A/N: Wow! I want to thank you guys for the support and I am glad you want to take another journey with me. I especially want to thank AssbuttPlaid, EmilyAnnMcGarrett-Winchester, snn7b, Trucklady53, and reannablue for your awesome reviews and comments. I hope you enjoy the next chapter and will continue on this journey down unknown paths and adventures. Leave me a review.

NC

Chapter 2

Oree berated herself for not realizing something was wrong sooner. She guessed she was too focused on her family business and getting used to her new abilities that had her sidetracked. They usually came around at least every other week for a few days, just to check on her and take time to recharge. She had treated their wounds, helped with research, hunted down rare items for spells plus helped with hunts since she came into their lives.

She was still fine tuning her abilities and learning more about them. Her aunt gave her books to read and schooled her in the white magic her family passed down from generation to generation. She was like a sponge, she wanted to learn everything she could, she soaked up the knowledge always wanting more. She deemed knowledge could help you through whatever life throws at you. The more you know, the better off you are.

Her cell began to ring from the dining room table. Aurora ran to it hoping it was one of her brothers finally calling.

"Hello." she said in hopes of hearing one of hearing a familiar voice.

"Is this Aurora Goldstar?" a female voice asked.

"Yes."

"I have you down as an emergency contact for a Sam Winston. I'm a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital."

"I'm his sister, what's happened?" she cried already knowing something very wrong had happened.

"Your brother was found and brought to the hospital in Clarksburg, West Virginia."

"Is he alive?" she asked holding her breath.

"Yes, but there are some complications."

"I'm on my way." Oree said hanging up and heading for her room for her emergency bag. She had started keeping one packed so she could leave at a moment's notice. "Angel, Sam's in trouble, I need you to take me to him." she prayed.

"I am here." he said appearing beside her. "Where is he?"

"Clarksburg, West Virginia, in the hospital." she replied gripping his arm more tightly than needed.

Within seconds Aurora found herself outside the hospital in a small secluded spot. She swayed slightly from the trip as Castiel held on to her for support. He made sure she was steady before stepping slightly away. He still felt the need to protect Aurora even after getting out of Purgatory. He knew she wasn't in danger, but it felt right to want to keep her safe.

"Did you find Dean?"

"Yes, he is finishing up a hunt and said he would swing by since he knew you would track him down if he didn't."

"Damn straight I would!"

"Should I contact him about Sam?"

"No, let's see what I can find out first. Come on let's go find Sam." she said heading for the hospital's lobby. Cas fell into step behind her as he cast his powers outward to search for any danger that might be lurking nearby. Not finding any, he hurriedly caught up with her as she walked into the hospital.

Oree didn't need any guidance to her brother's room. She found the connection and hurried to the stairs leading up. They made their way to the third floor and Oree followed the pull down the hall and to an end room. She opened the door slowly, trying to sense any danger before stepping in. Sam lay on a bed staring into space. He didn't acknowledge either of them as they walked further into the room.

"Sam?" Oree questioned when she was close enough for him to hear easily.

Sam remained perfectly still not responding to his name. His face had a blank expression, like no one was at home. The only way Oree could tell he was alive was with his blinking and the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

"Sammy, it's me Oree." she said moving herself to where she was in his line of sight.

Still he never focused on her, his gaze never faltered as he started straight ahead. Oree watched him closely seeing no reaction from him. She was not understanding what had happened to him.

"Something's not right Angel, Sammy?" she asked again taking her hands and cupping his face, turning it slightly toward her. He allowed her to move his head without any resistance.

Oree reached out, searching inward looking for her brother. She chased the threads, looking for the connection that had always been there. Oree frowned when she found nothing to guide her. She sucked in a deep breath and gasped pulling away from him to look more closely. "Angel we need to get him out of here." she commanded looking around and seeing a bag with shoes and clothes sitting by a small cabinet. She grabbed them and gripped Sam's arm tightly. "Take us home now."

Cas stepped up to them and laid one hand on Oree and another on Sam. He reached out and pictured Oree's home, the inside of the house and Sam's bedroom. In an instance they were transported to that room. Oree swayed from the sudden jump and sat down on the bed beside a prone Sam.

"Don't think I'll ever get use to that." she mumbled shaking her head slightly to get her senses back. "Sam's not there." she addressed Castiel.

"I'm not sure I understand." Cas said looking down at Sam's body not seeing any outward injuries showing.

"His body is here, but Sam isn't, he's gone." she tried to explain.

Castiel leaned over Sam's body placing a hand on his forehead and searched for his soul, the essence that made him Sam Winchester. He frowned, straightened up and looked at Oree, this wasn't right, his soul wasn't there, it had been removed from his body. He checked again, but didn't find any traces of angel grace, so an angel had not removed it, but who would have done this? Castiel drew his face into a deep frown trying to make sense of this.

"This doesn't make sense."

"I'm right aren't I." she said as tears flowed from her eyes and down her cheeks. Before he could respond, Oree stepped to Castiel and grabbed his trench coat in her fists, burying her face into his chest sobbing with such pain. Her body trembled as she clung to him for support.

Castiel, not comfortable with human emotions and not sure what the right response should be, stood there stiff, with his arms slightly out from his body. He remembered how both Dean and Sam had comforted Oree in the past and slowly put his arms around her, holding her in his embrace. A very tiny spark of feelings welled up in his chest, ones he had never felt before and wasn't sure what it was or how to actually deal with it. He seemed to have these sparks more often when he was around Aurora.

Oree's sobs slowly turned into sniffs as she sought to get herself under control, feeling a little embarrassed to have broken down in front of Castiel, she wiped her eyes and stepped from him.

"Sorry." she mumbled coughing several times to clear her throat.

"You are worried about your brother, it was a natural response." Castiel offered.

"I don't understand, he seems awake, so why won't he respond?"

"I am not sure, maybe we have to..." Castiel started looking back at Sam in deep thought. "Sam raise your right arm." he told him.

Sam slowly raised his right arm off the bed, holding it in place.

"Lower your right arm."

Sam laid his arm back on the bed.

"Raise your left arm." Oree told him wanting to see if he would respond to her as well.

Sam raised his left arm just like the right holding it in the air.

"You can put it down now."

Oree looked at Castiel puzzled by this reaction. Sam would do what he was told, but nothing else. He wouldn't interact with them in any way, but would obey their commands. This was getting stranger by the minute. How and why would someone do this to Sam weighed heavily on her mind. She hoped Dean would get here soon, she needed her big brother's help and support.