Chapter Text
It started with a phone call. Sam picked up his phone, the number flashing on his screen not one he recognized.
"Hello?" There was a strange whine on the other line, and barking. Very loud barking as if a dog was yapping directly into the phone. Sam pulled the phone away from his ear cringing. "Hello!? what the hell?"
"HEY! bad dog!" Sam suddenly heard a shout on the line before it clicked and went dead. Sam stared at the phone for a minute his perplexed expression catching Deans eye as he returned from the kitchen with a beer.
"Whats up?" Dean asked.
"Just a seriously weird phone call." Sam muttered staring down at his device.
"Our kind of weird?"
"Weirder... I dunno it could have just been a wrong number." However, they hadn't had a case in awhile and Sam decided it wouldn't hurt to chase down the caller.
"What happened?"
"Basically picked up and there was a dog or something whining on the other line, then barking. Suddenly there was a woman's voice that said 'hey! bad dog!' and the line went dead."
"Sounds like a wrong number called by a dog." Dean snorted in amusement at the thought.
"Not like we have a case, I might as well check out the number." Sam said with a shrug and booting up his laptop.
"We that desperate already?"
"What are the chances of a dog using a phone, let alone happening to dial us?" Sam pointed out and Dean had to shrug noncommittally in agreement.
"No one can say you’re not thorough." Dean snorted, raising his beer to take a swig.
"Let me know how that goes." He said before walking to his room leaving Sam to handle the 'lead' while he went to rifle through his busty asian beauties magazine collection. The first thing Sam did was try and call the number back.
"Hello, Springbrook animal shelter!"
"Uh, Hi, this is going to sound strange... I just received a call from this number, there was just a dog barking and whining?"
"Oh! You’re the one he called!” The girl on the phone gushed animatedly, speaking so fast it took Sam a moment to catch up as she continued. “It’s actually super funny! If you believe it, one of the new pickups, a really old coonhound we're calling Grumpy escaped his kennel and snuck into the office. When the staff noticed he was missing he was on the phone !" The woman seemed perfectly tickled by this. Sam wished it was just a cute story, but what were the chances? He needed to find out where they were located.
"Huh, that is really funny! Where is your shelter located by chance?"
"Oh were Springbrook Colorado, 125 Oak street. If you feel like fate is ‘calling you,” She giggled at her pun, “You'd be saving his life, poor guy is set to be euthanized! We are filled over capacity at the moment." Continued the woman, for the first time the chipper upbeat voice drifting into a sad contemplation. Sam was taking note of the location on a scrap piece of paper his mind already moving to he next step: research.
"I'll think about it, thanks." He said, ending the call briskly. Strange, but not too disturbing. Sam opened his search bar and pulled up Springbrook Colorado and began to take a closer look at the small town.
"Dean, I think we've got a case!" Sam said, knocking on Dean’s door. He heard some scrambling behind said door and a grunt of frustration before it was pulled open.
"Couldn't have waited like two minutes Sam?" Dean snapped causing Sam to snort.
"That all it take?" His big brother narrowed his mossy green eyes at him dangerously and Sam smirked before continuing.
"But seriously, towns had disappearances, more than normal for a town that size. people seem to be disappearing just going through that area. On top of that I called the shelter and they said they are pretty much overflowing with animals right now."
"So-?"
"So I also called Garth, just to check if any hunters he knew had gone to check it out. Gene Vermont is the one that went."
"Old Gene? That guy is seriously hunting still? That guy helped train dad. So what's that got to do with dogs?"
"Well Gene is missing, other people are missing, tons of dogs are showing up and I received a call from an old coonhound they just picked up that they named Grumpy ." Sam raised his brow and there was a beat of silence as Dean considered this, watching his brothers wheels grind and turn.
"That actually does sound like Gene. Okay so someone is turning people into dogs, let’s go check it out."
Sam called back the shelter a third time to make sure 'Grumpy' wouldn't be euthanized before he got there, the woman was the same he'd talked to earlier and was more than happy to stay the execution for them.
As per usual, Colorado was hot and smelled a lot like cow poop. There were a lot of properties outside the town, tucked away in groves or laid out alone in the centre of farmland. The town itself wasn't big, but it wasn't small either, it was a pathway to a larger city and seemed to have more than one grocery store at least and a few touristy sights to see. By the time they arrived the sun was falling. The boys didn't have time to stop and get settled in a hotel room before the shelter closed so they wound up at 125 oak street animal shelter just as most of the shops on the same street were closing down for the weekday evening.
The sun was bright, the street warm and dusky though the greatest heat of the day was dissipating and had the taste of the cooler evening to come as they approached the glass and steel door of the building emblazoned with hand drawn cartoonish dogs and cats in the window. A flyer in the window said in bold letters ADOPT DON’T SHOP! And the door chimed in greeting as they entered in the greyish reception area to the space beyond.
Dean immediately got the vibes of incarceration, greyish walls however decorated couldn’t hide the concrete and steel, nor the distant din of belligerent howling animals beyond and the antiseptic scent of authoritarianism. Behind the counter a slightly overweight young woman perked up at the chime of the bell lifting her head to greet them with overly bright eyes. She was cute Dean thought, not his league of cute, but ‘gummy bear’ cute.
"Hello!" Sam immediately recognized the chipper voice behind the counter and put on his best friendly smile to the young woman whose name take read ‘Stephanie’ With a little hand drawn heart beside it on her pink tee shirt.
"Hi, my name is Sam, we actually spoke over the phone about an old coonhound named Grumpy?" The girl immediately brightened (further) which was apparently possible her eyes and mouth going round in over emphasized shocked pleasure.
"Oh! I was soooo hoping you would show up!” she said throwing up her hands, and moving immediately to bustle out from behind the counter, gesturing to the big grey heavy doors with reinforced glass and a sign that read ‘ALL GUESTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY EMPLOYEE’ “I'll take you back to see him!" She fumbled with the keys at her belt and opened the door. The din beyond grew and though Sam seemed unperturbed Dean grimaced. He never had a thing for dogs like Sam. His grimace deepened into a cringe as they entered the area with the walls lined with miniature prison cells, concrete and iron Dean hated it. The smell was even worse. Lemon and pine mingling with fresh hot reek of urine and poop. Great.
From within the cages dogs of all shapes and sizes were screaming and yapping and jumping through the chain link. Almost all the cages were doubled or tripled up. Dean made a face at some particularly bulgy eyed snarling chihuahua's with a curl to his lip 'people actually keep those things? '. He shuddered. They arrived at the second last pen and Sam and Dean turned to see an old coonhound white muzzle and all staring at them with droopy eyes, sitting perfectly still and staring while two terriers ran around whining somewhat pathetically. Stephanie had to shout above the din as they stopped at a particular cage.
"He's pretty quiet, but smart, definitely needs a more experienced hand. Have you had a dog before?" Dean left the dog talk to Sam and instead stepped up to the chain link, eyeing the dog with a squint. Within the old coon hound sat utterly still with a distant gloomy abstract look to him while the other two terrier yapped energetically. His eye sight didn’t seem so good but he sniffed and lifted his nose towards Dean as he approached the think.
"That you Gene?" He asked in a bark above all the other barks. The disposition in the dog changed immediately as he stood on old rickety legs and let out a single ‘WUF!’ his thick though sparsely haired tail giving a strong wag. The terriers gave strange little yelps and fell suddenly quiet as Gene continued in a strange low growl that Dean almost couldn’t hear over the din, but had the strange cadence of communication to it nonetheless.
Whatever Stephanie and Sam were discussing behind them was cute off by the employees jubilation at ‘Gene’s’ relatively energetic reaction, her hands pressing over her mouth as she gasped.
" Gene!? No way you guys know this dog?" Sam chuckled uneasily, truth be told he hated places like this too, but just kept his game face better than his brother. Turning to give a look to his brother who gave him a arch look as in ‘ go for it’ Sam sighed, coming up with a plausible story on the fly while his brother continued to stare into the cage.
"It’s -uh- a really weird story actually." Sam said running his hands through his hair as he pulled the story out of his ass having to uncomfortably relay it over the din of the dogs which was slowly fraying his nerves. "Our Dad had a coonhound we used to take on hunting trips. He trained him to do tons of stuff. A year ago he went missing after a trip and we couldn't find him. When I got the call I didn't want to hope, because it seemed too strange. Dad always taught Gene to do weird tricks though, like using a phone." Sam finished lamely, the girls expression teetering on blank incredulous. He wondered if maybe she didn’t quite hear him over the din, and was considering having to repeat himself when her animation returned in full force and she bounced up on her heels wrapping her arms around Sam.
"OH MY GOD! THAT IS SO AMAZING!" She jiggled her whole body in a weird hug that Sam uncomfortably reciprocated catching Deans laughing look and offering him a glare. Why did he always get the weird ones? As she withdrew he set his face straight as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes "I'm so happy for you! it’s like a little miracle !" She gushed and Sam struggled to return a somewhat convincing smile. She opened the gate for Gene, who followed Sam and Dean without a lead, simply trotting alongside them with a swaggering pep to his step in seeming relief. Stephanie keeping up with Sam "You guys just have to fill out a little paperwork for Gene and settle his finders fee, then you guys are home free!"
Reaching the doors to the little office was like reaching the sandy banks of an oasis in an ocean of tumult. The dogs rattling barks lingering in their brains long after the doors closed finally muffling the noise of the place. Sam and Dean both taking a breath with Sam giving his brother a look like ‘your turn’ as he cuffed him on the back and knelt down to Gene.
"You ready to 'go home' Gene?" Sam asked the dog. Gene barked in response as Steph's eyes continued to grow weepy.
"Wow, he's so receptive to you! No one here could get him to do anything but growl! it's why we were going to put him down, too old and not socialized enough. It's so obvious you have an amazing bond." She sniffed and played with her necklace which had been tucked beneath her pink tee-shirt, running her fingers over the talisman, Dean not noting it consciously as he kept his smile up and signed the paperwork on the x marks barely looking.
"It gets like that when you hunt together. Always have to have each other's backs." Dean said, and pushed the paper back towards her, Stephanie nodding and rubbing her eyeliner away at the corner of her eyes as she got the card machine out.
Soon enough Gene, Sam and Dean were walking back to the impala and that's when Dean froze. "Wait, no way I'm having a dog in Baby." At that Gene growled and Dean glared at him, moving possessively to touch his car with one hand while pointing an accusatory finger towards Gene.
"Your smelly and hairy Gene, you'll get all over the place."
"Is it really that different from when he was human?" Sam pointed out and Gene turned to Sam and grumbled indignantly with the droopy reds of his eyes showing with mopey contempt. "Besides Dean, we need Gene to take us to whoever did this to him." Sam pointed out and watched his brothers expression make its way through the list: denial, anger, acceptance. Dean relented with a sigh, seeing no reasonable way out of it.
"Fine, but no drooling!" Gene gave only a grunt in answer. “And keep your balls off the leather!” Sam restrained a laugh, not wanting to be the one to tell Dean that dogs couldn’t retract their nads.
They got themselves settled in a dive motel where they were successfully able to smuggle Gene in undetected. And set to work finding the best way to communicate with Gene by asking a series of questions about what turned him in the first place and with him putting a paw on a yes or no piece of paper on the floor in front of him.
They apparently got close with 'Witch' but not quite. Sam was the first to come up with 'shaman' Gene gave a low gruff bark of confirmation on that. They'd never dealt with a Shaman and Sam quickly put himself into research mode while Dean laid out some maps and had Gene tell them where the Shaman was located. Old Gene curled up in a ball to sleep while Dean went to bring back some food and Sam continued researching. Ready to fill his brother in about what he found when he returned.
"So basically Shaman's are usually spiritual healers, in tune with nature and magic. However, sometimes Shaman go bad, corrupt and the powers they would use for good can be used for evil." "So Shamans can regularly turn people into dogs?" "Not just dogs, but any spirit animal. Normally this is used as a sort of 'spirit journey' or even as a punishment for wrongdoing. I suppose an evil Shaman has the same ability, only twisted, using it like a curse to whoever crosses them or poses a threat."
"So we go and gank her and whoever she turned gets back to normal?"
"Actually it's unclear, there are some indications that the Shaman has some sort of spiritual power source, a totem of some kind that needs to be destroyed before the spell breaks." Gene sat up from where he'd been dozing ears perked, he let out a low bark of agreement.
"Did you find anything Gene?" Gene gave a low growl and snort of frustration.
"Sounds like a no." Dean said flatly.
"At least we know to look for something." Sam interjected on a more upbeat note.
"Anything she's weak against, or immune to?"
"Everything indicates she's like a witch, basically just a juiced up human."
"So cutting her head off works just fine." Dean said with a nasty grin. Sam swallowed glancing worriedly at the mark on Dean’s arm, but looked away before Dean could catch it.
Once they were fed and ready to go Sam pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"I'm going to tell Garth what's up. In case anything happens." Sam said.
"You really think something is going to happen with the three of us?" Dean frowned.
"Gene was experienced," Sam pointed out. "And mistakes happen. . . it’s better to be safe than sorry." Dean rolled his eyes at his brother but shrugged. Sam made the call, filling Garth in on the situation.
"If you don't hear back from us give Cas a call, send him our way." Sam instructed, after all if three hunters couldn't handle it, maybe it was a job for an angel.
"Righty-o partner. Good luck out there!" Garth said in his regular chipper voice, reminding them of the volunteer girl from the shelter.
They all sat in the Impala, staring at the rustic worn home that was being overtaken by nature deep beyond a valley of trees on a road that had gone from pavement to gravel to dirt. It was a farmhouse, one long abandoned it seemed.
"Alright, we scout around. I'll take the front, Sam you and Ol' yeller can take the back." No one argued, or 'growled' in protest so they were off. Dean had his gun drawn as she watched Sam and Gene disappear around the side of the building. The mark on Dean’s arm was burning in anticipation as he approached. 'this might even be fun' It was that thought that Dean recalled hours later waking up in a cell.
'what the hell?" Dean groaned, shaking himself slightly. As he moved he immediately knew something was off. His eyes open and looking down to see two tan legs sticking out from his body... his body.
"Oh shit- SAM!" instead of a voice a something of a rough yip came from his mouth and he jumped up. Stumbling like he was drunk for the first time using four limbs. He saw a large body covered in brown fur a little ways away from him.
"Sammy!" Dean quickly gained his legs, it felt 'natural' being on all fours in this state, just as natural as being on two once he got used to the change of perspective.
"Huh?" The brown mass shifted, the 'Sam dog' raising his head. Big brown eyes and long fluffy brown hair. "What the- DEAN!?" Sam didn't seem to be speaking, but Dean seemed to be able to hear him nonetheless. "
Yeah no kidding. Jesus did that hunt go to shit." Dean muttered blandly and sat as Sam sat up. He was looking at himself and his long fluffy legs. Sam was gigantic even in this form, as if the he became the most 'him' looking version of a dog.
"I remember going in through the back and smelling fire... Feeling kind of drawn to it." Sam recounted after a moment and Dean nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, same for me. big ass bonfire in the living room, but no smoke. I just remember the flames drawing me in."
"I remember hearing Gene barking and flipping out... Damn I hope he got out of there." "
Bitch must have realized more hunters were coming and set up some kind of trance thing to draw us in, turned us into dogs when we fell for it." A low growl emanated from dog Dean’s throat. "Why the hell wouldn't she just kill us though? why turn us into dogs and leave us?" "
It might sound strange but Shaman's respect animal life, nature is where they draw their power from. Maybe she can't kill us without destroying her own power."
"Lucky for us I guess."
Yeah, I suppose it could be worse. What now?"
"Now we hope that dogs really do go to heaven and pray our asses off to Cas."
"Cas won't be able to get here right away even if he does hear us." Sam pointed out to Dean, before Dean could say anything there was a clank and suddenly as if it was a gunshot in the middle of a full mall. Noise blasted them from all sides. Dogs, yipping, barking and baying all around them. If Dean had any suspicions of where they were now they were confirmed.
The animal shelter .
Steps came closer to them until a figure stopped in front of the door.
"Hi guys, looks like your awake!" Came the voice they both knew. 'Fan-friggen-tastic.' Both brothers thought in unison.
Stephanie had fought to keep her voice as friendly and sweet as possible to their two newest additions however her heart weighed heavy in her chest. Even with those nice boys taking the coonhound named Gene they were absolutely overflowing with dogs.
They had tripled each cells capacity and had to move some dogs over just to give the two new dogs their own cell once they arrived. They had been found together, unconscious on the side of a road and the vet had done a brief check to see if they were okay and reported that they simply seemed sedated and it would most likely wear off. Steph dropped off some clean water for their new additions, trying to remain cheerful despite the fact that the two pretty boys would most likely be euthanized. Or at least the tan Pitbull would, especially if he showed any aggression.
The other dog looked like an Irish setter, however Steph had only seen them in books so she couldn't be sure. Lots of people might be willing to take a pretty dog like that. She tried to focus on that potential as she kept her self busy taking each dog outside for a few minutes to take some air and do their business. The new boys were last and at the end of the 'block'. She gave them another friendly smile as she opened the gate, leash in hand. Both the Pitbull and the setter eyed her warily even as she offered her hand and made no move to sniff it. The actions actually reminded her of the old Coonhound. Sort of stony and watchful.
"Hey come on now, it’s okay." She offered attempting to be soothing as she reached for the Pitbull gently. It surprised her that it wasn't the Pitbull that moved, but the setter who jumped slightly with a low growl.
" She could be taking you to euthanize you!" Sam told Dean his fear as he eyed the 'too chipper' girl.
"What? why me? I ain't done nothing yet." Dean questioned his brother, still sitting stock still as the girl retracted her hand nervously at Sam's motion. Sam glanced at Dean sort of anxiously.
"Well... Dean... you're a Pitbull."
" Fuuuuuuuuuuck." Dean literally made a whine/groan and lowered his head slightly in response.
"Awww it's okay guys, I'm just taking your buddy for a little walk. Don't you want some fresh air?" Steph said, attempting to keep the hitch out of her voice as she was now watching the setter for any more aggressive movements in warning.
"Sounds like it’s just a walk... I better play along, I don't even like dogs and I know that nice people don't even need a reason to want to kill a Pitbull." "
Don't give her any reason to, try and act as non-aggressive as possible."
"If I'm not back in ten, maul the shit out of her." Dean said, standing up and walking towards Stephanie to offer her his collar. Her eyes widened in surprise at the motion and especially as the setter seemed to relax, laying back down again.
"They’re bonded ." She sniffed suddenly with a surge of emotion at the thought as she clipped the Pitbull and led him out. The Setter watched them go and she could have been mistaken considering all the other noises but she thought she heard a low whine come from the setter as they left. Stephanie decided that she couldn't bare to see their lives end in tragedy. If the new additions stayed they would most certainly be separated, with a high possibility the Pitbull would be euthanized. While there wasn't much she could do herself (her own home was overcrowded at this point with four recently adopted dogs) there was one thing she could try- calling an old friend, if that friend wasn't so dead set on being alone she would think of it as a sure thing. As it was though she knew her friend was stubborn as hell, the only thing she could bet on was that she loved animals and Steph hoped that would be enough. She would have to make it soon though, the shelter would be taking count of the dogs and figuring out which were the least adoptable ones the next day.
Ashleigh Morris jumped when the phone rang. It was a strange occurrence. That is, that someone would be calling her. Most people stopped after her second year of self imposed isolation, plus she had gotten rid of her landline completely and relied only on her cell phone which not many people had the number to. She considered not answering it, of letting it go to voicemail.
However she was curious, and potentially starving for some human conversation. The only people she conversed with were Jeff the grocery delivery guy, Todd the delivery man, and Dalilah the woman who charged an exorbitant amount to bring take out from places that didn't deliver or wouldn't travel too far out of town. So Ashleigh found herself getting up and walking to the phone to pick up. "Hello?"
"Oh I'm soooo glad you answered! It's Stephanie, we used to volunteer together at the animal shelter!" Stephanie- the girl's voice alone immediately pulled her image from memory. She had liked Stephanie, she was always sort of bright and sunny. It had always been a nice change of pace than the reality of her home life.
"Hi Stephanie." She said simply, wondering why she was calling, Steph had been one of the people persistently attempting to keep in contact with her over her first few years, but eventually even she stopped trying.
"Okay, so hear me out." She started and before Ash could interrupt she rushed on. "The shelter has been absolutely overflowing . we have no clue where all these dogs are coming in from! Regular cage occupancy has tripled . It’s insane! Now I know you don't like company, but there are two dogs here that really need a home." Ashleigh was silent on the other line and she could hear Stephanie beginning to squirm, If she hadn’t have heard Ash breathing on the other line she might have thought she had been hung up on. Finally she spoke, an excuse on her tongue.
"Steph... I don't-" Ashleigh hardly began before Steph leaped back in to cut her off.
"I really wouldn't ask unless it was life or death for these guys... and they’re bonded Ash! One of them is a Pitbull though and with so many other dogs... they are going to put him down." Ash listened with a lump in her throat and released a sigh over the line, pressing her fingers to her temple and rubbing softly hoping to alleviate the beginnings of a headache. She let out a breath she was regretting picking up the phone. Guilt twisted her stomach and there was a flutter of something else she would never admit to.
"I'll do it."
"Thank you Ash! Seriously, you’re going to love these guys!" She exclaimed with a slight squeal and her usual peppy emphasis. Ash was already starting to regret giving in and amended.
"It’s temporary ,” she emphasized, “I plan on finding them a good home, it's just a fostering arrangement." She said, voice tight.
"Yes. unless you don't want it to be..." Her friend still held a sliver of hope for her, one she didn't want to encourage, but still it stirred up something aching in Ash, other than annoyance and it made her feel very very tired suddenly.
"What time are you open until?" She questioned, tone as flat as a week old soda sitting out warm on the counter in comparison to her old friends fresh sparkling bubbling jubilation.
"I'm doing the shut down tonight, so I can stay late! When can you be here?"
"I'll be there-" She said glanced at her laptop clock, “In two hours,”
“That’ll be perfect! ” Ash resisted an eye roll, certain if she said ‘five hours’ she would have gotten the same remark and smiled to herself wearily.
“See you then.” She chimed and hung up.
The sudden noise of a door opening down the hall had the brothers jumping up in their cell. The boys had been working on a game plan and they settled that staying where they were was far too dangerous. Making an escape was their best bet as neither of them wanted to be euthanized or have their balls chopped off.
"So what? she opens the door and we jump her?" "
looks like that’s our best option." Sam agreed. "
“Like hell am I getting friggen euthanized." Dean muttered in a doggy grunt beneath his breath as Steph came into view of the kennel with two leads in her hands eying them through the mesh.
"You guys are so quiet!" She exclaimed beneath the din, the boys almost unable to hear her over the raucous of the other animals. They faced the door both sitting perfectly still, suspiciously still and staring at her so intently that Steph felt a little uneasy.
She swallowed, hoping they'd relax a little more if she talked to them, so she crouched in front of the gate. "You have no idea how lucky you guys are! I found you a foster mommy to take you for awhile. You guys are so pretty I couldn't handle the thought of you being put down so I put a call into one of my friends! Now we just need to make sure you’re all healthy and you'll be on your way home in no time!" Steph had made a call and had their appointment bumped up with the vet. Both dogs turned to look at each other questioningly, a perplexing sight to Steph as the dogs looked at one another as if in silent communication, and anxiously she started playing with her necklace again as a kind of habit as the dogs ‘talked’.
"Maybe we should wait."
“Yeah, great plan until they neuter us!"
"If we freak out now we might definitely be euthanized Dean! plus I doubt with so many dogs they have enough time to neuter them all. We can get to this 'foster' woman's house and escape from their no problem if Cas doesn't answer us."
"You better be damn right. You might be okay with living as a eunuch but little Dean and me ain't!" The door was clicking to unlock and before Sam could answer the woman was gently reaching out towards Dean.
"Come on Buddy, you first!" She held her hand for Dean to sniff instead he raised his head to give her a look
"Buddy?! Seriously!?" She pulled her hand away as the dog gave a disgruntled snort, however he didn't seem aggressive so she tentatively clipped the leash onto his collar then did Sam's. Neither dog put up a fuss as they were led out of the room.
Sam was right. The town vet was so booked up with taking care of the other dogs they only could squeeze in a basic check up and shots. Actually the real town vet was on vacation, ironically leaving only his assistant to 'fill in' for him and they weren't able to actually do any spay or neuters at the moment. The relief for Sam and Dean was tangible. Then there was just a few more hours of waiting until Steph came to the back again. This time with their new 'mommy'.
"Damn, she's actually hot. I might not mind being her- what do those weirdos people call their pets- fur baby?"
"Dean. ew. you’re such a-"
What? A dog?" Dean lolled his tongue grinning at his brother with an open mouth. Sam made a guttural groaning noise in response to his brother and looked away. Instead, focusing on the young woman watching with dark critical eyes as if she was weighing them and finding them wanting.
"Have you tested them for training or anything yet?" Ashleigh asked Steph in a clipped tone, her arms crossed. Steph had a good heart but she often overlooked the details, for all Ash knew these might be totally untrained dogs, hand shy and anxious. Although they seemed to be staring her back with some amount of interest and intelligence. Often the intelligent dogs were the most destructive and that was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
"They haven't been here long so we haven't had a chance. They're good on leash! Don't bark and they seem to really listen ."
"Alright. I'd like to check them out before I decide." She told Steph in a non-committal tone already rehearsing several ways to say no in her mind, trying to believe she would.
"Sure thing!" Steph jumped forward eagerly to open the chain link door allowing Ash to step in. She offered her hand to Dean who was the closest and Dean played along by giving her a sniff. She took that as acceptance and gently petted his head peering into his moss green eyes.
"You are very handsome." She murmured and Dean shifted somewhat proudly sitting a little straighter. She moved on to Sam doing the same, offering her hand and when he accepted she petted him, roughing his ear feathers. Sam’s tail wagged gently.
"Really Sam? Wagging?"
“We need her to take us home Dean at least look friendly." Sam snapped at Dean. Ashleigh stood again, hands on hips.
"Know any tricks?" She asked, and offered her hand out towards Dean again, only with an expectant upturned palm.
"Shake a paw?" She asked.
"This is demeaning." Dean complained.
"Suck it up and do it." Sam urged in a whine (growling mentally) at his reluctant brother. Disdainfully Dean picked up his paw and offered it. She shook it, her brows rising and offering Sam the same trick. She did this a few times, seeming more and more impressed with every trick.
"Well they're certainly well trained by someone. Maybe that means you guys have an owner somewhere." She sounded pleased by this, and was. It meant she could probably get them home, Irish Setters at least weren’t common it was just a matter of reaching out for the right places. Her doubts assuage and a little charmed though she wouldn’t admit it, her rehearsed refusals were forgotten as she rose, "alright. I'll take 'em."
"Yaaay!" Steph squealed and captured Ashleigh in a hug, not unlike how Sam was awkwardly caught in just such a way with Gene, though a little more warmly reciprocated.
The ride 'home' was quiet and slightly cramped in the front of her pick up truck but the dogs adjusted themselves to fit and were quiet and unfussy the whole ride home to which Ashleigh was relieved. maybe this won't be so bad . She told herself as she glanced sideways at her new passengers who were content to stare out the window at the fleeting scenery. When she pulled into her gravelly drive way the dogs hung their heads out of her jeep to see her house.
It was a big old white colonial farm house with a large open deck low to the ground. Along the side of the house you could see the sun room where she had quite a potted garden, ferns hanging from the ceiling and vines creeping up some of the corners peeking out to the glass as if to say hello. It was the best place in spring on days when it was too brisk to be outside, the same in fall or in days of heavy rain. Behind the house was a detached greenhouse and a large fenced in portion of the backyard. The property was forty acres, but everything but the five acres surrounding the house was leased to her neighbor who kept the fields and ran cattle between.
“Home sweet home.” She told the dogs, taking up their leads again and ushering them out. They followed non complaintive and she couldn’t help but reminisce on the last time there had been dogs. Her parents had kept Irish wolfhounds when she was a child, however they died years ago. Their average life span being around 8 years at most. There hadn't been pets in the house since, but she'd kept all their toys and food.
Keeping a firm grip on their leashes in case they made a run for it she was relieved when they followed her easily, taking in the place with interested watchful eyes and led them up to the deck where she paused to fully regard them her hands on her hips. At this attention, uncertain what to do Sam and Dean sat appearing to her as if they were assessing her as keenly as she was assessing them. ‘ It’s been way too long since you’ve handled a dog, they are probably being normal, and you’re the weird one.’ She told herself and squinted at her new, perfectly temporary , companions.
"Buddy and Duke." She muttered somewhat judgmentally as she looked at her two new companions. Those were the names Steph or someone on the staff had given the boys, their names were written on the tops of the contracts she'd signed to adopt them. "Those are terrible names." Dean couldn't help it, his tail just- wagged . The movement caught Ash's eye and she offered a smile to 'Buddy.'
"Dude your wagging." Sam pointed out and Dean huffed, unable to help the little happy, thump thump of his tail on the deck.
"Shut up..."
" You don't like the name Buddy either huh?" Dean chuffed in response and her brows rose higher at the apparent answer and she cocked her head as she stared into the dogs moss agate green eyes. Dogs usually had a certain intelligence in their eyes, but when she looked into this dogs eyes the feeling was of complete awareness and understanding. She struggled not to feel unsettled as the he met her eyes unabashedly with acute awareness. "How about something more respectable?” She asked considering for a moment, “Chief, maybe? That sounds a little more respectable for a dog of your presence." Dean's tail gave a slow small wag. Not enthusiastic, but not nothing.
" Anything is better than buddy..."
"What about you? You a Duke?" She looked at Sam expectantly. Sam looked between her and Dean, unsure of what to do.
" What? Just act like a dog, don't look at me!" However put on the spot Sam didn't quite know how to 'dog' and awkwardly stared at the floor between his paws instead.
"Maybe Duchess?" She teased, raising her hand to touch his long floofy ear locks. Deans tail made swishing noises he was wagging so hard and his face broke out into an open mouthed grin, his tongue lolling in amusement. She looked back to see 'Chief's' obvious amusement and laughed. Releasing Sam's ear locks with a stroke she stood her hands on her hips feeling a little bit better about taking the two on. They seemed, intelligent. "Maybe this won't be so bad... as long as your housebroken that is..." She said thinking aloud and sighed patting her thigh inviting them inside. "Come on boys." Beckoning them to follow and watching to see if they would. Just like the car they did, without her needing to pull the leashes at all. Good.
She opened the door, never having locked it in the first place bringing them inside the mudroom where she kicked off her shoes and hung her light cardigan by the door, unleashing each dog in turn and hanging their leads up beside it. They didn't bolt, or dance around or do much but watch her and wait like well behaved guests. She wasn't sure if she should be impressed or unnerved.
"Alright." She said, talking mostly to herself, but pretending to talk to them. "Lets go in."
She brought them into the kitchen where, before she'd left she'd set out a water dish that were once her parents old wolfhounds. She showed them it bending them over and beckoning them over to sniff it. They looked at her like she was stupid when she dipped her hand in and gently held the water out to them expectantly.
" What does she-?"
"I dunno maybe we should lick-" Dean shot a glance to his brother whose pink tongue gently licked at the knuckles of the woman offering her hand.
"Duuuuuude. Act like a dog, but don't go full dog. Seriously."
"Shut up and lick her!" Sam grunted as Dean was once again faced with a moist hand.
" Never thought I'd hear you tell me to do that Sam." Dean sighed before poking out his own pink tongue.
"Good boys... Water here." She reiterated tapping the water bowl and standing and busying herself in the kitchen. Sam and Dean watched her retrieve two dishes from the cupboard and walked over to the pantry where they could hear her rummaging. Suddenly she was back in front of them lowering two bowls to the floor. The food was old but it was kept in a sealed container so she figured it would be fine.
"Dinner! Eat up." She said and turned back to start on her own meal. The boys stared at the dishes, then at each other.
"Uh uh-" "You went full dog first man, you do it."
"No way! It's dog food!" Sam spat indignantly staring at the bowl of round little brown bits.
"Well we are dogs and might be for a while." Dean pointed out, for once the voice of reason. The truth being that Dean would likely eat anything.
"Then YOU try it and tell me how it is."
“Bitch."
“Jerk."
"Don't tell me you guys are picky eaters!" Ash said observing the queer exchange of chuffs and grunts between them. Was it just her or did they seem to be communicating? It was a strange thought, one she tried to shake free as she decided to focus on her own meal before worrying about her new additions. In the end Sam and Dean weren't quite hungry enough to make themselves eat and instead walked out of the kitchen to begin exploring the house as Ash preoccupied herself with making her own meal. The house had a very open feel, and straddled a strange line between too clean and comfortable. There was virtually no clutter and the place was essentially spotless. Smelling of pine and wax and fresh laundry, yet there was an old smell too, a dusty scent that was achingly familiar yet neither placed immediately. The dogs made there way around the living room. Observing the large windows of the living room, the wood burning stove and bookshelves. There was a medium sized t.v on an entertainment stand with a Silver VCR and DVD player a cream coloured couch facing it. There was an office, a bathroom and some kind of door which was closed that smelled cool and damp that they gathered was a basement with more of that cloyingly familiar scent. They eyed the stairs up next listening for a moment but only hearing Ash busy rummaging in the kitchen.
Why not go upstairs? Empty cream coloured walls with a white banister leading up to the second level. Three bedrooms and a hall closet and a bathroom accessible by the hall. One of the bedrooms looked like a young woman's room, there were peeling old posters on the walls and a magic eight ball on the bedside, ribbons were pinned on a corkboard. The kind you get for participation or school sports. It smelled of the woman downstairs, a kind of vanilla scent but old and dry like she hadn't been there for a very long time, the bed an ancient metal framed twin with flaking white paint showing tarnished metal below. The second room was apparently a guest bedroom equally unused but pleasant. The last was apparently the master bedroom and the only room in apparent usage.
Sam trotted inside and to the window, where white lacy curtains billowed gently by the breeze allowed in by the open window. He rose up on his back paws, settling his front on the window sill, observing the cheap ceramic bird figurines there and was careful to not nudge them off as he looked outside. Without was the the view of the jeep parked below in the gravel driveway which stretched and was engulfed by the tree line, making it seem as if they were surrounded by the evergreen forest, alone there in the center of it.
The bed was diligently made, folded down with the same air of cleanliness, but with the comfy feeling of being lived in and loved, queen-sized with a brightly colored quilt with hummingbirds and tiger lilies stitched into the design. Near the window where Sam 'stood' was a wingback chair and plush ottoman, a bookcase stretching up the wall and a strategic reading light near enough to reach.
Comfortable yes, yet somehow achingly remote at the same time. Sam couldn’t quite place it, the sterility of the place mingling with the comfort and isolation.
Dean made his own rounds of the room, sniffing. A chest at the end of the bed caught his attention but he didn’t have the thumbs to snoop so he left it in leu of the closet, picking up an acrid ever familiar scent that made his little doggy heart quicken as he nosed under the closet door. Gun powder . Slightly ajar, he pawed at it allowing him to get his blunt nose inside pushing in and snuffling until his snout touched wood and oiled steel. It was hard to see well, but if he’d had to guess it was a rifle of some kind. He snorted in appreciation. Well at least the girl was not without some protection, since she clearly lived alone.
"Strange she's out here all by herself. I mean she's at least 40 minutes out of town." He noted aloud, sharing his thoughts with Sam.
"I'd say it’s a family home, but I haven't seen any pictures on the walls...'" Sam said, and Dean looked around to notice the same thing. The walls were oddly, blank , however in some places there was a faint line that was discernible, as if pictures once lined the walls but were taken down. Weird.
"She seems nice enough. I was worried after she had us perform all those tricks. I'm not exactly interested in being her show pony."
"Yeah so far it seems like we've been lucky and it could be a lot worse."
"So now we just wait for Cas I guess..." This line of thought was interrupted by Ashe’s call from below which rose up, interrupting the houses serene silence.
"BOOOOYS! COME 'ERE BOYS!"
Below Ash stood in the kitchen with her own meal plated and waited patiently with her hands on her hips. A vague worry that she was going to find a mess upstairs and relieved to hear the padding of paws of her guests coming at her call. God I hope they didn't get into anything they shouldn't have . She thought as they approached, a fear of finding her quilt shredded or puddles in corners flashed in her minds eye. She pushed that down as she encouraged them to the kitchen, finding it simpler to talk to them as if they really could understand her since they made a good show of it. "Come on, I eat dinner in the sunroom and no offence but I don't trust you guys enough to wander on your own. I'll let you check out outside after dinner though." She promised and the boys obediently followed her. Funny that as they all sat in the sun room surrounded by the sweet smell of plants and herbs they all thought the same thing.
' I guess this isn't too bad.'