*Disclaimer* I do not own Supernatural (nor do I claim to), I just love it and happen to get alot of ideas for stories in my head.

Chapter Two

It was just a routine 'stroll', nothing more. Dean checked the perimeter of his and Cas' 'camp' before settling down, after an encounter with a monster, and before leaving in search of a new 'camp'. He didn't believe he was being paranoid, or exaggerating. He'd been here long enough to know there was literally no such thing as too careful. He'd been jumped before, Cas had gotten attacked before, they'd once been surrounded by a group of five creatures, Cas had pulled [flown] them out of that one… all of Dean weapons, except the axe he held in his hand, had been left behind.

As soon as they arrived at a new 'resting spot' Dean would scout the surrounding area, make sure it was clear and if it wasn't, then he'd slaughter whatever he found, even if the creature hadn't spotted him yet. He would then return to where he had left Cas. Sometimes the angel was gone, but the majority of the time the angel was always in the same position he'd left him [staring off into space, completely still] or sitting on the ground, knees pressed to his chest… still staring into space, still completely motionless. He never asked him what he was thinking, or what he was looking at, he'd simply settle down beside him, never in a vulnerable position, and work on his most recent weapon, or simply keep a look out. He and Cas rarely talked, but he still felt more comfortable when he was near the angel, it brought him a bit of peace. Cas was the only family he had left, and no matter what happened, no matter how affected, no matter what he became, family would always come first for Dean. It was his comfort, he needed his family, perhaps more than he'd like to admit, perhaps more than they needed him… he'd often shoot Cas a glance, but the angel rarely looked back, he was too absorbed in his thoughts, or lack of…

Relying on his mental timer, an instinct created along with this routine, Dean would get up, grab his axe and check the surrounding area again. Cas rarely looked up as he left, his eyes showed no awareness of the world around him, he'd become completely lost in himself. Dean would be quick, but thorough, keen on getting back to Cas quickly. Once he made sure everything was secure, he'd return to their 'camp' and they would stay there a while more.

Dean would give the place one last quick look, to make sure they weren't followed, and then he would alert Cas it was time to go. He tried to pretend he didn't see Cas' obvious struggle to focus on him, to pull out of his 'trance'. He tried not take notice how it seemed to take Cas more and more time, more and more effort, for awareness to return to his eyes, for that blank stare to leave his face. Something deep inside Dean warned him he was about to lose his friend, and told him to prepare. It was quickly beaten to a bloody pulp and stuffed in a closet, Dean refused to even think it. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to Cas. As long as he was here, the confused little angel would be safe. Cas was more like a child now than ever before, he needed Dean, and Dean needed to be needed, the current situation was like a twisted version of his and Sam's childhood, and Dean somehow managed to take comfort from it. It didn't matter than Cas was broken, or that he was insane, Dean would not let anything happen to him… or so he insisted to himself.

Having gotten whatever Dean's instincts assured was the right distance between them and their last 'camp' Dean stopped and set his things down. Cas sank to the ground, Dean hoped that was a sign the angel wasn't going anywhere soon… he always panicked whenever he returned from scoping the perimeter to find Cas gone. Swallowing his dread, Dean always called Cas back the instant he noticed the camp was empty, the older brother in him surfacing and allowing his voice to take on an authoritative 'older' tone, much like the one he used on Sam. The angel didn't always come back immediately however. Dean always scolded him when he didn't return quickly, sounding, again, so much as he did with Sam. Dean had noted that Cas usually stayed if he sat down, which was why Dean had hopes that he'd find him here when he returned. Not keen on taking chances though, Dean would be as quick as possible; he did not like to leave Cas alone for long periods of time. You simply did not do that with a child… the older brother in him knew that by heart, it had been drilled into him by his father since he was four.

Everything seemed good; there were few fresh tracks around, which meant not many creatures had been here recently. He did not come across any monsters and decided it was time to start heading back. He glanced around him once more, then turned around and began to walk back, not in a straight line of course. He walked around, zigzagging, always scanning his surroundings, always alert. Not alert enough, apparently, as he was tackled.

Dean landed on the ground, on his back. He could feel something digging its fingers into his shoulder, but he didn't panic, he didn't struggle, he simply repositioned his grip on his axe and swung it. The creature shrieked and fell back… Dean had cut deep into its arm, he could see bone. Dean quickly sat up, or tried to anyways. The creature flung itself at him again, this time causing Dean to lose his axe as its weight forced him to the ground. Dean kicked at it, it didn't bother him that it looked mostly like a dirty, scrawny human, most monsters looked human… but nothing in Purgatory ever was. It dug its fingers into his arm, refusing to let go, Dean couldn't shake it off. Dean grunted, kicking it in the face. The bushes rustled, all plant 'life' was practically dead and dried up, the thin leafless branches easily alerted of the newcomer's arrival. Dean turned his head to spot a second creature stalking forward. With his left hand he held the chomping creature clinging to his arm at bay, ans with his right he reached pointlessly for his axe, it was just a finger length away…

The second creature launched itself at Dean; his hand flashed forward and grabbed its throat tightly. This might have been a comic sight, if it wasn't so frightening and desperate. Dean was straining under the pressure of holding two creatures off his throat. Both were using all of their weight as they pushed against his arms, jaws snapping. Dean's arms trembled; he wouldn't be able to hold them both back for long. He had 'locked' his arms into place, holding them straight out, he knew that if they bent, however slightly, it would all be over. The pressure, however, was nearly excruciating….it felt like his forearm was about to snap! Or like his shoulder would dislocate at any second. Dean grunted, clamping his teeth together. He had no idea how much longer he could hold this, but it did not matter anyhow… he was only prolonging the inevitable. He had to get to his axe…. He glanced around himself, trying to see if they was a way he could shake one of the creatures off, unbalance it...

'They must be ghouls' the thought popped into Dean's head as he noticed a third member join the party. It shuffled forward, took in the sight of the two other creatures fighting to get to Dean's throat, and Dean's obvious lack of control over the situation, and it licked its teeth. Dean was already panting with exertion, he refused to let it get out of control, his muscles were already trembling, he'd be dead in mere seconds if he became out of breath. The creature [most likely a ghoul] came forward, rather quickly, and bent forward, reaching toward Dean. Dean kicked it hard in the jaw, and then kicked out again for good measure. The creature stumbled back. It was hardly a victory, however, the movement caused Dean's concentration to drift ever so slightly and his left elbow bent. The snarling ghoul lunged at the softer skin under his chin and on his throat. In his shock, Dean 'allowed' his other elbow to slacken as well, which meant two ghouls crashed over his head. The third had already recovered from the blow, and was on its feet again.

Dean closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate. He'd gotten careless, and now he would pay the price… with his life. That was how things worked here; you either killed, or got killed. He took in a deep breath just as he felt a hand tighten around his neck, nails digging into the skin. He opened his eyes and stared the creature, the ghoul, straight in the eye, no fear in his own. Its eyes were ravenous, insane, and blood-thirsty. They held no evidence that a sentient being hid behind them. It was only Creature, it was Monster, it had no name, no feelings, it wasn't even remotely human, and Dean no longer thought of them as different species. What was the difference between a vampire and a werewolf? Nothing. Dean had to kill both, and both were out to kill him. They were all Creature, they were all Monster… monsters…That was what things became in Purgatory. Dean pulled his lips up in an ugly snarl, baring his teeth. He made no noise as the second creature bit into his shoulder, and the third grabbed his leg, looking for the best place to grab its share from. Dean kicked at it, but it had an iron grip and knew Dean was powerless.

The second creature shrieked, arching its back in pain, letting go of Dean. His right arm free, he punched the first creature in the face with as much momentum as he could gather, then he kicked out with his foot at the third creature, struggling to sit up. 'I have to get my axe' he thought, eyes scanning the area for his weapon of choice. Spotting it, he made a dash for it, tucking and rolling, grabbing it in his hand, then leaping to his feet, all in one graceful move. His eyes surveyed his situation, his best options, at the same time as he swung his axe, nearly severing the third creature's shoulder, and giving the first creature a large gash on the ribs as a souvenir. He hoped the axe had dug deep enough to scratch at the bone. The third creature grabbed at its shoulder, glaring at Dean. Dean smiled a wicked smile, swinging his axe around with expertize. Both creatures lunged at him at the same time, as he knew they would. He swung his axe, severing an arm off one, and cutting deeply into the leg of the other. It fell to its knee, now lame. Dean walked around it and swung his axe at the one-armed one. It sliced into its leg and, keeping the same momentum, Dean curved it up as sliced up its torso. His eyes were merciless as it fell to the ground. Dean then stood over it and chopped off its head. He then moved to the other once, who was attempting to crawl away. He sliced into is back, a deep gash, just to get it to slow down. He kicked it to the ground and chopped off its head as well. His narrowed eyes glared at the body beneath him, the corners of his teeth showed as his lips curled up in a wicked smile. Then he swung his axe at the creature that stood over the second creature, which also lay dismembered.

"Whoa, hey, take it easy!" it yelped, jumping back, just out of reach of Dean's axe. Dean narrowed his eyes and swung again, this time getting the creature up against a tree trunk. "That's how you greet your knight in shining armor?" it said. Dean blinked at it, his axe held at ready, but he didn't strike. Not because of what the creature had said, but because he had said it. Purgatory citizens did not talk… they snarled and growled while in a frenzy, ravenous sounds tore out of their throats as they attacked…. But they never said words…

"What are you?" Dean demanded to know, not backing up, not releasing the creature from what looked like an uncomfortable position, pressed against the bark as it was. His axe was still held up, ready. "Names Benny" the things began, before Dean pressed the 'blade' of his axe against its throat. "I didn't ask who" Dean growled, though clenched teeth, "I asked what." 'You things aren't 'whos', you are all whats' he thought. His 'blade' did not draw blood, but it did touch the thing's skin. "I'm the one who just saved your life" it said, sounding like it was starting to get annoyed. Dean applied pressure to his axe, nearly enough to draw blood. "I'm a vampire, it's that's the answer you're gunning for" it added after a [small] while. Dean thought about this for a moment, before relieving the pressure of his axe. 'Thank you' it mouthed sarcastically, rubbing his throat where the axe had touched his skin. Dean tensed up as soon as its arm twitched, preparing for it to try and strike him. It laughed, "Dude, chill. Not everything is out to chew on your bones" it said. Dean's glare intensified, "My experience tells differently" he said, before taking a step back, then another. He had to get back to Cas.

"Hey wait!" the thing called, once it became evident Dean wasn't giving it space, he was leaving. Dean flashed it another hate filled look, causing it to stop in its tracks. "I gave you my name, don't I get yours?" it asked. Dean didn't even bother giving that question an answer. He heard a sigh, and slowed down, but didn't turn around. "You gunna be like that? Okay, fine." It said. "You at least owe me thanks for the whole 'saving your life' thing-" it barely managed to finish it's sentence before Dean had shoved him into the tree trunk once more, axe pressed against its throat. "Get this, one thing, straight" Dean hissed in its face. "You've gotten your 'thank you' in the form of me not-killing-you" he emphasized the last words. He smiled inwardly as the creature swallowed. "It's not something I will give twice, if I ever see you again, you won't be given the curtsey of a warning before I slice your neck off your shoulders" his sentence ended with a growl. He saw its eyes widen as the true meaning of his words dawned on it. Dean was telling it to watch its back, Dean was warning it that if Dean ever spotted it again he would go for the kill, not caring if the thing ever saw him coming, or even knew he was around. "Consider this, your one and only warning, a token of my… appreciation" he said, before pulling back and letting his axe fall to his side. He backed up, eyes never leaving the creature then, when he was a good distance away; he turned around to walk away. "I can get you out you know" the thing said, oh so casually.

Dean didn't react at all, he just kept walking. "I mean it" the thing continued. "I could get us both out, quite simply really." Dean kept walking. "I would just need a little time, and a few ingredients… but the timing is right." It. Just. Kept. Talking. "I mean it" it repeated, its voice nearly sounding taunting. "Don't you want to get out? Or do you want to spend the remainder of your short life chopping up Purgatory's inhabitants, until the day they rip you to shreds first?" Dean kept walking, for a short moment he wished he had his gun. It would be very usually at this distance, allowing him to put a few holes in the creature's face, to shut it up. "Come on" Dean heard it say, he thought he could also hear it walking slowly after him. He shifted his grip on his axe, preparing for a fight. "Don't you have anyone waiting for you on the other side? Didn't you leave a life behind? Aren't you missed? Don't you miss? Them, a 'her' perhaps… or a 'him'. Don't you having anyone depending on you?" Dean's knuckles were turning white from his steel grip on the axe, he glared lasers at the ground, until the creature uttered its last sentence…then Dean stopped cold. He frozen in place, shoulders tensing, he was glad, if only for a second, that his back was to the creature, so it couldn't see his face, and all the emotions that ran across it at that second.

Cas. Cas depended on Dean. Cas was messed up, he was not only insane…his mind was literally broken, shattered into millions of pieces, and now the most those pieces could muster up was the mind of a child… 4-9, depending on whether Cas was having a good day or not. He hated violence, and Dean knew he refused to harm anything. He was scared; angels didn't belong in Purgatory…. Dean would never be able to comprehend all the horrors the little angel felt, surrounded by all the evil, being to sense it everywhere, and in everything. Cas needed Dean… he was Dean's responsibility… It was Dean's job to look out for him… If he could get him out…

The creature had stopped as Dean did; knowing Dean's stopping had been directly linked to what it had said. After a few moments, as if sensing victory, it began to walk over. Dean tightened his grip on his axe. When it got close enough he whirled around, lifting his axe to neck level. "What did I saw about ever seeing you again?" he growled. It took a step back, the expression of its face looked as if Dean had backed out of a deal after having sighed half of his name on the dotted line. He narrowed his eyes, causing it to back up some more. "Don't let me see you again" he said, meaning every word. 'Watch your back' he thought out to it, before disappearing into the 'vegetation' hurrying back to camp… back to Cas.

"Come on, we're leaving" Dean said, rushing into the camp. Thankfully, Cas was still there, still in the same position. Dean hurried over, grabbing onto Cas's arm gently, to shake the angel out of his trance. Cas looked up at him, looked him up and down, then calmly looked behind him, before speaking. "It's too early" he said "Are you sure you don't mean you have to rest, then we have to go?" he asked. Ahh, so Cas paid attention to his routine? That made Dean feel better, it helped him believe Cas wasn't as far gone as he appeared to be, that Dean wasn't about to lose him… again. "Nope, I mean we're leaving. Right now" Dean said, grabbing onto the angel's forearm and hauling him up. "You're not going to scan the place out before we leave?" Cas asked, staring at Dean's face with those big, wide eyes of his, getting all in Dean's personal space. Dean pushed him away gently, as you would a child who didn't know any better. "Come on, the sooner we get a move on, the better" Dean said. He wondered how much Cas could sense… Could he sense his indecision? His anxiety? Dean turned to grab his other weapons, but Cas help him back, clinging to his arm. "You're hurt" he said, already reaching up with two fingers. "Oh no, Cas it's okay… you don't have to-" Dean didn't get to finish that sentence, as Cas pressed his index and middle finger to his forehead anyways. Instantly the bruises, blood, bites, claw marks and soreness were all gone. "Cas, I've told you not to do that" Dean said. He didn't like Cas wasting his angel mojo, especially not on him. They were disconnected from Heaven and Earth in Purgatory… what if Cas ran out of juice? What would become of the little angel then? Dean hated himself for being unable to do more for his friend.

Dean placed his hand on Cas' shoulder, gently guiding him away from camp. He let go once he made sure the angel was walking in the same direction on his own, though he still stayed very close to his friend. His presence gave him comfort, much like he'd peek into Sam's room at night, just to make sure his little brother was safe. It was like one of those stupid 'gut-feelings' took over… the one that said 'As long as he is with me, nothing bad will ever happen to him.'

"What are we running from?" Cas asked, glancing at Dean. Dean pressed his lips together in a thin line, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to lie to Cas, it wasn't like he could anyways. The angel had a way of knowing what he was feeling, if not what he was thinking. "It's just that…" he began, gazing at a dried up bush, as if for inspiration. His eyes darted up at the flutter of wings. Cas was gone. "Cas? Cas?!" Dean hissed, cursing at himself slightly [and out loud a bit as well] He looked around, pivoting on his heel more than once. Cas was nowhere to be found.