Dallon slept in the passenger seat as Brendon drove down more lonely back roads. To make Dallon feel better. They had called for a wellness check at the motel they had spent the night at before booking it. Not long after, Dallon had passed out in his seat. It made Brendon wonder how much of the night he had spent awake before the ghost took him for a spin.

Brendon scratched the back of his head. Even after just being possessed, Dallon had come to his rescue. That was two saves over the two cases that Brendon had known him. How bad of a hunter was he if a rookie was stepping in to save him?

"No wonder Sam and Dean are a team..." He sighed to himself. "Less chance of dying..."

Brendon had been through close calls before, but these past two cases were determined to take him down. He was almost nervous to go to the case Sam had actually sent for him.

Dallon inhaled a sharp breath beside him, but his eyes remained closed. He must have been having one crazy dream.

Brendon let out a bitter laugh. The past few days had to have been considered a living hell. What more could a dream do?

"What time is it?.." Dallon mumbled, readjusting himself in his seat.

"Three hours after leaving the motel." Brendon replied, "Feel like grabbing a bite to eat?"

Dallon stretched. "Sure. Has it really been three hours?"

"Yep."

"Sorry."

The car turned onto a main road. Brendon figured a town with a place to eat should pop up soon enough.

"So..." Dallon yawned, "That was a demon?"

Brendon nodded. "Yep. Beware the black smoke. Demons don't need permission to take someone for a joyride. They like to shoot in through the mouth and run the show."

Dallon's nose scrunched. "Yikes."

"Big time."

"Can everything take you over without permission?" Dallon asked.

Brendon shook his head. "Nah, angels need permission, but they're dicks. Some will play dirty to get what they want."

Dallon's eyes grew wide. "That seems kind of messed up for angels."

The car was approaching a small town as they continued to talk about the supernatural. Brendon looked around, landing on a small mom and pop diner. He pulled into the near empty parking lot.

"Let's eat and maybe hit a thrift shop for clothes." Brendon said, turning off the car.

"Sounds good." Dallon agreed.

The two climbed out of the car and made their way inside. There was a definite fifties theme at one point, but the bright colors and patterns had long since faded. It seemed like it was in need of some updating. There were two men that sat at a counter up by the kitchens with an older waitress pouring them coffee.

"Sit wherever you'd like, boys." She smiled at them, "I'll be with you in a moment."

The boys mumbled their thanks, locking onto a booth by the window. They sat down across from each other.

"Do you think this town even has a thrift store?" Dallon asked, looking out the window.

Brendon looked out the window as well. The town seemed to be as faded as the diner's interior. "I mean... Maybe?" He turned back to Dallon with a grin. "We could do some exploring."

Dallon raised an eyebrow. "You like exploring?"

Brendon opened his mouth, but shut it again. Most of his exploring would be considered breaking and entering. Did he really enjoy it? It was usually a necessity of the job. "I like to observe, I guess." He finally shrugged.

Dallon eyed him curiously. He looked like he was ready to ask a follow-up question, but the waitress stepped up to their table just then.

"How are you two doing today?" She asked as she slid menus to them. "Can I get you started with drinks?"

"Dr. Pepper." Dallon smiled.

"Coffee, please." Brendon smiled too as he pulled his menu close. "How are you this fine morning?"

"I'm surviving." She laughed, "I'll have those drinks right out for you, alright?"

Both Dallon and Brendon nodded with "thank you's" before the waitress bustled away. They both sat quietly, observing their menus.

"I don't remember." Dallon said, suddenly, pulling Brendon away from the burger he was considering.

"Hu?"

"I don't remember what it was like  to be possessed." Dallon repeated. "I just remember being cold..." He shuddered.

Brendon set his menu down. "That's a good thing. Like I said before, we're going to be getting you some skin ink that will make it so that won't happen to you again."

Dallon shot him a quizzical look. "How will a tattoo help?" He asked.

"Not just any tattoo." Brendon looked around the room. The waitress was pouring more coffee for the men at the bar, laughing at whatever they had to say. He turned back to Dallon. "It'll be the anti-possession symbol." He shook off his jacket and pushed up the sleeve on his left arm. "This thing is worth the investment."

Dallon eyed the symbol on Brendon's arm. "Do I have to get it there?" He asked after a moment.

Brendon pulled his sleeve back down with the shake of his head. "No. I have hunter friends who have it right over their heart." He tapped his chest. "As long as it's on you, you're safe."

Dallon nodded as the waitress came back over with their drinks. "You boys want anything to eat?" She asked. She copied down their orders and vanished again. The two sat quietly again.

Brendon took the opportunity to sink into his seat. How much had he neglected to write down in his journal? He never thought anyone else would actually be reading it, so some details had just stayed in his head. He really needed to update its content if Dallon was going to stick around.

In a way, however, it was exciting. Brendon was usually the one to receive and absorb information about a case or a supernatural being. Rarely was he ever put in the position of holding the most information to share.

"So are ghosts and demons really similar?" Dallon asked.

Brendon thought for a moment. "I mean... They can both possess people, but ghosts can be seen as what they want to present when not possessing. Demons appear as this kind of sentient black smoke. They're a lot more in need of a human host than a ghost."

Dallon pushed a hand through his hair. "Can anyone who died become a ghost or a demon? I mean, because of unfinished business or something?"

"Demons are different than ghosts when it comes to that." Brendon brought his coffee up to his lips and took a sip. He set it back down on the table, smacking his lips. "Demons are tortured souls. They could have sold their souls. They could have been cursed. Usually, though, it's torture in hell. I have a friend that saw it. it's rough, man."

"Ghosts though, they don't start out all bad. Most get stuck or don't want to accept that they're dead. Over time, though, they change. They get nasty and forget who they were. Those are the ones to watch out for. They can get scary."

Dallon took a drink from his Dr. Pepper, nodding as he absorbed the information. There seemed to be a hint of something in his eye, but Brendon couldn't make it out.

"I'll teach you more about it all later." Brendon faked a grin, "Food's almost here and that, my friend, is priority number one."

As he spoke, their waitress came over with plates of food. "Hope you boys are hungry!"