falling like the stars, sam winchester [ 3 ]

052. talk to dogs

Sam and Miranda are sitting at the map table.

"Wow." Dean remarks, walking in.

"What?" Sam asks.

"Kevin. Just poured some buffalo milk down his gob twice." Dean says.

"Buffalo milk?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, the hangover cure all. It's got everything in it. Except buffalo milk." Dean says.

"How is that kid still recovering from Branson?" Sam asks.

"What can I say? He's an amateur. The slippery nipple shots at the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede nearly killed the guy." Dean says.

"All right. Well, uh, I got something that's gonna get us back on the road." Sam says.

"A case?" Dean asks, sitting next to his brother.

"Yeah."

"You sure you're ready for that?"

"Why would I not be ready for that?"

"Aren't you kind of running on empty?"

"Yeah, but the last three nights straight, I had eight hours of shut eye. For a hunter, that's like 20. Trust me, Dean. I feel good."

"Well, that's great and all, James Brown, but you're still recovering from the trials. I think you ought to pace yourself, you know? And the sooner you heal..."

"Yeah?" Sam asks, sharing a weird look with his wife.

"I just want you back to your old self." Dean says.

"I am, Dean." Sam says. "Look, Kevin's back on the Heaven spell. Crowley's locked up. We should be out there doing what we do best."

"Yeah."

"You want to listen, at least? Okay, great." Sam doesn't wait for an answer. "Taxidermist named Max Alexander mysteriously crushed to death. Nearly every joint in his body dislocated, every bone broken. Poor guy is a human pretzel. You tell me what's got that kind of strength."

"A demonic luchador?"

"Shop's a couple hours away to Enid, Oklahoma. We should at least check it out. Unless there's some reason you think we shouldn't." Sam says.

+++

"Okay, uh, that... symbol in the graffiti, it's not wiccan. It's copywritten. Local animal rights group, Enid's answer to PETA." Sam says while sitting at the table on his laptop.

"S.N.A.R.T.? You got to be kidding me." Dean says.

"Well, it makes sense that an animal rights group would have an axe to grind with a taxidermist." Sam says.

"Why? The animal's already dead." Dean says.

"Yeah, but hunters are what keep them in business. Now the question is, are those bleeding hearts actually witches or just hippies?" Sam asks.

"What's the difference?"

+++

"Necrosis?" Dean asks.

"Premature death of tissues -- that's why their eyes were all messed up." Sam says. "And it's not caused by mace."

"All right. What caused it?" Dean asks.

"Right here. "Blunt force, radiation, venom."" Sam reads.

"As in snake?" Dean asks.

"The taxidermist was constricted. Olivia and Dylan heard hissing, and they were sprayed in the eyes."