Juliet smiles as she takes the weapon from his hands, "Let's go kick some shifter ass." Dean chuckles at her words, "That's the spirit, babe." He shuts the trunk before looking over to where his brother is, with the police still surrounding him.

"I'm sorry, Sam. But you know me—I just can't wait."

Juliet kisses him on the cheek before they start heading to the sewers.

"And I just can't say no to you."

Dean laughs as he grabs her hand.

• • •

Dean and Juliet walk through the sewers, again. Both holding flashlights to light the way through the dark and grimy tunnel. The two hunters share a look as they come across, what looks like, a chamber filled with candles and chains.

Juliet raises an eyebrow, "I really hope we haven't stumbled across his kink," She pauses as a thought hits her. She turns to Dean, a look of curiosity on her face, "Can shifter's have kinks?" Dean looks to his girlfriend, narrowing his eyes before tilting his head in thought, "Y'know, I never really thought about that."

"Is this a weird conversation to have in the sewers?"

"...yes."

Juliet bites her lip as she looks a Dean, "We should look 'round the chamber." Her boyfriend nods his head, "Yeah, I agree."

The huntress looks around, disgusted at all the piles of skin and blood on the floor. Her lip curls as her stomach churns.

Both hunters tense when they hear a noise, they share a look before moving to where the sound was coming from.

Juliet's heart soars in relief as they come across two figures, covered in sheets. Juliet runs to the smaller figure and is quick to rip the sheet of her daughter's face but tears immediately fill her eyes, noticing all the cuts and bruises scattered along her body.

"Rebecca?"

She looks over to Dean at the sound of his voice and sees him looking at the said woman in shock, she looks back to her daughter and sees that her hands and feet are bound with rope. She's relieved Becky is okay, but her daughter comes first, and she knows that Dean is worried about their daughter as well, she notices how his eyes keep flicking to Harlow in concern.

The huntress cups her daughter's cheek, and dries the tears that are starting to fall down her rosy cheeks. "Oh, my sweet girl."

• • •

Sam sighs as he sits on Becky's couch, having a beer. He came to take Harlow back but Becky told him that she's currently upstairs drawing, to take her mind off of what happened with the shifter and all. He had decided to come clean to Becky and tell her everything and the real reason why he left college after Jess had died. He watches as Becky walks into the living room, beer in hand.

"So, say this shapeshifter is real. By the way, you know you're crazy? But, um, say it is real. How do you stop it?"

Sam smiles as she sets the beer down and picks up the empty one, which Sam has finished.

"Thanks."

The shifter watches as he sighs before looking at her, "Silver bullets to the heart." The shapeshifter scoffs a chuckle as she rolls her eyes. "You are crazy."

The shifter lifts up the empty bottle before hitting Sam over the head with it, a sadistic grin on its face as the hunter falls over, unconscious. The shifter's eye glow a silver color, for just a moment, the grin never leaving its face.

• • •

Juliet looks to Dean as he finishes untying Becky's rope. "Dean, we need to cut Harlow free." The said hunter nods his head before crouching down in front of the child, a soft smile on his face. "Hey, sweetheart."

Harlow sniffles, tears still running down her cheeks, "Hi, daddy." Dean smiles, "I'm gonna cut you free, you have to stay very still, okay?" The five year old nods her head and does what her dad says.

As soon as she's free, Juliet engulfs her in a hug, squeezing her close but also being careful of her injuries. Harlow wraps her little arms around her mother and buries her face in her mother's hair. "Mama."

Dean brushes the hair out of Harlow's face, "You okay, kid?" He smiles as she nods her head, "I am now." She moves to hug Dean, the older Hunter smiling as he hugs his daughter back. "We'll fix you up when this is all over, promise." Dean chuckles as he kisses her nose, smiling as she scrunches her little nose up.

Dean picks Harlow up and sets her on his hip, vowing to never let her go again. He smiles as Harlow doesn't shy away from his touch, he kisses her on the head. "Whatever that shifter did, baby. It wasn't me, and I know that may be confusing or hard to understand—" Harlow cuts him off as she kisses his cheek. "I know daddy, it was the monster."

Dean and Juliet share a look over Harlow's head, both looking at one another with wide eyes. Harlow giggles as Dean tickles her tummy, "You're an intellegent little rugrat, aren't ya?" Harlow laughs, "Daddy, stop it."

The said man instantly stops, remembering that Becky is here and if she's here then Sam is with the shifter. Dean turns to the blonde, Juliet helping her up while Harlow and him were having their little moment.

"What happened?"

Becky's eyes start to brim with tears, remembering the whole ordeal that both her and Harlow had gone through, "I was walking home, Harlow with me, and then everything just went white. Someone hit me over the head, and Harlow and I wound up here. I came around just in time to see that thing turn into me," She shakes her head, trying to comprehend what's happened, "I don't know, how is that even possible?"

Juliet rubs her back in comfort, "Hey, you're okay," Shen then looks to Dean, "We need to get out of here, Sam, he's—" Dean cuts her off with a nod of his head, "I know." He then looks to Becky. "Okay, okay, It's okay. Can you walk?" Becky nods her head, Dean turns on his flashlight, leading the way out, with Harlow still on his hip. "Okay, we gotta hurry. Sam went to see you."

• • •

The shifter smirks as he finishes tying up Sam's hands and feet with rope. The shapeshifter is back in the form of Dean. Sam watches as he stalks around the kitchen, the tied hunter looks down to the ropes and tries to wiggle out of them but it's too tight. He groans and rolls his eyes, if Juliet were here, she'd ask that shifter where he keeps getting his rope from him. He chuckles at that, being able to picture that in his head. He looks back to the shifter, "What are you gonna do to me?"

The shifter shakes his head, "Oh, I'm not gonna do anything. Dean will, though."

Sam narrows his eyes, "They'll never catch him."

The shifter shrugs, "Oh, doesn't matter. Murder in the first of his own brother? He'll be hunted for the rest of his life, and after I've killed you, I'll kill his girl and then his kid will end up an orphan, no mommy or daddy to look after her, not even an uncle."

Sam starts to breathe deeply, anger boiling his blood at the mention of his niece, "You leave her alone. You leave them alone."

The shifter just gives him a sickly smile, not replying. Sam's eyes widen as he holds up a sharp kitchen knife, the metal glinting in the light as he holds it up to examin it.

• • •

Sam rolls his eyes as the shifter is still talking, the two having moved to the living room, it seems the shifter would rather gloat about killing him than actually doing the job. It's only been a few minutes, and he won't shut up.

"I must say, I will be sorry to lose this skin. Your brother's got a lot of good qualities. You should appreciate him more than you do," The shifter pours himself another drink before holding it up to Sam, "Cheers." He takes a drink of the alcohol before picking up the knife from the  counter and sticks it in the edge of the pool table.

Sam, taking this as his opportunity, lifts his legs up and kicks the shifter, watching as he falls to the floor with a groan. The hunter is quick to get up and move towards the pool table, rubbing the rope that has his hands bound, against the blade of the knife, causing it to break apart. He's quick to grab the knife and swing at the shifter, who's gotten back up on his feet, but the monster is quick to intercept and grabs his arm mid-swing, twisting it. Sam groans in pain as he falls to the floor.

A smirk plays on the shifter's lips, "Oh, you son of a bitch."

Sam and the shifter start to fight. The younger Winchester brother tries to pin the shifter down. The monster laughs, "Not bad, little brother."

Sam shakes his head, "You're not him."

The two continue to fight until the shifter gets the upper hand, once more. He throws Sam into a bookshelf, it falls apart on impact, Sam groans as the books fall on top of him. The shifter shakes his head, "Even when we were kids, I always kicked your ass." The shifter grabs a pool cue and swings at Sam, but misses and hits a light fixture, causing the fuse to blow.

The two continue to fight for several minutes before falling onto the coffee table, breaking it. The shifter pins Sam down to the floor and starts to choke him.

The sound of a door being kicked in, causes the shifter to look up.

Juliet smirks at him, holding a gun.

"Hey, honey."

The shifter looks up and sees Juliet before getting off Sam, he starts to make a run towards her, but the huntress is faster. She aims her gun and shoots the shifter, twice, in the heart. She smirks as she blows on the gun smoke, watching as the shifter falls to the ground, dead.

Rebecca, having stayed outside with Harlow, enters her house. Upon seeing Sam on the floor, she rushes over to him as Harlow makes her way to her parents.

"Sam!"

Juliet walks over to the shifter's lifeless body and crouches down, notcing the necklace that the shifter is wearing, she yanks it off before handing it to Dean, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I think this belongs to you."

Dean smiles as he places the amulet back around his neck, placing an arm around Juliet's waist as he looks to Sam and Becky, nodding his head at the two, knowingly.

• • •

Becky had been kind enough to let the Winchester-Sullivan family stay for the night. Becky's house had two spare rooms. Juliet, Dean and Harlow in one and Sam in the other.

The huntress and her boyfriend are by Baby, looking at the map, wondering where to go next. Juliet sighs as she leans on Dean's shoulder, she looks up at him, her brown eyes showing nothing but love and adoration for the man.

"Dean?"

The said man hums in reply, silently telling her that he's listening.

"I love you."

Dean smiles down at her and places a kiss on her head.

"I love you, too."

"And I wove you both."

The two hunters smile as Harlow comes between them, hugging their legs. Dean laughs as he scoops her up and into his arms. Juliet brushes some hair from her daughter's face and tucks a lock of it behind her ear, before placing a kiss on her cheek.

"We love you, very much."

Harlow squeals as both her mother and father place a kiss on each of the girl's cheek before blowing raspberries, causing the girl to laugh.

Sam smiles as he watches the sight, having just walked outside with Becky.

The said blonde looks to her friend, a disbelieving smile on her face, "So, this is what you do? You and your family—you hunt down these kinds of things?" She watches as Sam nods his head, "Yeah, pretty much."

Becky huffs a chuckle, "I can't believe it. I mean, I saw it with my own eyes. And, I mean, does everybody at school—nobody knows that you do this?"

Sam shakes his head, "No."

The blonde raises an eyebrow, "Did Jessica know?"

She frowns at the thoughtful look on Sam's face as he watches Dean and Juliet. She realizes that it must be hard for him, Jess didn't die that long ago and being on the road with a couple and their kid, it can't be easy, because it's a painful reality that, that's what he could've had with Jess. She shakes her head as her friend's voice brings her out of her thoughts.

"No, she didn't."

Becky bites her lip, "Must be lonely."

Sam is quick to shake his head, "Oh, no. No, it's not so bad. Anyway what can I do?" Becky watches as he looks back to Dean, Juliet and Harlow, a wistful smile on his face as he sighs. "It's my family."

Becky laughs as Dean and Juliet continue to tickle Harlow, the child's laugh can be heard from where they are standing. It's a sweet sound, like a melody. She looks back to Sam, "Well, you know, Zack and me, and everybody at school—we really miss you."

Becky hugs her college friend, Sam is quick to hug her back with a small smile on his face, his eyes reflecting his sadness. "Yeah, me too." Sam sighs as they pull away, Becky gives him a smile. "Well, will you call me sometime?"

Sam pulls a face as he nods his head, "It might not be for a little while."

Becky nods in understanding before shooting him one last smile before waving to Dean and Juliet, who return the wave. Harlow, too, gives her uncle's friend an enthustiastic wave goodbye. Becky laughs as she goes back inside the house, shutting the door.

Juliet looks to Sam as he makes his way over to them, she raises an eyebrow while weaving her fingers through Harlow's hair. "What 'bout your other friend, Zack?"

Sam shrugs his shoulders as he gives his brother a pointed look, "Cops are blamin' this Dean Winchester guy for Emily's murder. They found the murder weapon in the guy's lair, Zack's clothes stained with her blood. Now they're thinking maybe the surveillance tape was tampered with," Dean and Juliet both feign a look of shock, which the younger Winchester brother notices, "Yeah, Becca says Zack will be released soon."

Juliet smiles, "That 'Dean Winchester' guy, he sounds like my type."

Sam smiles as Dean jokingly rolls his eyes before the three hunters and little Winchester pile into the car.

• • •

Dean smiles as he looks in the rearview mirror, seeing both Harlow and Juliet passed out in similar positions. He shakes his head as they both have their heads resting on their right shoulder's, little snores escaping their mouths, if you were to tell Juliet she snores, she would deny it. He looks to shotgun, where Sam is sitting, Dean sighs as he looks back to the road. "Sorry, man."

Sam shoots his brother a look of confusion.

"About what?"

Dean glances between him and the road, he takes a deep breath before answering, "I really wish things could be different, you know? I wish you could just be...Joe College." He sees Sam give him a small smile from the corner of his eye. "No, that's okay. You know, the truth is, even at Stanford, deep down, I never really fit in."

Dean shrugs his shoulders, "Well, that's 'cause you're a freak."

Sam rolls his eyes, "Yeah, thanks. You know, if Juliet was awake, she would slap you for that."

Dean shakes his head as he laughs.

"Well, I'm a freak, too. And so is Juliet and if she was awake, she would admit that. We're right there with ya, all the way."

Sam laughs, "Yeah, I know you are."

The older Winchester brother sighs, "You know, I gotta say—I'm sorry I'm gonna miss it."

Sam furrows his eyebrows, "Miss what?"

Dean glances at his brother before looking back to the road, "How many chances am I gonna have to see my own funeral?"

The two brother's share a smile as Dean continues driving down the road, glancing in the reaview mirror at his girlfriend and daughter, reminding himself to take a picture of the two.

—

Author's Note

And that's a wrap on the episode 'Skin'. I hope y'all enjoyed it.

I was toying with the idea of it actually being Juliet kills Juliet, as I was wondering if I should have made the shifter transform into Juliet at the end, instead. But I decided to stick with the original idea, that being the shifter stays as Dean.

But that's not to say, Juliet won't be hunted down by the FBI in later chapters. She'll find some way to be wanted, too.

It's cannon that if Juliet wasn't a hunter she would definitely have a career as an FBI Agent or police officer, she would kill at that job.

Just a reminder that my one-shot book for this book is published and out now, it's called Metanoia. It's on my profile. I'm trying to write and publish a Christmas one-shot before the 25th. That will probably be the last thing I write until after Christmas.

Can you believe Christmas is literally next week, like 2023 can gone so quickly.

As always, please don't forget to vote and comment as I really do appreciate it, and I'll see you all in the next episode which is 'Hook Man' another one of my favorites.

Until next time...