(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the following story belongs to me)

Echo.

Chapter Two.

Dean lay in the bed listening to the steady, rhythmic breathing of his brother coming from the bed next to his; a sound that he'd missed for over a week…a week that, according to everyone but him, had never happened. He finally sat up, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration; sleep would be a long time coming…if ever. He threw his jeans on and padded to the door, opening it quietly and stepping out into the warm night air. He took the three steps to the Impala and sat up on the hood, his feet resting on the bumper as he pulled the paper from the front pocket of his jeans and studied it again; he didn't know what he was looking for but it was the only thing he had that hinted that he wasn't losing his mind.

He closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair, a delicate breeze whispering across his bare chest as he searched for the memories; but the only memories that came were of him chasing something red; he concentrated, opening his mind, giving the memories access...and his eyes snapped open; the woman. The one with the green eyes that seemed to flit in and out of his periphery; the woman he only ever caught glimpses of before she seemed to disappear, leaving nothing but an innuendo of her ever being there.

She was important; he was sure of it. He looked at the note again…his brow creasing…maybe …maybe what? he thought…maybe she'd left the note and sent him back in time to save his brother? A soft laugh escaped him…yeah, and maybe Zeppelin would re-form and tour. He sighed heavily and lay down; the cool metal of the hood against his back bringing some relief to the humidity that hung over South. He stared up at the clear night sky; he and Sam would arrive in Red Bank tomorrow…he couldn't think about the hunt; all he could think about was where that last week had gone and how he was going to stop Sam disappearing…this time.

His mind wandered as he looked at the stars…his lids closing as he watched them start to swirl; not registering the fact that his world was now devoid of sound…all sound and his mind drifted…

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She sat in front of 'The Original', the diaphanous, azure robes denoting her position, pooling round her; it was the only colour in this wispy blanket of greyness. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her head bowed, her deep auburn hair falling loosely past her shoulders as she waited for him to speak; he seldom did…so when you were graced with his words…you listened. She didn't know how long she waited; time held no meaning here but his words finally broke through the silent, ghostly void.

"You acted impulsively" his mellifluous voice intoned; it was a statement for which no answer was required. "The Early Ones are…disturbed"

She waited, she would know when it was her time to speak; ceremony ruled here and she had already broken one rule, she would not break another.

"They feel you cannot carry out your duties effectively; that you were bought forward before you were ready…"

"I believe they are mistaken in their views" she said quietly but with the forthrightness that irked those that had come before her.

"Raise your eyes to me, child" he said gently.

She lifted her gaze and held his "I believe they are mistaken in their views" she stated again.

He stared long and hard at her, his viridian eyes looking directly into hers; she couldn't deny him entry, and she felt the connection as he explored the part of her mind that had made the decision. She tried not to wince at the intrusion but it was never a pleasant experience, having your soul laid bare for someone to see; but she withstood it as he would see her intentions had been true.

He finally nodded and broke the connection "There is still much that you need to learn; lessons I believe would best be learned in the field" she started to smile but it was cut short "However, a transgression such as this cannot go unpunished" she nodded. You acquiesce?"

She nodded again" I must" she knew if she didn't, her work would be undone.

She watched as he nodded to his left and two of 'The Early Ones' appeared out of the nothingness in which she sat. She took a deep breath as she recognised the ones that had been beckoned; punishment was an understatement. She rose and bowed to 'The Original', turning towards the two guards…

"Child…" she turned back to him "I offer you a chance for refusal"

She shook her head "No"

He nodded at her, then at the 'The Early Ones'; one stepped forward, his eyes boring into hers as they flashed angrily "You spared one from the suffering that was foretold; suffering that was needed for him to reach his next stage…"

"He would not have survived" she stated simply.

His jaw set at her impudence "The decision was not in your hands" he looked at 'The Original' then returned his attention to her "But it has been allowed" he smiled at her "You will take the suffering in his place"

She nodded "I understand"

"Do you?" he asked.

"Yes" she stared defiantly "I do"

"We shall see" he turned and she followed them out of the void and towards her punishment; knowing that as bad as it was going to be, it would be nothing compared to what would happen if they found out about the message she'd left for Dean…that and not wiping his memory completely like she should have.

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Dean was drifting through a series of images; a montage of unfamiliar faces…a whirlwind of visages that spun faster and faster, blurring together; the one thing they all had in common was the intense green of their eyes. The images started to change and he saw himself lying on the ground in a forest; a beast, the like of which he'd never seen before bearing down on him…all teeth and claws and he roared as he watched himself do the same…then everything stopped, the creature mere inches from him, his hands around its throat, his face contorted in rage. He tried to move, tried to go save himself but he was held fast, forced to watch what could only be his death…but it wasn't. He stared in disbelief as the beast rose from him, flying back to the tree from which it had launched itself; he saw him roll onto his front, then rise….time was running backwards…and he watched as he sped in reverse ...back through the forest…it would have been comical if it wasn't so damn freaky. He realised it had been the beast he'd been chasing through the woodland; it had been a trap right from the beginning; it had lured him into the woods for the sole purpose of killing him.

He saw himself sitting in the diner, going over the map…the waitress…he stared…he'd never looked up when she'd spilled the coffee, if he had, he'd have recognised the eyes. It was the woman; she'd been right next to him and he'd never known. The images of the past week started to move more rapidly; he was only getting small flashes of the week looking for Sam; shutter clicks of past events…then he was at the motel, walking back into the room with food for him and Sam and finding nothing but blood-soaked sheets. More rapid reversing…he and Sammy searching for whatever was behind the disappearances of the men in Red Bank…he saw the woman again…she was at the library where they'd been doing research, watching them over a book she was reading…he frowned…as he saw her tap her finger on the book, pointing to the title...'Greek Mythology'…but this wasn't directed at the him and Sam who were staring intensely at the lone computer in the library; this was directed at him…the him that was watching the past events.

He was dragged out of the library and taken further back…driving with Sam…on their way to 'Red Bank'…only they were driving away from it…his mind spinning as day and night seeming to blur together, watching the strange movie of his life. It slowed right down as he saw the diner, the diner where he'd woken…believing Sam was still missing; but there was Sam, in the seat next to him, frozen in place, fries mid-way to his mouth. He looked around, everything had been freeze-framed…he felt a gentle push in his back and he took a step…then another…this time he could move but only in one direction, the gentle but persistent hands at his back ensuring he could only head towards the Impala. He felt a movement in his jacket as he was pushed into the car, pushed into himself and then nothing but blackness…the minute he'd returned, he'd returned to sleep.

Dean's eyes fluttered open; the stars twinkling above him as the sweet scent of jasmine floated over him…where….he sat up quickly, putting his hands to his head as it erupted in pain; searing jolts that ripped through his mind and he winced as another forked into him. He drew in a shaky breath as the pain started to subside, leaving a dull thudding in its place. He looked at his watch…shit…he'd been out for almost two hours. He slid off the car and went back to his room; closing and locking the door behind him. Sam was still asleep, lying on his stomach, his arms hanging over either side of the bed as he snored lightly. Dean went to his bag, dry swallowed some aspirin and flopped onto his bed…he was asleep in minutes, the faint wisp of jasmine lingering in the air.

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Dean woke to the sound of the door closing and sat up quickly "Sam!" he turned and his brother was grinning at him, holding out a cup of coffee.

"Rise and shine, princess" said Sam as he sat on the other bed.

Dean took the cup, nodding a thanks "Where'd you go?"

Sam laughed "Across the street to get that" he pointed to the coffee.

Dean's jaw set "You don't go any where alone, Sammy. You hear me? It's too dangerous" he said as he took a sip of the coffee, trying for an air of nonchalence after what he'd just said to his brother.

Sam laughed at him "Dude, I'm a big boy…I think I can cross the street without holding your hand okay?"

Dean put his coffee down, fuck the nonchalence, it was time to set down some rules "I don't care, Sam. You stay where I can see you at all times. Understand?" he stared hard at his baby brother.

Sam cocked his head "No, Dean. I don't understand. Ever since you woke from that nightmare or whatever it was…you've been jumpy. You want to explain it to me?"

"I'm fine, Sammy" said Dean with a sigh, time to lock in the big lie "I just have a …bad feeling about this hunt is all"

Sam shook his head "No. It's more than that. Tell me what the hell is going on with you. You wake up thinking its two weeks ahead of when we are….you're on edge; your eyes don't freakin' stop moving…what are you looking for, Dean?"

"Nothin', Sam…"

"Bullshit" said Sam angrily, this wasn't his brother…something was going on with him and it wasn't a good something. "You're wound tight as a freakin' spring….I'm just waiting for you to go off, Dean!"

Dean's anger flared and he stood, glaring down at his brother "Well you tell me, psychic boy!" he said loudly, part of his mind yelling at him to stop the irrational anger he was feeling towards Sam but it didn't listen as the words flew from his lips "If you're such an expert, you tell me what the hells going on!"

Sam stood, the undertone of fear he heard in his brothers voice, making his stomach tie in knots as he realised his brother was scared "What the fuck is wrong with you? Tell me, Dean. We'll sort it out and …."

"Nothing! Nothing's wrong!" he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, this wasn't Sammy's fault…and he didn't want to fight with him "I'm sorry, Sam…I'm just tired"

Sam didn't believe him but he could see that Dean was at a place where now wasn't going to be the time when he got an answer, damn stubborn sonofabitch. He shook his head at Dean "Well what do you expect" he laughed softly "Next time just get your own room"

Dean frowned "Huh?"

"Look, dude…I know you can't keep it in your pants; and where you found some chick at that time of the morning…well. I really don't want to think about that…" started Sam.

"What areyou talking about, Sam?" asked Dean.

Sam rolled his eyes "The chick? Last night? When you were out on the Impala?"

Dean laughed softly "Dude…I think when you have those sort of dreams, it's supposed to be you in the fantasy with the chick…" he looked at Sam's bed "Are the maids gonna be pissed?" he laughed.

Sam turned "You don't want to talk about it, fine" he said angrily.

Dean grabbed his brother and turned him back to face him "You're serious?"

"No Dean, I'm making it up...you're in all my fantasies..." he frowned when he saw the confusion in his brothers eyes "You…"

"What did you see?" asked Dean softly.

"Dean…"

"TELL ME!" he yelled.

"Settle down, Dean. I just woke last night, you weren't in your bed so I went to the window; you were lying on the hood and this chick was leaning over talking to you, whispering in your ear…I don't know what she was saying but dude…you had a grin on your face"

"What'd she look like?" he asked.

"You don't remember?" Sam asked; the answer clearly evident in his brothers eyes "I didn't really see her…dark, long red hair…aaah, slim build…I don't maybe…5ft 8 or 9…"

"Her face?"

"Didn't see it" he stared at his brother "You didn't either?"

Dean looked at his brother "I was alone, Sam. There was no woman"

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'The Original' and the two 'Early Ones' watched as the docent was brought out of her torment; the wounds suffered in place of the intended, clearly visible on her body. The Healers moved forward; their purple robes rustling as they busied themselves with her injuries.

One of the 'Early Ones' nodded slowly "She was correct. He would not have survived the suffering"

"That does not excuse her behaviour. If he is to move forward, if they are both to move forward to the next stage, then they must undergo the rites as…" started the other.

"The situation is different" interrupted 'The Original' "Never before have they taken a personal interest in the 'chosen'…there is more to the two than we are aware"

"She does not have the experience to deal with these forces…we must send someone in her place"

'The Original' shook his head slowly "We do not choose the calling; the calling decides who is best suited for the chosen. It chose her"

"But they are out there and should she interfere…"

"They want them" 'The Original' turned to the 'Early Ones' "She understands her role, she knows the consequences should she reveal too much. My only concern is that the rogue one will get to them before they are ready"

"His memory has been cleared; he will make the same mistakes he did before…they all do"

"Maybe this time, you should have faith. Maybe this one is stronger than you think" said 'The Original' as his eyes returned to the woman; a deep sense of foreboding settling over him as he watched her healing.

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Dean sat in silence; Led Zeppelin up to maximum volume to block the sounds of his brothers incessant questions. Questions for which he had no answer. He didn't remember any woman from last night, but he had a fair idea who it was; and he was worried. If she could sneak up on him without him knowing, without him having memory of her being there…then he and Sam were more vulnerable than he imagined. And at this stage, he wasn't trusting anyone, especially someone who refused to reveal themselves or their intentions to him.

He pulled over at a gas station and got out to fill the car; Sam getting out and leaning against the Impala's roof as he stared at his brother.

"I don't like what's happening here, dude…" the closer they got to Red Bank the more he felt fear starting to take hold of him…but not just any fear; deep seated, primal fear that wrapped itself around him and shook him; screamed at him to turn around and run. This was life and death fear and he'd never felt anything like it. He took a deep breath and looked into his brothers eyes "Lets just turn the car around and …"

Dean shook his head "No. We're going to Red Bank and we're going to sort this shit out" said Dean, determination etched deep into his features.

"Dean…I…you said you had a bad feeling about this…well, shit dude…the closer we get to this town the more I agree with you" he looked at his brother "You know I never run from a job, but Dean, if we were ever going to…this is the one"

Dean shook his head slowly again; they had to go…running away from the job didn't mean the job wouldn't run after them. He knew it would. No matter how fast or how far they ran…it would find them. Find them, kill Sam and kill him. No. They were going. "We're going, Sam" he grinned at his brother, a grin that didn't reach his eyes "I got your back, dude…don't worry your pretty little head about it" he clicked off the pump and turned; the grin dropping instantly from his face; he hoped to God that this time, he did have his little brothers back.

To be continued…