CHAPTER 4
Sam's POV
Sam continued mumbling to himself as he packed his bag full of weapons. After the weapons were all packed, he grabbed a stake from the trunk of the car and put it in his pocket. When I find this trickster, I'm going to make him wish he was never born.
He started closing the trunk when he heard Dean's favorite band, Metallica, playing… but from where? There were no other cars next to his in the parking lot. After looking aimlessly for the source of the sound, he shook his head and hopped in the driver's seat. Sticking his key in the ignition, he started to turn the car on when something caught his eye. A piece of paper with the words I'm sitting right next to you, being written on it.
Dean's POV
He was determined to prove to Bobby he was Sam's brother. "Sam was born May 2nd 1983, when he was 6 months old a fire burned down his nursery, he's petrified of clowns, things Jet Li could beat Chuck Norris in a duel, and, other than Jess, has really bad taste in the girls he chooses to go home with"
Bobby snickered, "Oh you mean him making friends with Meg didn't work out well for you and Sam?"
"Wait, you remember me now?" Dean honestly hadn't expected his ramblings to work.
"What?"
"You just said that Sam and I…" Dean get to finish the sentence when a bright light flashed, startling both men. When the light started to fade, Castiel was standing in their presence.
"Cas!" Dean exclaimed, "Please tell me that you remember me."
"While tricksters may be able to keep me from tracking you, they cannot mess with my memories."
"A trickster?" Dean paused to process that information, "I should've known! Wait though, how'd you find me if the trickster kept you from tracking me?"
"He got careless for a few seconds."
"So that's why you remembered me," Dean said to Bobby with a slight smirk.
"But why are our memories affected, but yours aren't?" Bobby asked the angel.
"Because I am an angel," Castiel responded obviously assuming that was explanation enough.
Bobby rolled his eyes, "If you're so powerful, then why couldn't you track Dean?"
"Because the trickster wasn't affecting me with his ability, he was affecting Dean." Castiel was getting a bit impatient with the two humans. "Dean, you need to go back to the motel. Try to get Sam's attention in any way possible."
"Fine, but how are you supposed to find me?"
"Wait for me at the motel after you get Sam's attention."
"And what are you going to do while I'm doing that?"
"I'm going to start with trying to find the trickster." Another flash and he was gone.
"Later Bobby," Dean said momentarily forgetting that Bobby still had no clue who he was.
"Bye," Bobby answered automatically, more than a little confused by the events that had just transpired on his doorstep.
Hopping in his Impala, Dean drove back to the motel. When he arrived, he saw Sam unlocking the trunk to the mustang and put a bag in it. Now or never Dean thought to himself. Turning the music up as loud as he could, he hoped Sam would hear it. Deciding that staying inside the vibrating Impala would be a bad idea, he covered his ears and got out. Sad that his baby would have to go through this torture, he noticed Sam looking around for the source of the noise.
Dean cursed in frustration as he saw his brother shake his head and start to get in the Mustang. After turning off the pounding music, Dean ran to the passenger door of Sam's car and let himself in. Frustrated that Sam didn't see the door open or close, he got out a piece of paper and a pen and began writing.
Castiel's POV
Castiel sat on a bench watching children play in a park across the street, trying to figure out what he should do. Tracking the trickster was proving to be a harder challenge than he would have hoped. One of the children saw him sitting and started across the street. The child sat next to him and stated, "I see you are troubled, Castiel."
"Gabriel, I presume?" Castiel said, knowing fully what the answer was.
"You presume correctly, my brother." The male child continued, "Why are you troubled so?"
"The trickster…"
"Ah, and his success in shielding himself from being watched," the child finished.
"Yes."
"But he lowered his defenses long enough for you to locate him and kill him, were you not able to succeed?"
"I did not look for the trickster; I looked for Dean Winchester, and I succeeded."
"You do realize that you could have killed the trickster and stopped Alastair from breaking the seal?" The anger apparent in his voice young voice.
Castiel replied calmly, " God wanted Dean and Dean alone to kill the trickster,"
Defeated, the boy walked back over to the playground with the other children and began to play once more.
Castiel stood and decided it was time to meet up with Dean.
Sam's POV
Sam watched as the words magically appeared on the piece of paper. Reacting instantly, he removed the stake from his pocket and swung at the seat. He swung the stake with all the power he could muster in the confined space, and to his delight, it hit something. Yet even though it made contact, something felt wrong.
CHAPTER FIVE
Dean's POV
Dean finished writing the words and sat back, expecting Sam to just keep doing what he was doing. He heard Sam gasp, and for a split second was thrilled he had found such an easy way to make contact. But that thought was instantly replaced with shock and dread as all he saw was a sharp wooden object flying towards him. He flinched as it made contact with the lower part of his chest. He cried out in pain and tried to control the pen with his shaking right hand. Gathering as much strength as he could, he wrote it's Dean.
The conscious world was fading away quickly. Dean was sure that the stake had at least nicked his heart. He tried to examine the damage, but he couldn't. He couldn't move, and his vision was blurred. All he could make out was the six inch stake sticking out of his body. Somewhere in the background he registered that his name being called, but his reply caught in his mouth as the world faded until only blackness remained.
The Trickster's POV
The trickster was sitting on a bench across the street from Sam's motel watching Dean make a fool of himself in his attempt to get his brother's attention. He laughed openly. Seeing Dean get in the mustang, the trickster got up and walked towards the car, eager to see what Dean would try next.
He saw Sam's reaction to the words appearing on the note card size piece of paper. A wicked smile slowly started to etch itself across his face when he saw the younger Winchester swing the stake at Dean. The trickster allowed it to make contact.
The creature made his way back to the bench and, having full-confidence there was nothing that could be done to save him at this point, released Dean from his grip of trickery. He couldn't relish in the scene unfolding before him for long though, as no sooner as he released dean, did he hear the familiar and unpleasant voice that shredded his joy into a million pieces.
"Are you sure he's dead?" Alastiar asked.
The trickster sighed with frustration and turned to answer him, "You want me to check?"
Alastiar just stared. The Trickster took that as a yes, so he took hold of Dean once more and checked for signs of life. Satisfied that all his vitals were gone, or failing quickly he withdrew and reported, "Yes, he's dead."
Sam's POV
When he hit the invisible object, blood started to show up around the stake and words started to appear on the paper again. He could make out the words on the paper before the body in front of him materialized. It's Dean, it said. Oh my God, oh my God, His face became pale as he realized what he had done. Just then, making it 100% real, Dean appeared in the passenger seat with a stake in his chest, and blood pouring profusely from the wound.
Sam's aim was good. If it wasn't where his heart was, it was dangerously close.
"Dean!" Sam yelled, panic shaking him to the core. "Dean, stay with me!" Sam started to cry as his hands fluttered helplessly unsure of how to staunch the blood without making it worse. "I'm so sorry Dean, I didn't know… I didn't mean… don't… I can't… please?"
Despite his desperate pleas, there was no response from the lifeless form in front of him. "Dean, please" he sobbed, while cupping his face in his hands. His brother only slipped farther and farther away from him, but he kept trying. He shook his shoulder, trying to wake Dean, knowing in the pit of his stomach and the depths of his heart that it was too late, he was too far gone, there was nothing anyone could do. He stubbornly hung on to Dean, when suddenly the passenger door opened and someone was pulling Dean out.
Sam struggled against the unseen force.
"Sam let go. I need to help him"came the voice.
Begrudglingly, Sam released his grip on Dean and helped the voice get a hold of Dean before clamoring out of the car and seeing that the savior was Castiel. The angel had already turned to go.
"Where are you taking him?" Sam asked, but no reply came as the angel disappeared with his brother. "Where are you TAKING HIM?" Sam shouted into the empty parking lot, his voice carried away by the wind.
Sam slumped against the car. This cannot be happening. It's all my fault. How could I have stabbed without knowing. I should have realized. If he dies… No. He would not let himself think like that. Dean is strong. Dean will be fine. Dean. Dean. Dean.
Sam's inner monologue was interrupted by an angry yell from across the street, "NO!" Sam looked, but no one was there.
In shock over what he did, and unable to complete a single coherent thought, he took his keys and went back into the motel room. Sitting on the bed, he buried his face in his hands and started to cry. He let the grief and helplessness wash over him. In the back of his head, logic was telling him to find the nearest hospital as that is where Cas would have taken Dean, but at the moment, the enormity of what he had done was too much, and he didn't have the strength to do anything but fall apart.
RING…..RING… His cell phone startled him back into reality. He picked it up. "Hello?" Sam managed, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Sam? It's dad… are you alright? You don't sound too good"
"I'm fine," Sam lied.
"Ok, well that's good because I think I have a lead on the demon."
"Look, Dad, I need a break for a bit, I'm not in the mood right now."
"Not in the mood? Sam your coming wi…" Click. Sam hung up. He laid down and closed his eyes, hoping that it was all just a dream.
CHAPTER SIX
Dean's POV
Realizing that he was no longer stationary, Dean tried to surface out of the darkness to assess what was happening to him. The pain that hit him, again, was enormous and his entire body spasm-ed in rejection of regaining consciousness.
"I got you Dean. You're okay." Castiel stated feeling the body tense in his arms. Dean would recognize that voice anywhere, and despite the pain raging through his chest, felt a sense of relief in the words. He allowed himself to be tugged back under, until he heard words of concern breaking over him."Where are you taking him?" said a voice somewhere in the distance. Dean noticed it was the same voice that called his name earlier. He heard the pain and the panic in it, and realized that it was Sam's voice. He wanted more than anything to reassure his brother
"Sam?" Dean tried calling, but he knew no sound came out. His struggles were futile against the all-encompassing darkness.
All at once he could hear a million voices and nothing. His breathing halted and he couldn't breathe for what felt like hours, but he knew, logically, it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. Then everything just stopped as if nothing had happened and he could breathe again. And he could feel again. And that was unfortunate because every inch of him hurt or tingled.
Dean cracked an eye open and registered that Castiel had brought him to a hospital. He wanted to ask for Sam or Cas, to ask how his wound was, but the mere effort of opening his eyes had drained him. He became very drowsy all of a sudden and succumbed to the overpowering desire to sleep. He would figure out everything when he woke up.
Sam's POV
"Dean, stay with me!" Sam begged, his hands covered in his brother's blood. He refused to accept Dean was almost gone and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Sam, wake up!" Sam felt himself being shaken awake. He opened his eyes and saw that it was his dad. "Why did you hang up on me? We've got a job to do and you tell me you're not in the mood? Now get up we're going to get that demon."
"No" Sam retorted, the short nap had helped him get a grip on what was real and what was not, and Dean was injured and it was his fault, and he had to find him without wasting any more time. "I need to find Castiel", he said out loud, though it was more to himself than his father.
"You mean that angel son of a bitch that had no right showing up at our door for your help?" His dad looked angry.
"Castiel didn't…" Sam stopped himself because he knew his dad… no not his dad, a memory of his dad. The memory wouldn't know what he was talking about, and he didn't know what memory this dad had, and he didn't want to get into a discussion about it now. He turned towards the door and began walking.
"Sam! You turn around this instant!" yelled John.
"You're not my dad!"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm your dad! Sam, stop and tur…" Sam didn't get to hear the rest when he closed the motel door behind him.
As he made his way over to the Mustang he reflected that they were truly having some of the crappiest, grayest weather he had ever seen. He walked to the driver's door, and his breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of the passenger seat and the memories of less than an hour before flooded his brain. He closed his eyes, body starting to shake again, but when he heard his dad approaching, he took a deep breath and got in, looking determinedly straight ahead.
He heard his dad start to say something, but ignored everything but the task of finding Castiel and Dean and drove off.
Castiel's POV
Castiel appeared in front of the ER doors, still carrying Dean.
"Someone, get me a stretcher!" called a nurse when she saw him walk in. In seconds, the room was in a flurry, Dean was taken out of his arms and whisked away, and the air was filled with stats indicating that Dean was alive, but just barely.
Castiel was ashamed he was no longer able to heal his friend, and stood there for a few moments just thinking to himself before a friendly nurse walked over and asked, "Are you okay?" Not getting much of a response, he switched to business. "What happened?"
"I don't know, I just found him like this," Castiel answered, which wasn't a complete lie.
"OK, well you'll need to answer some questions, so don't go anywhere."
Once Dean was on the stretcher and the nurse had turned his back, Castiel left. They could wonder where he went. He reappeared in the park where Gabriel was playing and sat on a bench. Once again, Gabriel saw him and sat next to him.
"I told you that you should have finished off the trickster when you had the chance, now your favorite human is dying in a hospital bed," Gabriel said.
"Don't antagonize me, Gabriel. I still stand by what I said."
"Then why are you here?" Gabriel asked confused.
"I could use your help in finding the trickster," Castiel answered.
A chuckle escaped from the childish figure that Gabriel was using. He replied, "I will only help if you kill the trickster when we find him."
"That is a wish I cannot grant, and even if I could I wouldn't."
"Very well, then you will not receive any assistance from me."
When Castiel heard this he vanished and Gabriel went back to playing.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Trickster's POV
He knew he had lost his grip on Sam. After the abruptly ended phone call, and Sam's refusal to listen to his dad in the motel room, he was going to have to find another way to reach him, or else, Alistair is going to kill me. I've lost Dean, who may actually live now, thanks to that damn meddling angel. And now I've lost Sam! Why did I have to keep them alive for so long just to toy with them? Realizing his fate would be a gloomy one if he did not amend his mistakes quickly, his resolve to regain control of Sam strengthened. And then he got the idea. Their mother.
"Just you wait Sam. I'll get you."
Sam's POV
Rain was pouring, beating mercilessly on his car. Sam had been driving for three hours, with the blind hope that Castiel would appear. He had visited 4 different hospitals and there had been no sign of anyone with his brother's name or his brother's injuries. He was running on fumes and desperation and he couldn't help but feel that every minute that passed meant another minute Dean could be dying or don't think dead without him. He was exhausted and the rain was so heavy he could no longer read the road signs, so he pulled into an empty parking lot to think through his next move.
Slamming the dashboard in frustration, he got out of the car, turned his face up to the heaven and bellowed, "Castiel! I know you can hear me! Please, I want to talk to you…" His sentence turned from a demand into sobs.
"Sam," a voice behind him called.
Sam spun around to see Castiel standing fifteen feet away from him.
"Where did you take him? Where did you take Dean?" Sam pleaded.
"I took him to a hospital. Dean will be fine, Sam."
"Why did you just leave him? How do you know he'll be fine?"
"The stake scratched his heart; it also punctured his lung and made it collapse."
"And you left him!" Sam screamed incredulously. A collapsed lung. That's not good. He tried to think rationally through his medical knowledge. He really could die from that, couldn't he? AND a scratched heart? This. Is. Not. Good. And it's all my fault. The thought was too much for Sam. He sunk to his knees as another fresh stream of tears joined the raindrops on his face in a mad race to the pavement.
Castiels' POV
Castiel remained quiet, not knowing how to comfort Sam. He was confident Dean would be fine, but he also felt Sam's worry and guilt. Not wanting to leave the huddling, crying man along in the pouring rain, he stepped forward, "Come on, Sam. We've got work to do." And with that they both disappeared.
Dean's POV
People were whispering around Dean. He struggled to open his eyes so he could see where he was, but the simple act was too much effort, so instead he just listened to the voices.
"Do you even know who he is?"
"No, as I said, a man walked in the ER with him and left. He doesn't have any ID on him… I don't know, something seems off about this whole thing."
"You think? Well I guess all we can do is wait for him to wake up and…"
"CODE BLUE!"