Dean was in a dim hallway, grimly turning toward a door and pulled out a gun. He slid out the clip, tapped it on the gun, then replaced it. Inside the room, there was a Crater Lake poster on the wall. Below it, a young blond man, Duane, was tied to a chair. Nearby, were a young woman, Pam, a middle-aged woman, Dr. Lee, and a tough-looking black man, Mark. Duane looked up as Dean opened the door and entered, raising the gun.
Duane began babbling. "No, no, no, no, no, you're not gonna... no, I swear! It's not in me!"
"Oh, God," Pam said. "We're all gonna die."
"Maybe he's tellin' the truth," Mark guessed.
Dean advanced and cocked the gun. "He's not him, not anymore."
"No, stop it!" Duane cried. "Stop it! Ask her, ask the doctor! It's not in me!"
"I just... I can't tell," Dr. Lee admitted.
"No, please, don't. Don't. I swear I-"
"I got no choice," Dean said.
Duane started sobbing. "I swear, it's not in me, it's not in me! Don't, don't. Please!"
Dean fired twice.
MOTEL ROOM
Sam was lying on the floor beside a motel bed and coming out of his vision. Susana was shaking his shoulder. The door opened and Dean entered, chewing on jerky and carrying a six-pack of beer. Sam sat up, panting.
"Sam?" Dean called.
"No..." Sam said.
The trio got into the Impala. Dean was driving, Susana was in back, and Sam was navigating with a GPS device which spoke directions.
"Continue on O-R Two-Two-Four West."
"There are only two towns in the US named Rivergrove," Sam told his brother and friend.
"How come you're so sure it's the one in Oregon?" Dean asked.
Sam had a flashback -- the Oregon poster on the wall. "There was a picture. Crater Lake."
"Okay, what else?"
"I saw a dark room, some people, and a guy tied to a chair."
"And I ventilated him?"
"Yeah. You thought there was something inside him."
"What, a demon? Was he possessed?" Susana questioned.
"I don't know."
"Well, all your weirdo visions are always tied to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow... so was there any back smoke? Did we try to exorcise it?" Dean wondered.
"No. Nothing, you just plugged him, that's it."
"Well, I'm sure I had a good reason."
"I sure hope so."
"What does that mean?" There was a silent beat. "I mean, I'm not gonna waste an innocent man." Sam raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't!"
"I never said you would!"
"Fine!"
"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."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Susana rolled her eyes and muttered, "Jeez."
RIVERGROVE STREET
The three pulled into town past a large billboard advertising Crater Lake. They pulled up in front of a wooden shop. Out front, a man in a short-sleeved blue shirt and a multi-pocket brown vest, Mark was cleaning a rifle. Sam, Dean and Susana got out and approached him.
"Morning," Dean greeted.
"Good morning," Mark replied. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah." Dean pulled out a badge. "Uh, Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, Dusty Hill. U.S. Marshals."
"What's this about?"
"We're looking for someone," Susana told him.
"A young man, early 20s," Sam added, flashing to his vision. "He'd have a, a thin scar right below his hairline."
"What'd he do?" Mark asked.
"Well, nothing. We're actually looking or someone else, but we think this young man could help us."
"Yeah, he's not in any kind of trouble or anything; well, not yet," Dean said, glancing down at Mark's left arm, which showed a distinctive tattoo. "I think maybe you know who he is... Master Sergeant." He smiled. "My dad was in the Corps, he was a Corporal."
"What company?"
"Echo-2-1."
"So can you help us?" Sam questioned.
Mark hesitated. "Duane Tanner's got a scar like that. But I know him. Good kid, keeps his nose clean."
"Oh, I'm sure he does," Dean replied. "Um. You know where he lives?"
"With his family, up Aspen Way."
"Thank you."
They left. Mark frowned as he watched them go. Across the street, Sam bumped into a telephone pole and glanced at it in passing. He stopped, seeing a single word carved into the wood: CROATOAN.
They approached the pole and Sam pointed at the word with a significant look. "Hey."
"Croatoan?" Dean and Susana repeated.
"Yeah." Dean looked at him blankly. "Roanoke? Lost colony? Ring a bell? Dean, did you pay any attention in history class?"
"Yeah!" Dean cried. "Shot 'heard round the world, How bills become laws..."
Susana stifled a laugh. "That's not school, that's Schoolhouse Rock."
"Whatever."
She continued. "Roanoke was one of the first English colonies in America, late 1500s."
"Oh, yeah, yeah, I do remember that. The only thing they left behind was a single word carved in a tree. Croatoan."
"Yeah," Sam said. "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."
"You don't think that's what's going on here, I mean..."
"Whatever I saw in my head, it sure wasn't good. But what do you two think could do that?"
"Well, I mean, like I said, all of your weirdo visions are always connected to the Yellow-Eyed Demon somehow, so..."
"We should get help," Susana suggested. "Bobby, uh, Ellen maybe?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Dean pulled out his phone and frowned at it. "I don't have a signal."
Sam and Susana did the same and shook their heads. "I don't either."
They walked to a pay phone and Dean picked it up. He heard the out of service beeping and clicked the receiver several times.
"Line's dead," Dean said, hanging up. "I'll tell you one thing. If I was gonna massacre a town, that'd be my first step."
They drove to the Tanner house, in the middle of nowhere. Sam, Dean and Susana approached the front. By the door was a small tacky plaque that read, BORN TO FISH; FORCED TO WORK. Sam knocked on the door and a teenaged boy with dark spiked hair, Jake, opened it.
"Yeah?" Jake asked.
Dean flashed his badge. "We're looking for Duane Tanner, he lives here, right?"
"Yeah, he's my brother."
"Can we talk to him?"
"Oh, he's not here right now."
"Do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, he went on a fishing trip up by Roslyn Lake."
"Your parents home?" Sam questioned.
"Yeah, they're inside."
"Jake? Who is it?" Mr. Tanner asked from inside.
Dean, as Mr. Tanner appeared, said, "Hi, U.S. Marshals, sir, we're looking for your son Duane."
"Wh-why? He's not in trouble, is he?"
"No, no, no, no. We just need to ask him a couple of routine questions, that's all."
"When's he due back from his fishing trip?" Saoirse questioned.
"I'm not sure."
"Well, maybe your wife knows," Sam said.
"No, I don't know, she's not here right now."
"Your son said she was," Dean stated.
Jake frowned. "Did I?"
"She's getting groceries," Mr. Tanner informed. "So, when Duane gets back, there's a number where he can get a hold of you?"
"Oh no, we'll just check in with you later."
They turned and walked down the steps as the Tanners shut the door behind them.
Dean glanced between his brother and friend. "That was kind of creepy, right? A little too Stepford?"
"Big time," Sam and Susana agreed.
They looked furtively about and snuck around the back of the house and crouched below a window.
Inside the Tanner house, Beverly Tanner was tied to a chair and gagged; Jake came around behind her, hands on her shoulders.
"It's okay, Mom. It's not gonna hurt," Jake reassured.
Mr. Tanner came out of the next room with a kitchen knife. Jake stood in front of his mother and casually rolled up one sleeve; his father cut into his arm and let the blood drip onto a wound in Beverly's shoulder.
Outside, Sam, Dean and Susana armed themselves and kicked down the back door. As they rushed in, handguns raised, Mr. Tanner rushed at them with a knife and Dean shot him thrice in the chest. Jake jumped out the window, shattering glass, and darted off into the woods. Sam aimed at him through the window, but hesitated, giving him time to get away.
Susana made her way toward Beverly and untied her.
The boys loaded her into the back and Susana slid in.
As soon as they drove up, Sam helped her out and led her to the door. Dean opened the trunk, Susana joined him, and they looked around furtively.
CLINIC
Sam led Beverly inside. The clinic was quiet, dim, and empty.
"Hello?" Sam called. "Hello? We need a doctor here!"
The young woman from the vision, Pam, rushed out, concerned.
"Mrs. Tanner, what happened?" Pam asked.
"She's been attacked," Sam explained.
"Dr. Lee?"
Dr. Lee rushed in. "Bring her in."
"Okay," Sam said.
Pam led Sam and Beverly into a back room and Dr. Lee followed. Dean and Susana entered, and Dean was carrying the canvas-covered body of Mr. Tanner hoisted over his shoulders.
"Is that-" Dr. Lee began.
"Mr. Tanner," Dean and Susana confirmed.
"Was he attacked too?"
"Uh... no, actually, he did the attacking and then he got himself shot," Dean explained.
"Shot?"
"Yeah," Susana answered.
"And who are you two?"
"U.S. Marshals," Dean told her. "I'd show you my badge, but uh..."
"Oh. Sorry. Bring him back here."
Susana held up her badge.
Dr. Lee glanced at the badge and nodded.
LAB
Beverly was seated on a stool with her shirt off. Dr. Lee sat across from her, treating the wound on her left shoulder.
"Wait, you said Jake helped him?" Dr. Lee asked. "Your son Jake?"
Beverly nodded. "They beat me. Tied me up."
"I don't believe it," Pam said.
"Pam," Dr. Lee called. "Beverly... do you have any idea why they would act this way? Any history of chemical dependency?"
"No, of course not," Beverly replied. "I don't know why. One minute they were my husband and my son. And the next, they had the devil in them."
Sam, Dean and Susana were listening and they shared a look at her last words.
"We gotta talk," Dean said, ushering his brother and friend from the lab. "Those guys were whacked out of their grounds."
"What do you think?" Sam asked. "Multiple demons, mass possessions?"
"If it is possession, there could be more. I mean, God knows how many, it could be like a friggin' Shriner convention."
"Great."
"Of course, that's one way to wipe out a town, you take it from the inside," Susana pointed out.
"I don't know, man, Susie. We didn't see any of the demon smoke with Mr. Tanner, or any of the other usual signs."
"Well, whatever," Dean replied. "Something turned him into a monster. And you know if you woulda taken out the other one, there'd be less to worry about."
"I'm sorry, all right? I hesitated, Dean, it was a kid!"
"No, it was an "it". Not the best time for a bleeding heart, Sam."
"Stop it!" Susana yelled. "Seriously, the arguing's getting old!"
Dr. Lee stalked out of the lab, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.
"How's the patient?" Sam questioned.
"Terrible!" Dr. Lee cried. "What the hell happened out there?"
"We don't know," Dean said.
"Yeah? Well, you just killed my next door neighbor."
"We didn't have a choice."
"Maybe so, but we need the county sheriff. I need the coroner..."
"Phones are down," Sam informed.
"I know, I tried. Tell me you have a police radio in the car?"
"Yeah we do. But it crapped out just like everything else."
"I don't understand what is happening."
"How far is it to the next town?" Susana asked.
"It's about forty miles down to Sidewinder."
Dean said, "All right, I'm gonna go down there with my partner, see if we can find some help." He clipped Sam on the shoulder. "Our other partner'll stick around, keep you guys safe."
"Safe from what?"
"We'll get back to you on that."
BLACKTOP
Dean pulled up behind a wrecked car with Oregon plates that read WTF 4C7. He stopped to investigate, carrying a gun. Susana armed herself with her gun as she followed him around. The windows on the car were smashed and blood covered the seats. On the ground by the driver's side was a large bloody knife. He picked it up.
CLINIC
Sam was leaning against a counter, staring at the body of Mr. Tanner. He began pacing. Dr. Lee was nearby, looking at something in a microscope.
"Huh," Dr. Lee noted.
"What?" Sam asked.
"His lymphocyte percentage is pretty high. His body was fighting off a viral infection."
"Really? What kind of virus?"
"Can't say for sure."
"Do you think an infection could have made him act like that?"
"None that I've ever heard of. I mean, some can cause dementia, but not that kind of violence. And besides, I've never heard of one that did this to the blood."
"Did what?"
"There's this... weird residue. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was sulfur."
"Sulfur."
BLACKTOP
Dean and Susana drove along the bridge, which was blocked by a roadblock consisting of several cars and a half-dozen locals with guns. One was Jake. He stopped the car and frowned. Something banged down on the roof of the car and they jumped; a man leaned over.
"Oh-ho-ho. Hey," Dean greeted.
"Sorry. Road's closed," a man told them.
"Yeah, I can see that. What's up?"
"Quarantine."
"Quarantine?" Susana repeated. "What is it?"
"Don't know. Something going around out there."
"Uh-huh. Who told you that?" Dean questioned.
"County Sheriff."
"Is he here?"
"No. He called. Say, why don't you two get out of the car and we'll talk a little?"
Dean laughed nervously. "Well, you are a handsome devil, but I don't swing that way, sorry. And there's no way I'm lettin' you go for her."
"I'd appreciate it if you two got out of the car, just for a quick minute."
"Yeah, I'll bet you would."
Dean put the car into a quick reverse. The man grabbed his collar and was dragged along. The men at the roadblock began firing, and Dean swung the car around, shaking the man off and zoomed away.
"Chill, GTA," Susana asked. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Are you?"
"Yeah."
CLINIC
Sam was staring intently at Beverly, still huddled on the stool in the lab.
"I don't understand," Beverly said. "Are you saying my husband and Jake had a disease?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Dr. Lee replied. "Now, during the attack, do you remember... did you have any direct contact with their blood?"
"Oh, my God. You don't think I've got this virus, do you?"
"Beverly, I don't know what to think. But with your permission, we'll take a blood sample."
Beverly nodded and laid her hand gently on Dr. Lee's. Suddenly, she grabbed Dr. Lee's wrist and yelled in rage, lashing out with her other hand. Sam advanced on her and she tossed him against a glass cabinet, which shattered. She picked up a scalpel as he took a fire extinguisher from the wall. She advanced on him, still yelling, and he knocked her out.
TOWN ROAD
Dean and Susana were driving back into town. Mark stepped into their path brandishing a rifle, and he stopped the car.
"Hands where I can see 'em!" Mark ordered.
"Okay!" Dean and Susana agreed.
"Get out of the car! Out of the car!"
Dean opened the car door and got out slowly, shielding Susana's body as she got out. "All right, easy there, big guy."
As he stood, still guarding Susana's body, he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Mark. "All right, put it down!"
"Lower it now!" Mark yelled.
"Put it down!"
"Are you one of 'em? Is she?"
"No! Are you?"
"No!" Susana yelled.
"No!" Mark answered.
"You could be lying!" Dean told him.
"So could you two!"
"All right! All right. We could do this all day, all right? Let's just, uh, let's take it easy before we kill each other."
Mark relaxed slightly. "What's going on with everybody."
"We don't know."
"My neighbor... Mr. Rogers, he-"
"You've got a neighbor named Mr. Rogers?"
"Not anymore." Dean and Susana shook their heads. "He came at me with a hatchet. I put hm down. He's not the only one, I mean, it's happening to everyone."
"We're heading over to the doc's place, there's still some people left," Susana told Mark.
"No, no way. I'm getting the hell out."
"There's no way out, they got the bridge covered, come on."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine, stay here, be my guest," Dean said.
Mark hesitated, then changed his mind. He pulled out his handgun and grabbed another and kept it pointed toward Dean and Susana as he got into the passenger's side. Dean and Susana still had their guns up as well.
"Well, this ought to be a relaxing drive," Dean muttered.
CLINIC
Dr. Lee was looking through the microscope again as Pam huddled against the far wall.
"What if we all have it? What if we all go crazy?" Pam asked.
"You've got to stay calm," Dr. Lee told her. "All we can do it wait. The Marshal's bringing help."
"I can't, I... I've got to go."
"Pam!"
"No, you don't understand. My boyfriend's out there, I gotta make sure he's okay." She hurried out of the lab.
Sam followed Pam to the hallway. "All right, wait, wait. Please. Look, I know you're upset, all right? But it's safer if you stay here for now. Help is coming." The Impala pulled up outside. "There they are."
"Sammy? Open up!" Dean and Susana called.
Sam opened the door to let in Dean, Mark and Susana, all who were still armed.
"Did you guys, uh, get to a phone?" Sam asked.
"Road block," Dean answered, turning to Mark. "We're gonna have a word. Doc's inside."
"What's going on out there, Dean, Susie?"
"Man, we don't know, I feel like Chuck Heston in the Omega Man, I mean, Sarge is the only sane person we could find. What are we dealing with, do you two know?"
"Yeah. Doc thinks it's a virus."
"Okay, great," Susana said. "What do you think?"
"I think she's right."
"Really?" Dean and Susana questioned.
"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."
"A demonic virus?"
"Yeah, more like a demonic germ warfare. At least it explains why I've been having visions."
"It's like a Biblical plague," Dean noted.
"Yeah. You don't know how right you are, Dean. I've been poring through Dad's journal, found something about the Roanoke colony."
"And?" Susana pressed.
"Dad always had a theory about Croatoan. He thought it was the demon's name. Sometimes known as a Deva or sometimes Reesha. A demon of plague and pestilence."
"Well, that's just terrific. Why here, why now?"
"I have no idea. But Dean, Susie, who knows how far this thing can spread? We gotta get out of here, we gotta warn people."
Mark called, "They've got one! In here!"
Dean and Susana entered the next room as Dean asked, "What do you mean?"
"The wife. She's infected," Sam explained.
"We've gotta take care of this," Mark said. "We can't just leave her in there. My neighbors, they were strong. The longer we wait, the stronger she'll get."
Dean pulled out his gun with little hesitation and stalked into the lab.
LAB
"You're gonna kill Beverly Tanner?" Pam asked.
"Doctor, could there be any treatment? Some kind of cure for this? Sam questioned.
"Can you cure it?" Dean inquired.
"For God's sakes, I don't even know what "it" is!" Dr. Lee cried.
"I told you, it's just a matter of time before she breaks through," Mark warned.
"Just leave her in there, you can't shoot her like an animal!" Pam argued.
"Sam. Susie," Dean called.
They went to the utility room where Beverly was being held. Dean and Mark held their guns ready. Sam carefully opened the door. Susana stood next to him. Dean and Mark took up offensive positions. Inside, Beverly was huddled on the floor, knees drawn up. She jumped at their approach.
"Mark, what are you doing?" Beverly asked. "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!"
Dean glanced at Sam. "You sure she's one of 'em?"
Sam nodded, his face in distress. As Mark pulled back, near tears, Dean stepped forward and fired twice. Susana's expression flinched at the sound of the gunshot.
CLINIC
The shades were drawn and Mark peered through them cautiously. A few people were gathered outside. Behind him, Sam pulled out a hunting knife and checked the blade as Dean loaded a gun. Susana was also loading a gun. In the lab, Pam dropped a vial of blood and screamed.
"Oh, God!" Pam cried. "Is there any on my? Am I okay?"
"You're clean, you're okay," Dr. Lee reassured.
"Why are we staying here? Please, let's just go!"
"No, we can't, because those things are everywhere," Dean said.
Pam sank down. "Oh God..."
"Hey, shh, shh," Dr. Lee told her.
Sam spoke quietly. "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."
"Yeah, good point," Dean noted. "Night of the Living Dead didn't exactly end pretty."
"Well, I'm not sure we've got a choice," Mark said. "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 explosive..."
Sam glanced up at a shelf of medical supplies and got an idea. "We could make some." He went to the shelf and took down a bottle of Potassium Chloride.
Someone frantically pounded on the door and the trio ran out.
"Hey!" Duane called. "Let me in, let me in! Please!"
"It's Duane Turner!" Mark realized, opening the door to let Duane, who had a backpack and was limping, in.
"Thank God."
"Duane, you okay?"
Dean glanced at Sam. "That's the guy that I, that Seri lets me, uh-" He clicked his tongue.
"Yeah," Sam confirmed.
"Who else is in here?" Duane asked.
Dean grabbed his arm. "Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there, chief. Hey doc! Give Duane a good once-over, would you?"
Dr. Lee led the group into the lab. "Pam?"
Duane glanced to Dean and Susana. "Who are you two?"
"Never mind who we are," Dean said. "Doc."
"Yeah, okay," Dr. Lee answered.
"Duane. Where have you been?" Mark asked.
"On a fishing trip up by Rosyln," Duane answered. "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 or dad?"
Dean turned to Sam and Susana and attempted a joking tone. "Awkward..."
Duane was sitting on a stool and had a deep gash in his left leg.
"You're bleeding," Dr. Lee realized.
"Where'd you get that?" Susana asked as she pointed to the wound.
"I was running, I must have tripped," Duane replied.
"Tie him up, there's rope in there," Dean ordered.
"Wait..."
Dean pulled his gun on Duane. "Sit down!"
"I'm sorry, Duane, he's right," Mark said. "We've gotta be careful."
"Careful?" Duane repeated. "About what?"
"Did they bleed on you?" Susana questioned.
"No, what the hell? No!"
"Doc?" Sam called. "Any way to know for sure, any test?"
"I've studied Beverly's bloodworm backwards and forwards," Dr. Lee replied.
"My mom!" Duane cried.
"It took three hours 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."
"Dean, I gotta talk to you now," Sam said. "Seri, you too."
Dean glanced at Mark, who nodded. Dean, Sam and Susana left the lab.
"Sit in that chair," Mark demanded.
In another room, Sam glanced between his brother and friend. "This is my vision, Dean, Susie. It's happening."
"Yeah, I figured," Dean and Susana noted.
"You can't kill him, all right? Not yet. We don't know if he's infected or not."
"Well, I think we're pretty damn sure," Dean said. "Guy shows up out of nowhere, he's got a cut on his leg, his whole family's infected?"
Susana took a quick moment to think. "All right, then we should keep him covered, and we should wait and see."
Dean turned to her. "For what? For him to Hulk out and infect somebody else? No thanks, can't take that chance." He started pushing past Sam, who stopped 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 both know that."
"It's supposed to be tough, Dean," Sam told him. "We're supposed to struggle with this, that's the whole point."
"What does that buy us?"
"A clear conscience, for one!"
"Well, it's too late for that."
Susana stepped in front of him. "What the hell's happened to you?"
Dean frowned at her. "What?"
Sam glared. "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."
"Mm-hmm."
Dean pushed past Sam a third time. Sam tried to stop him again, but Dean hurled Sam against the far wall. He went back into the hall and locked the door behind him.
"Hey!" Sam and Susana yelled.
Sam rattled the lock. "Open the damn door, Dean! Don't do it, Dean! Don't!"
Dean was in the hallway from Sam's vision. He dropped the clip from the gun and tapped it against the butt, then replaced it. He opened the door to the lab and shut it behind him. Duane was tied to the chair and Mark, Pam and Dr. Lee stood nearby.
"No, you're not gonna... No, no, I swear it's not me!" Duane cried.
"Oh, God," Pam said. "We're all gonna die."
"Maybe he's telling the truth," Mark suggested.
"No, he's not him, not anymore," Dean told them.
"Stop it!" Duane yelled. "Ask her, ask the doctor! It's not in me!"
"I... I can't tell," Dr. Lee admitted.
Duane began sobbing. "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."
"I got no choice," Dean said.
Dean pointed the gun at Duane with his finger hovering over the trigger. Duane was sobbing and the others were watching in tense silence.
Dean trembled, hesitated, and lowered the gun with a grimace. "Damn it!" Duane panted as Dean left the room.
Later, Sam, Dean and Susana were preparing explosives with rags and glass bottles.
Dr. Lee entered, 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 all right."
The trio shared a look. Sam nodded, Susana glanced between them, and Dean lowered his head.
"Sure. Yeah," Sam replied as Dr. Lee left. "You know Susie and I are gonna ask you why."
"Yeah, I know," Dean answered.
"So why? Why didn't you do it?"
Dean didn't reply and instead, said, "We need more alcohol."
Sam and Susana got up and went into the dispensary to find Pam already there.
"How you holding up, Pam?" Sam asked.
"Good," Pam replied. "It'll all be over soon." She shut the door and locked it and Sam and Susana, with their backs turned, didn't notice. "In fact, I've been waiting for this the whole time."
"For what?" Sam and Susana questioned.
"To get you two alone."
She lashed out and knocked them to the ground. She straddled his chest and hilted him, hard across the face. She kicked Susana's legs, also knocking her down, and hit her in the jaw. Outside the room, Dean and Mark heard the commotion and armed themselves. Pam had a scalpel in one hand, which she sliced across Sam's chest and Susana's arm and then across her own palm, placing her wound over theirs. Dean kicked the door open and shot her three times in the back. She convulsed and fell to the floor. Sam and Susana reached out their hands to Dean, who started to lean over to take them and Mark pulled him back.
"She bled on them," Mark said. "They've got the virus."
Sam and Susana pulled their hands back, realizing it was true. Dean looked stunned, looking from Sam and Susana to Pam.
LAB
Sam was sitting on the stool, a bandage pressed to his chest. Susana was sitting on the table, a bandage pressed to her arm. Their eyes were down and he looked close to tears. A tear fell down Susana's cheek. The others surrounded them. Dean paced angrily.
"Doc, check their wounds again, would you?" Dean asked, earning a pause. "Doctor!"
"What's she need to examine them for?" Mark questioned. "You saw what happened."
"Did her blood actually enter your wounds?" Dr. Lee inquired.
"Come on, of course it did!"
"We don't know that for sure," Dean argued.
Duane glanced at him. "We can't take a chance."
"You know what we have to do," Mark stated.
"Nobody is shooting my brother and friend," Dean said.
"He isn't gonna be your brother and she isn't gonna be your friend much longer," Duane warned. "You said it yourself."
"Nobody is shooting anyone!"
"You were gonna shoot me!"
"You don't shut your pie-hole, I still might!"
"Dean, they're right," Sam told him. "Susie and I are infected; just give us the gun and we'll do it ourselves."
"Forget it."
"Dean, she and I aren't gonna become one of those things."
"Sam, Susie, we've still got some time-"
Mark cut him off. "Time for what? Look, I understand he's your brother and she's your friend, and I'm sorry, I am. But we gotta take care of this." Mark pulled out his handgun.
Dean eyed him angrily. "I'm gonna say this one more time -- you make a move on them, you'll be dead before you hit the ground. You understand me? I mean, do I make myself clear?!"
"Then what are we supposed to do?!"
Dean tossed Mark the 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 two go with him. You've got enough firepower to handle anything now."
"What about you?"
Sam noticed his brother's face and after a beat, said, "Dean, no. No. Go with them. This is your only chance!"
"You're not gonna get rid of me that easy," Dean joked.
Mark glanced between the trio. "No, he's right. Come with us." He paused. "Okay, it's your funerals." He led Duane and Dr. Lee out the door.
"I'm sorry," Dr. Lee apologized. "Thanks for everything, Marshals."
"Oh, actually, we're not really Marshals," Dean told her.
"Um. Oh."
She left and Dean shut the door behind her. He turned slowly to face Sam and Susana, the former of whom started to cry.
"Wish we had a deck of cards, or a foosball table or something," Dean said.
"Dean, don't do this," Susana said. "Get out of here."
"No way."
"Give me our guns, and leave."
"For the last time, Susie, Sam. No."
Sam slammed the table. "This is the dumbest thing you have ever done."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Dean replied. "Remember that waitress in Tampa?" He shuddered.
"Dean, Susie and I are sick. It's over for us. It doesn't have to be for you."
"No?"
"No, you keep going," Susana said in a shaky voice.
"Who says I want to?"
Sam and Susana looked at him. "What?"
Dean crossed to the other wall and pulled a handgun from his waistband before sitting on the cabinet. "I'm tired, Sam. I'm tired of this job, this life... this weight on my shoulders, man. I'm tired of it."
"So what, so you're just gonna give up?" Sam said. "You're just gonna lay down and die? Look, Dean, I know this stuff with Dad has-"
"You're wrong. It's not about Dad. I mean, part of it is, sure, but..."
"What is it about?"
They heard a noise outside and a moment later, there was a knocking on the door. Dean picked up the threw handguns and crossed to the door. Dr. Lee was there. Dean opened the door.
"You'd better come see this," Dr. Lee said.
CLINIC
All six survivors were standing just outside the clinic; everything else in sight was deathly silent.
"There's no one," Dr. Lee told them. "Not anywhere. They've all just... vanished."
The next morning, Dr. Lee was looking through the microscope. Sam and Susana were seated on the exam table.
"Well, it's been five hours and your blood's still clean, as is the young woman's," Dr. Lee informed. "I don't understand it, but I think you two dodged a bullet."
Sam frowned. "But she and I were exposed. How could we not be infected?"
"I don't know. But you two just aren't. I mean, you compare it with the Tanner samples..." She looked through another microscope. "What the hell?"
"What?" Sam and Susana asked.
"Their blood. There's no trace of the virus. No sulfur, nothing."
They left the clinic and stood outside.
Mark and Duane were loading up a truck. Dr. Lee stood in the doorway of the clinic.
"Hey, the Sarge and I are getting the hell out of here, heading south," Duane saiid. "You should come."
"I'd better get over to Sidewinder, get the authorities up here," Dr. Lee replied. "If they'll believe me. Take care."
Mark waved to her and to Dean, Sam and Susana, who were leaning against the Impala.
"What about him?" Dean asked.
"He's going to be fine. No signs of infection."
Dr. Lee went back inside as Mark and Duane pulled away in the truck.
Dean and Susana turned to Sam who said, "Hey, man, Susie, don't look at me. I got no clue."
"I swear, I'm gonna lose sleep over this one," Dean told them. "I mean, why here, why now? And where the hell did everybody go? It's like they just friggin' melted."
"Why were Sam and I immune?" Susana wondered.
"Yeah. You know what? That's a good question. You know, I'm already starting to feel like this is the one that got away?"
They got in the car and pulled away from town.
BLACKTOP
Mark drove his pickup down a dark tow-lane road.
Duane, who was in the passenger's seat, asked, "You mind pulling up ahead there?"
"All right," Mark said as he pulled onto the shoulder and stopped the truck.
"I gotta make a call."
"No phone out here."
"I got it covered." He pulled out a small knife.
"What the hell is that?"
In a quick motion, Duane lashed out and slit Mark's thread. He caught the blood in a metal bowl, sat back, and dipped his hand in the blood, swirling it around.
"It's over, you'll be pleased," Duane said. "I don't think anymore tests are necessary." He paused. "The Winchester boy and the Martínez girl, definitely immune, as expected." He paused again. "Yes, of course. Nothing left behind." His eyes went demonic black.
BRIDGE
The Impala was parked by the side of a road, overlooking a river. Dean, Sam and Susana leaned against a fence, drinking beer.
"So," Sam began. "Last night. You want to tell me and Susie what the hell you were talking about?"
"What do you mean?" Dean asked.
"What do I mean? I mean you said you were tired of the job. And that it wasn't just because of Dad."
"Forget it."
"No, I can't. No way. I don't think Susie can forget it either."
Dean glanced at him. "Come on, man, I thought we were each going to die, Seri did too, you can't hold that over us."
"No, no, no, no. You can't pull that crap with us, man. You're talking."
"And what if I don't? I don't know, man. I just think maybe we ought to... go to the Grand Canyon."
Susana frowned. "Hey, come on. Be serious."
Sam frowned. "What?"
Dean flicked his eyes between them. "Yeah, you know, all this driving back and forth across country, you know I've never been to the Grand Canyon? We we could go to T.J. or Hollywood, see if we can bang Lindsay Lohan."
"You're not making any sense," Sam said.
"I just think we should take a break from all this," Dean explained. "Why do we gotta get stuck with all the responsibility, you know? Why can't we live a little bit?"
"Why are you saying all this?" Dean shook his head, turning away. "No, no, no, no, Dean. You're my brother and Susie's friend, all right? So whatever weight you're carrying, let us help a little bit."
"I can't. I promised."
"Who?" Sam and Susana asked.
"Dad."
"What are you talking about?" Sam questioned.
Dean looked down. "Right before Dad died, he told me something." He took a breath and looked between Sam and Susana. "He told me something about you two."
"What? Dean, what did he tell you?"
"What'd he say?" Susana asked.