The Ghost Within

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Supernatural…obviously.

Warning: Probable language, torture and self harm in later chapters. "Forewarned is forearmed".

Summary: A series of events have Dean spiraling out of control as he loses the fight against the ghost within.

a/n: Whilst the story does start with this chapter (duh), the real story doesn't start until the next chapter…(trust me it'll make sense).

Hope you enjoy…

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Chapter 1 (Teaser)

Dean Winchester cursed loudly as his beloved Impala hit the edge of a pothole. He had little room to manoeuvre the large car along the gravel road which was bordered by thick forest.

"Okay Sam so we've gotta do a binding spell and then the banishing chant right?"

"Yeah."

"Hang on Sam, just slow down with all the details – I don't know if I can understand all that jargon." Dean looked expectantly at his younger brother who was frantically comparing an old textbook to something on the laptop balanced precariously on his knee.

"Dean just, just…" Sam sighed and stopped what he was doing to look directly at Dean.

"I've gotta find the right spells and each text seems to reference these creatures a little differently. You might be able to help me here Dean, do you think it would be best to use a Celtic binding spell and a Gaelic version of a banishing chant, I mean these creatures are prolific in Irish folklore. Then again it might be a stronger weapon if both are spoken in Latin, the originating source of both incantations. What do you think?"

"I think Sammy, less talk more research. Man, how can wood fairies be so deadly, I mean we're talking fairies for God's sake!"

"Well I think we can now safely say that fairies are vicious, territorial, evil little bastards who enjoy lethal pranks."

Another 20 minutes and Dean pulled the car up alongside a Rangers' vehicle parked adjacent to a walking track.

"Damn, looks like we'll have to speed things up Sam. I didn't think we'd have to worry about company."

The boys got out of the car and looked around for the other driver. As they approached, they heard the sound of a frantic voice over the radio on the dashboard.

"Greta, Greta are you there over? If you can hear me, we're sending a search party out now so stay with the vehicle over."

Sam glanced at Dean before reaching in the open window of the 4WD and picking up the radio mike. "This is Sam Mathis, I'm a private investigator hired by the Jacobs family to look into their son's death. My brother and I have just come up on this vehicle. We can't see the driver anywhere around over."

Mr Mathis this is Ranger David Moroney, you need to stay sharp, Ranger Duncan's last message indicated that she heard something and was going to check and report back. That was an hour ago over."

"We'll have a look around in case she's hurt and get back to you. There's a walking trail right next to the vehicle so we'll start there over."

"Roger that. The Sheriff should be there in about forty minutes and I'll let him know you're on the scene over."

Sam put the radio back and walked over to the trunk of the Impala where Dean was organising what they needed. He knew they didn't have a lot of time to work with - an hour ago could already be too long. These creatures were unpredictable.

Dean had loaded two guns with salt pellets and stuffed extra rounds in his jacket pocket, handing Sam the same arsenal as well as a canister of salt. They knew salt distracted the fae and they would need a lot of distraction in order to complete a spell and a chant.

"Okay Dean I've copied out the words to both spells, don't worry about what it means just say it as I've written it."

Dean took one sheet of paper, noting Sam's scrawly handwriting and then gave a groan. "Oh man, Latin! How about I distract them you read this?"

"Trust me Dean, you'll thank me later when I show you the Gaelic version. Anyway, I've got a copy too, we both have to be prepared just in case."

The brothers hurried along the walking trail. They had been prepared for a fight but they hadn't expected another victim to be taken so soon. The others, six in all over three months, had all fallen prey to a series of unfortunate circumstances. Fallen trees, rockslides and unexplained holes in the ground which were all explained away as natural deaths by the local authorities. However, the Winchesters didn't believe in coincidences, particularly when they had discovered a fairy ritual circle alongside this track the night before.

Dean shook his head, "We should've tried to finish this last night, what if we're too late…"

"Dean we didn't have the spells, hell we only just made it out ourselves. There was nothing that pointed to fairies before we found that circle and we were lucky we had some salt rounds with us."

Dean didn't reply only quickened his pace. He knew Sam was right but he also knew this ranger was only doing her job, why should she be the one to die. They should've come back last night, after all they knew what was involved, they knew the risks and they accepted them. Last time he checked, the job description for forest rangers didn't involve dying by the hand of a wood fairy. He was actually pretty sure that their job was probably the only one that covered that particular peril.

After about twenty minutes, they came up to an area marked by taller trees closing in above their heads. The trees and smaller bushes were almost dominated by strangler vines that climbed up into the highest branches as well as covering much of the ground. The dappled sunlight which filtered through the foliage made it difficult to see too far into the surrounding forest.

Dean held his hand up and Sam nodded, both boys reaching for guns. It was just ahead they that had found the stone circle and they knew the fairies wouldn't be too far away. They crept along single file, stopping briefly to check for movement in the trees and grass which seemed to have become too still, too quiet.

On the ground ahead, two fairies sat cross legged, ragged wings fluttering absently. They were ugly looking creatures with brown shriveled skin and pointed ears and teeth. Their hair was long and wild and their bodies covered in tattered cloth of brown and green. Their presence could easily be missed, blending in with their surroundings so well, had it not been for their whispering and keening. They were so intent on their chant, they almost missed the presence of those watching them.

Almost but not quite.

Without warning, both fairies shrieked and hissed, flying straight at the brothers. Sam who was slightly behind Dean threw himself to the ground, the fairy flying straight over and then doubling back along the trail ahead. Dean was not so lucky and was met with a face full of angry fairy with razor sharp nails.

Dean lurched back but still felt sharp nails draw across his cheek and then skim down his front from shoulder to stomach. He wasted no more time and brought the gun up, firing rock salt at point blank into the creatures face. With a satisfied smirk he watched as it flew off lurching and screeching into the forest.

"C'mon Sam, you okay? We've got to find this ranger and then finish this."

"Dean you're bleeding, are you up for this?" Sam stood, trying to get a better look at Dean's injuries which of course proved impossible as Dean started jogging along the trail.

Just as Sam caught up with his brother, they heard a scream nearby and ran off the path following the sound into the small dirt clearing where the stone circle was located. At least half a dozen fairies were darting around or crouched on the ground, cackling and whispering. In the middle of the chaos, a girl lay half in, half out of the dirt frantically scrabbling, trying to find purchase in the loose soil. As each fairy chanted, the girl was dragged further into the dirt about to be buried alive.

The girl, obviously the missing ranger judging from her khaki shirt, was not giving up without a fight and was throwing anything she could find in the dirt at her attackers. Not that it seemed to be deterring them.

Sam and Dean sprang into action, startling the fae but not distracting them from their deadly game. Dean grabbed the salt canister from Sam as he removed it from his jacket and quickly began making a salt circle around his younger brother.

"Okay Sam, start reading and I'll start shooting."

Sam knew he didn't have time to argue with Dean about "the plan" but made a mental note to discuss his brother's strategy later. Sam started to read the binding spell, occasionally pausing to check on Dean or fire a salt round at a fairy that came too close.

Dean had a grin on his face as he congratulated himself on getting out of reading yet another spell. Blasting these fuglies with rock salt was much more entertaining. As he got nearer, the fairies became more aggressive obviously not wanting their victim to escape. Dean got close enough to see the girl was just about exhausted, only her shoulders, head and one arm now visible above the black soil.

"Greta, can you hear me? It's gonna be alright, we'll get you out of here okay." Dean finally crouched down beside her and placed a hand on her arm.

Greta looked up at him, he could see she was scared but he could also see strength and determination in her brown eyes. She blinked and swallowed her mouth tilting upward in a half grin.

"So you are real, thought I was imagining you along with these what…frigging fairies?"

"Yeah, well I'm Dean and that's my brother Sam and we're here to rescue you from this fractured fairytale." He grinned back at her for a moment before firing off a couple more shots.

As he watched, Greta slid another couple of inches into the ground and reached her arm out instinctively, he grabbed her hand and pulled trying to slow her descent. As soon as he looked down, two of the creatures struck him from behind, Greta's cry of alarm not enough warning for Dean to evade the attack.

They pushed him to the ground, crazily dancing and whispering around him, laughing viciously when he began to sink into the earth. Dirt stuck to the drying blood on his face as he managed to prop himself up and fire off one more round before the gun was torn from his hands as a creature flew past.

Sam was concentrating so hard he was sweating. He held the paper in one hand reading the binding spell as fast as he could. The other hand continued to fire off salt rounds which had deterred the creatures for a little while. However, whilst the salt prevented the fairies from entering, they found that they could still send things into the circle. Sam was covered in cuts and bruises from flying projectiles, the last of which had been a rather large rock which had bounced off his forehead and made him see stars.

Sam felt himself swaying, the words on the page becoming blurry as he felt the warm trickle of blood down the side of this face. He looked over to Dean and saw his brother knocked from behind into the ground, and then Dean's legs were swallowed up by the earth. Another missile caught Sam in the leg and he cried out in pain as a stick pierced his jeans and became lodged in his calf muscle. Sam sank to the ground as a wave of dizziness hit him .

Sam felt the energy of the creatures increase to an almost frantic pitch, leaves and dirt began swirling around and he saw the edges of the salt circle begin to move. The fae darted around the clearing, all of them now singing, chanting, whispering.

Sam knew he had to keep going, he finished the spell and began the banishing chant. The noise and movement of the creatures was a blur of chaos, he glanced over and could barely make out Dean and the girl in a haze of flying debris. Dust and twigs blew in his face but he kept reading, knowing a mistake now would cost them their lives. No pressure at all.

Dean felt himself pulled into the earth even deeper, his arms and chest barely above ground level. He could just reach Greta's hand and held it firmly making sure she sank no further. He looked over at Sam and watched as his brother was struck first in the head and then in the leg, ending up on the ground. He tried yelling out but the swirling dirt and dust choked off his call. He had every faith in Sam so he would just have to focus on keeping Greta above ground while Sammy finished the chant.

"Greta you still okay, it won't be much longer." Dean tried to sound reassuring.

"Just trying to get my head around this…I'm just really glad you guys arrived. I was starting to think, well I was starting to think this was gonna be my grave."

Greta suddenly screamed as a fairy landed on the ground between them, placing a hand on each of their heads and whispering in a guttural voice. Dean and Greta suddenly felt their arms and shoulders sink further until only their heads were above the soil.

"Greta, trust me okay, Sam will finish this. If you go under you have to hold your breath okay, just hold your breath you're gonna be alright."

"Dean, I don't know if I can. Don't let me die, please don't let me die."

"I promise I won't okay, you'll be fine. Trust me, please trust me and don't give up."

Dean felt himself move, the same time he saw Greta's eyes widen in fear. Neither had time to say another word as both disappeared beneath the soil.

Sam held the paper so tightly, his hand was cramping. Blood dripped from his face and down his shirt. He didn't notice another piece of debris had pierced through his shirt and drawn more blood on his arm. He blocked out the screaming and the pain as another projectile connected with the side of his head making his ears ring and he almost didn't notice that he had read the last word on the page. Then everything stopped and the silence was almost deafening.

He did notice that Dean and Greta were gone. He wondered why everything suddenly tilted – then he hit the ground and one thought screamed through his brain. Dean and Greta were gone.

Sam clumsily got to his feet and staggered out of the circle head swimming, over to where he had seen his brother last. He frantically looked around and realised the earth was broken in two distinct areas. He dropped to his knees and frantically began digging with his hands, blinking furiously as his vision doubled and his stomach lurched.

"Dean, hang on man, I'm here okay."

Sam's hand touched something warm in the earth and he grabbed what he realised was a hand. Not Dean's hand. He began panicking, clearing the dirt as quickly as he could, digging down until he cleared Greta's head. She began gasping and struggling in the ground fighting to free herself as Sam cleared the dirt from her face and mouth.

"Stop please, just stay still and breath. I've got to get my brother then I'll get you out." Sam pleaded already moving over to the other area of disturbed earth. He could hear the girl coughing uncontrollably but if she was coughing she was breathing so he didn't pause.

"Dean, I'm nearly there you better hold on 'cause I'm getting you out. You hold on Dean. Please." Sam didn't realise there were tears rolling down his face when he finally cleared Dean's head and face from the dirt. Dean eyes were closed and he didn't respond at all to Sam.

"He'll be okay. He knew you would save us. He told me I had to hold on until you got us out." Greta didn't know these boys at all but she did know trust when she saw it.

Sam dug without stopping until he had freed Dean. Greta continued talking to him, telling him to make sure Dean was alright. Sam complied, whispering her a quiet word of thanks as he checked Dean's vitals and laid him on his side. He released a breath he didn't know he was holding when he found his brother was still breathing. He quickly checked Dean's airways, grimacing as he used his shirt sleeve to wipe dirt from his brother's mouth.

'Dean c'mon man." Sam shook his brother gently by the shoulders, finally rewarded when Dean gasped and coughed, gulping in deep breaths of air. The gulps turned to coughing and spitting as Dean frantically tried to clear the remaining soil from his mouth and throat. Sam kept a hand on Dean's shoulder until he was waived off as Dean pointed to Greta.

Sam watched Dean as he dug Greta out as quickly as he could and sat her gently on the ground, relieved when his brother slowly gained control of his breathing. "Are you hurt?" Sam looked at Greta. "I know this must seem…" he paused mid sentence.

"Bizarre, unreal, nightmarish in a Stephen King kind of way. Yeah, I'm okay and thanks. Is he alright? Are you alright, you're head's bleeding pretty bad."

Their attention was turned to Dean as he sat up and looked around, wincing as his hand brushed the dirt encrusted cut on his face.

"It's okay Dean. It's finished." Sam answered the question he saw on Dean's face.

Dean visibly relaxed when he saw Greta and then turned his gaze back to his brother.

"Shit Sam, you're hurt. Let me have a look."

"Dean I'm fine, stop fussing. You're the one who ate dirt and passed out. Can you stand?"

Sam was actually starting to think that just maybe he was going to fall down before Dean but there was no way he was going to admit defeat unless he actually did fall down. He could hear Dean talking but it was fading in and out.

"Probably." Dean replied making no effort to move. "I'm not the one growing branches out of my body or leaking blood from my head." He took hold of the stick protruding from Sam's lower leg and pulled.

"Fuck Dean." Sam reached down quickly and grabbed his leg, suddenly realising Greta was there. "I'm um, I didn't mean to um…" he stammered, partly from embarrassment mostly from vertigo and the effects of a yet undetected concussion.

Greta laughed and shook her head, relief evident in her voice.

"I wouldn't worry too much about the language Sammy. You should've heard how she spoke to those fairies." Dean's chuckle ended up as a coughing fit. "Mmmm dirt." He rasped.

The three helped each other to their feet and began a slow trek back along the trail. Dean steered Sam by the elbow when he realised his brother couldn't walk a straight line, and in fact was having trouble walking at all. Concussion, Dean silently diagnosed as he berated himself for letting Sam get hurt.

There were no life threatening injuries but they were all battered from the ordeal and conversation ceased as weariness took over. As they neared the cars, the Sheriff and a search party rushed to meet them obviously relieved that everyone was alright. Greta steered the conversation, explaining what happened without giving away the actual details, because God forbid that was just not an option.

Wild dogs was a solid, believable solution and one which Greta had actually come up with herself, much to the relief of Sam. Dean had been thinking along the lines of rogue raccoon.

They gave the statements they had quickly rehearsed on the way back along the track and then got checked over by the medics who recommended that all three pay a visit to the hospital. Sam and Dean politely declined and faded into the background.

Sam glanced over as Dean drove them back to their motel. The fading sunlight still managed to send a flare of pain through Sam's skull making him squint and frown. Through the haze he watched his brother's face and wondered what was going on behind the mask.

"Dean, you okay? Really, man."

"Always Sammy. I'm always okay."

TBC…

This is not a mushy, girlfriend story (shudders).

Read and Run – Enjoy and have fun!

Read and Review – I might post chapter 2!

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