Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were, Sam would be Limp a lot more often ;)

A/N: This is a fic for the Summer Secret Santa Fic Exchange at SFTCOL(AR)S. It's for Spellbound. I really hope she likes it and it's close to what she wanted for in her prompt. I won't mention what the prompt was as not to give to much away.

Special thanks to my friend Alex and also I have to give a shout out to all my Limp!Sam friends and fellow spoilerfreaks at the CW Board: Louise, Jess, Funky, Natasha, Katie, Kayleigh, Shante, Amy, and Dawn. I hope I didn't forget anyone. Thanks for being there. You guys are all awesome :)


The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls

The tide rises, the tide falls,
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;
Along the sea-sands damp and brown
The traveler hastens toward the town,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in darkness calls;
The little waves, with their soft, white hands
Efface the footprints in the sands,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveler to the shore.
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"A small fishing community, dead cattle, people going psycho and running off. We're going," Dean said animatedly, as he waved the printed sheets of paper around and paced the length of the small hotel room.

Sam looked up from the computer screen and merely rolled his eyes.

"Don't start with that Sam. You aren't bringing me down. How does this not scream demonic activity?" Dean asked, exasperatedly.

"Well for starters, the cattle weren't mutilated. Only one person went psycho," Sam said, the word psycho coming out as a disgusted sigh. "The list goes on."

"You said that with all the enthusiasm of someone going to a funeral."

"Yeah well sorry I can't talk about this hunt like it's some kind of fantasy getaway," Sam said, angrily, getting up and pushing his chair in so hard that it slammed into the desk.

"Sheesh. What crawled up your ass and died this morning?"

"I just think we should have all the facts first. There actually might be a logical explanation for all this."

"You really are Scully aren't you?" Dean quipped.

Sam stared daggers at him.

"Are you forgetting about the last hunt Dean? You were so sure it was a demon that time too."

"Yeah and that's exactly why we need to go there. This is like Rivergrove, Oregon and the Croatoan virus all over again. This might be the only lead we have. Maybe some demon wasn't creative enough to think of his own plans so he's taking a page out of the yellow eyed demon's old playbook."

"And what if it's not another demonic virus?"

"Then we keep going, until we find all these demons and send their asses straight back to hell."

"Whatever," Sam said, gathering the papers on the desk.

"Look I can drive up there alone you know," Dean said, eyeing Sam critically.

"No I'll go," Sam replied, resignedly.

He knew letting Dean go alone was not an option, not with the way Dean had been acting lately.

oooooooo

Sam waited patiently looking out over the water. The ride up there had been quiet. Sam had tried to balance the laptop on his knees as they drove to get in as much research as he could. Cape Alex Island was a small island fishing community in North Carolina, containing mostly farms. The place did have a lab that experimented with chemicals for research of some kind. The island received some kind of compensation for allowing the lab to operate there. Upon arrival, they found out they had to take a ferry out to the island. Dean had offered to go find out the ferry's schedule for them. Sam noticed a small boat making its way over to the dock. The person behind the wheel looked suspiciously like Dean.

"You have got to be kidding me," Sam mumbled to himself, walking on to the dock.

"Dean what are you doing?" Sam asked as Dean parked the boat. "The guy over there said there was a Ferry we could take."

"I figured we might as well get there in style," Dean said with a grin.

"You didn't steal this did you?"

"No I saw some boats for rent when I was walking over to the ferry."

"The Hunter?" Sam asked, reading the name of the boat off the side.

"Great name don't you think?"

"Why do I have a feeling that the name was the main reason you were drawn to this boat?"

"Maybe it was," Dean said quietly. "Or maybe I just have always had a secret urge to be the captain. Now hop aboard Gilligan."

"Gilligan?" Sam asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Well if I'm the captain, then that makes you Gilligan by default. Besides you definitely have the same haircut."

"Oh, brother," Sam groaned.

"Yeah that's who I am so you have to do what I say."

"You sure you know how to handle this thing?"

"Well you've seen how I handle The Impala."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Sam said, smirking.

"Look would you get in Sam," Dean replied, growing impatient.

"I don't know Dean," Sam said, becoming more serious. "The sky kind of looks threatening." Sam looked up at the scattered gray clouds in the sky.

"There's like two clouds in the sky. What are you making up excuses again for why this hunt was a bad idea?"

"Look let's just get this over with," Sam said, ignoring Dean and climbing aboard. "So then we can be safe back on solid ground."

oooooooo

Sam held on to the railing for dear life as he felt the contents of his stomach creeping up into the back of his throat. He could feel his lunch sloshing around in his stomach in rhythm with the water.

"Looking a little green there Sammy," Dean said, looking over his shoulder at Sam. "What's the matter? Don't have your sea legs?"

"Just keep your eyes on the road or water or whatever," Sam replied, trying to swallow back the nausea.

"Wait a minute there," Dean said, fishing his cellphone out of his pocket. "Let me take a picture of you. I don't think I have ever seen that shade of green before. I think I might want that color for these floormats I'm thinking of getting for the Impala."

Sam simply glared at him.

"Well never mind. I think the color looks a bit too much like pickle juice now anyway."

Sam attempted to give Dean a smug look but the thought of pickle juice caused his stomach to protest violently. He could no longer keep the nausea at bay. He threw his head over the side of the boat and threw up into the water.

"That's the Sammy I know and love. He cares so much, he even feeds the ocean life," Dean said with a laugh.

oooooooo

By the time they reached the island, Sam was miserable. He had vomited several times and the thought that they had to ride on a boat to get back to the shore made him feel sick to his stomach all over again. At this point, he'd prefer to swim there if it meant avoiding another boat ride.

"Welcome To Cape Alex Island: You'll Never Want To Go Home," Dean read off the sign. "Check that out Sammy. Creepy as hell. Definitely something fishy going on around here. Ha! Fishy," Dean snickered, realizing his play on words.

Sam felt the need to throw up again and he wondered if his older brother's lame joke, and not the seasickness, was the reason.

"Look Sammy. No service," Dean said, holding up his cellphone, remembering what happened in Rivergrove.

"Well we are in kind of a secluded area," Sam replied, reasonably.

Dean simply shook his head. He took out a CDC badge and handed one to Sam.

"Chuck Berry?" Sam questioned.

"Yeah I think it suits you. We can call you Upchuck."

"Hilarious Dean," Sam replied, sarcastically.

"You still look a little green there buddy. Don't get carted off with the sick."

They both agreed to separate. Dean wanted to have a talk with the neighbors of the man who had reportedly attacked his wife. Sam was going to the medical personnel that were treating the sick. They agreed to meet up in an hour back at the dock.

An hour later, Sam found himself walking back to Dean angrily. He spied him at the edge of the water talking to two girls.

"Figures," Sam mumbled to himself.

"You'll have to join me some time for a midnight cruise," Dean said, with his trademark grin and a wave good-bye to the girls. He spotted Sam and excitedly waved him over.

"You aren't going to believe what I found out," Dean said, before Sam had even made it over to him.

"I found out some interesting stuff too," Sam said, shortly.

"Well the guy, Dale Adams, was an upstanding guy according to the neighbors, just like you'd expect to hear right?" Dean said, not seeming to notice Sam's attitude.

"Dean—"

"Let me finish Sammy," Dean said cutting him off. "Well he wasn't feeling well for awhile. Then he started to have these mood swings. Wife thought maybe it was a midlife crisis. Then he just snaps the other night, hits her with a lamp."

"Dean," Sam said, impatiently.

"I found out some other stuff too. You wouldn't believe what goes on behind the scenes over there. Neighbors don't even live that close to each other but one guy there Ted had dirt on everyone. This one chick is cheating on her husband…"

"Dean!" Sam exclaimed, cutting him off.

"So what happened when you went to talk to the doctors?" Dean asked, not fazed by his brother's outburst.

"They were surprised to see me…again," Sam said testily.

"What do you mean," Dean asked, confusedly.

"Well the CDC was just there last week and they pretty much have the whole thing solved already."

"But that's not what the article said."

"Well they haven't published the results yet because they want to be sure they know what they are talking about. This isn't demon related at all."

"What is it then?"

"They think it's mercury poisoning. All the problems started happening after that lab set up shop here. Apparently mercury is one of the chemicals they use in experiments. They think they may have disposed of some of it improperly and released it into the water supply. There's a lake here that many people get their fish from. It most likely contaminated the fish that the people ate. Mercury poisoning causes a lot of symptoms, some being mood swings and fits of rage. That guy Dale was actually found and released from police custody. He's in the hospital."

"How do you explain the cows then?"

"The farmers allow their animals to graze and drink from that water supply."

Dean tilted his head to the side taking it in.

"You have to admit all the signs were there," He said finally, unbothered that it wasn't a viable hunt. He began walking back to the boat.

Sam didn't follow right away, half expecting Dean to turn around and realize how pissed off he was. He couldn't believe it. Dean had led them on another wild goose chase and he just didn't care.

oooooooo

Sam was leaning on the rail again waiting for whatever else he hadn't thrown up to come up too, when he felt the first drop of rain strike his head.

Great, he thought bitterly.

"Didn't think of checking the weather report did you Captain?" Sam asked, disdainfully. "I told you it looked like a storm might be coming."

"It's just a sun shower, Sammy. What are you afraid of getting a little wet?" Dean asked, glancing back at him.

"Yeah everything is a God damn joke with you lately!" Sam exclaimed, unable to push down his anger this time.

"Yeah and everything is a pity party with you lately," Dean said, pulling the keys out of the ignition and stopping the boat for awhile. "I'm almost glad I'll be out of here in six months so I don't have to hear you bitching all the time."

"Well maybe I wouldn't be bitching if you weren't always dragging us off on hunts thinking everything that looks at you funny is a demon. This is the second time you've done this in a month."

Dean advanced on Sam, until he was practically in his face. Sam didn't waver and glared at Dean.

"Are you forgetting about the hunt before the last one Sammy? That was a demon. And does it matter if the last hunt was a demon? I still sent that spirit packing and prevented him from killing anyone else. I guess that doesn't matter to you though. You know what Sam? You're a selfish asshole!" Dean spat.

"Yeah well you are too!"

"I am?" Dean shouted, incredulously. He shoved Sam sending him stumbling backwards.

"Just forget it," Sam said, turning his back on Dean.

Dean was ready to demand Sam answer him, when an incredibly loud crack of thunder resounded in the sky.

Sam looked up to see that the sky was now a sickening shade of gray. Lightening streaked across the sky. He felt his seasickness come back in full force as the water became more and more choppy.

Dean returned to the front of the boat and restarted the engine, intent on getting them back to shore. He was having trouble steering the boat. The rain was falling much harder now and he could barely see where he was going. He watched in alarm as the waves splashed over the side of the boat.

"Sammy go below deck!" Dean shouted over the pouring rain.

Sam's hair was now plastered to his forehead and he held the rail in a white knuckle grip.

"Dean, no," Sam said plaintively. "I should stay up here and help you steer."

He had a feeling Dean thought he'd be safer down there but he didn't want to leave his brother. Dean was doing the very thing that was causing him so much grief over the last few months, putting himself directly in harm's way.

"No arguments Sammy. Just go."

Suddenly Sam flashed back to a wall of fire.

He stood in the doorway.

"Dean come on. Just forget it!" Sam cried out.

The flames were encircling Dean as he continued to read the Latin. They seemed to dance closer and closer to Dean almost taunting him, like they'd take his brother at any moment.

"Sammy, go!" Dean yelled, pausing for a moment.

"I'm not leaving you!"

"No arguments Sammy. Just go."

Sam reluctantly bent down and opened the hatch on the boat. The boat was now being tossed around like a toy. It was a small boat and he knew there was a chance it could tip over and sink. He prayed there was a radio down there because he doubted Dean could get them back to shore or could even see where the shore was. Sam bit back the nausea he felt. He had to focus. He went down the narrow staircase, holding on to the railing for dear life.

The tiny space was in an uproar. Objects were being pushed from one side of the room to the other. He managed to make his way across the room, where he could see the radio thrown on the floor. He prayed it still worked. Sam turned it on, and was relieved to see the light go on.

"Mayday! Mayday! This is The Hunter. We are off the coast of Cape Alex and we need help!" Sam shouted into the radio. He was greeted by only static on the other end. He had no idea if anyone heard him.

"Damn it!" Sam yelled, as a wave sent him sliding across the floor.

He noticed there was a lifejacket hanging on the wall. He had no idea if there was another one that maybe had been tossed to the floor by the rocking of the boat. Sam yanked it off and fumbled up the stairs.

"Dean, take this!" Sam yelled, popping his head out from the hatch.

Dean let go of the wheel, and made his way over to Sam.

"Put it on!"

"What about you?" Dean asked, hesitating to take the vest.

"I'm going back to look for another. Just take it! I called for help but I don't know if they heard me."

Dean put it on and carefully made his way back to the wheel.

Sam tried to get down the stairs again, but he pitched forward. He tumbled down the stairs and was thrown against the other side of the wall by the momentum of the waves rocking the boat. He lay there, dazed. He could feel the warm trickle of blood, coming down the side of his face. A mind numbing paid shot through his shoulder and his ribs ached, in the place where they must have connected with the wall. Just then, Sam felt another wave slam into the boat. He was sent tumbling forward. He knew they were going over and he had to get above deck.

Dean knew it was futile. There was no way they were going to get the boat back to shore. He hoped someone had heard the distress call on the radio. They needed help and fast.

He turned around and actually saw the wave before it hit. It truthfully was an awe inspiring sight, just as an avalanche is to someone who sees it on TV. However, this was reality and the wave was about to crash into the boat that he was on.

The force of the wave immediately tipped the boat, and sent Dean overboard. He hit the cold water with a splash. All he could think about was the cold and he forgot what was happening for a minute. Luckily the life jacket sent him straight to the surface. Then it hit him. Where was Sam?

He had managed to get above deck, hadn't he? He couldn't remember. The fear was preventing him from thinking clearly.

"Sam! Sammy!" Dean screamed.

A wave crashed over his head, pulling him under. Once again the life jacket was his saving grace. He surfaced, sputtering and coughing.

"Sammy! Sam!" He yelled again, when he had caught his breath.

His only answer was the roar of the waves.

TBC

Please let me know what you think :)