Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 3

John stared down at the badly burnt corpse, all that was left of his baby boy. He'd had to sneak into the morgue to see him, the doctor hadn't wanted him to see and John could understand why. The stench of burnt flesh was overwhelming but he just hadn't been able to believe it until he saw for himself. There was a melted mess on the chest where Sam's protective amulet had sat against his breastbone, another on his finger from his ring but his leather bracelet hadn't left any sign. DNA tests had come back positive, the burnt mess before him was Sam. He reached out a hand but couldn't bring himself to touch the corpse. Taking a deep breath John slipped out of the morgue and headed outside to call Bobby for help, they'd have to salt and burn what was left which meant stealing his body since the authorities would send him to a funeral home.

Dean gently ran his fingers over Sam's throat, smiling when he found the faint trace of gills starting to form. Moving Sam's head he looked down his throat, seeing the 'egg' was losing shape and being absorbed into Sam's skin, forming the gills. The transformation appeared to be moving along well, the small amount of salt water that had been trickling into Sam's lungs and stomach working to mix everything Sam had eaten together, activating the spell. He ran a hand over Sam's legs and sure enough he could feel the skin changing, hardening slightly and looking down further he could see Sam's toes had begun fusing together. Dean had never seen such a transformation before but he knew enough to know it was going according to schedule so he relaxed beside Sam on the sandy floor, singing softly to him, letting Sam know he was there and that Sam was safe and loved.

He knew the risks in what he was doing, Sam could never go into the open sea but then it wasn't like he ever did. Siren's were killed on sight after all and Dean liked living. That was why one of his people had gone to a witch so long ago and asked for the secret of how to get what they needed without risking being killed. Dean didn't know what price that Siren had paid for the knowledge but now all Siren's knew how to create their own companion and Sam would be his. The little trick with Sam's hair and that man Dean had been given that knowledge in exchange for saving a witch's life a long time ago but he'd started to think he'd never need it. Finding Sam had been a surprise and a relief, he didn't want to always be alone.

John and Bobby watched as the pyre ignited, slowly burning what was left of Sam to ash. He could feel Bobby standing just slightly behind him, offering silent support even as he dealt with his own grief. John knew Bobby had considered Sam as much his own kid as he had been John's. He wouldn't blame the other hunter for hating him, blaming him for Sam's death but Bobby didn't. The police had ruled the crash an accident, it looked like Sam had lost control of his car and ploughed into the gas station. The coroner had said that Sam had sustained a bad head injury, one bad enough to kill him instantly so he'd never felt the flames, John could be grateful for that. It was bad enough Mary had suffered through being burnt alive, to imagine Sam dying like that too…..They stood and watched silently until the pyre burnt out and then gathered up the ashes into a jar. John was going to go to Lawrence and spread them over Mary's grave. That way they could be together in some way, though he hoped they were together in whatever after life existed.

He kept watch over Sam as the transformation slowly progressed over the following weeks, the gills fully forming, internal organs resizing, moving around and some even vanishing while his legs slowly fused together, the skin hardening until the scales began to appear. Unlike Dean's vibrant ones Sam's were a dull grey like any other mer's.

Sam's tail formed slowly and Dean watched it all in fascination, smiling and signing happily to Sam as the bands of colour appeared, marking Sam as what he was, a created merman. The bands matched the colour of Dean's own emerald scales, showing he was Dean's. Sam's tail started higher than Dean's did, just below his belly button while Dean's began just above where his hips were when in human form, one of the ways you could tell a Siren from a merperson. Dean's gills were also along his ribs meaning he could go partially out of the water without changing his breathing method. Dean knew the transformation was almost complete, the 'egg' had been completely absorbed and all the outside changes seemed complete. Dean was waiting to see Sam's eyes, wanting to see those beautiful hazel orbs showing life and happiness again.

Dean held his breath as Sam moved for the first time since he'd collapsed in Dean's arms three months before, his tail twitching before he shivered as his body began to fully function again. Dean watched as Sam's gills began to work, pulling in oxygen out of the water around them. Then Sam's lips parted slightly as his head lolled to one side, beginning to float off the sand so Dean gently shifted Sam into his arms, cradling him close to his chest. Finally Sam's eyelids began to flutter and Dean leant in over him, needing to be the first thing Sam saw. He smiled as Sam's eyes opened, revealing the ring of silver around the pupil, indicating that Sam was bound to him. If Dean died…Sam's mind would break, leaving him mindless for the rest of his long life. He'd heard of merpeople killing Siren's to claim their companions, wanting the new blood to boost their populations. After all mindless didn't stop their bodies working and there were ways to use them to breed without their active participation. It seemed very barbaric to Dean but everything he heard said they were at least well cared for so if anything ever did happen to him the odds were Sam would be cared for.

"Hey Sammy." He called and Sam smiled up at him as his eyes focused on him. It was the smile Dean had been longing to see, not the one Sam had used before, full of sadness and longing but one full of innocence and happiness.

"Dean." Sam answered, holding his arms up and Dean smiled, shifting Sam so he could hug him, feeling Sam's arms wrap around him in return.

"How do you feel?" Dean asked, easing back to see Sam's face again. Sam cocked his head to one side, curious and confused by the question and Dean felt relief from that reaction. If Sam had remembered anything then he wouldn't be reacting so peacefully.
"Happy?" Dean asked instead of waiting and Sam nodded, cuddling into him. Dean smiled and kissed him softly, making Sam blink in surprise before he hesitantly kissed him back.

Dean uncurled them and took Sam's hand, leading Sam to swim around the pool, smiling as Sam laughed freely. He flipped onto his back so he could see Sam's face as they swam, taking in the way Sam swum as if he'd been a mer all his life. Since Sam didn't remember anything from before waking up Dean supposed Sam had in a way been a mer all his life, all the life he remembered anyway. After several hours of swimming together Dean tugged him upwards and Sam went along until they reached the surface. He balked, tugging at Dean's hand and Dean gently hugged him, soothing him. Sam wasn't human in anyway anymore and a mer's instincts said that the surface was dangerous. But Sam trusted Dean completely so when Dean slowly swum upwards he didn't struggle, he just clung to Dean, fighting the panic. They broke the surface and Sam looked around with wide eyes, clinging to Dean as Dean got them out of the water. Then Sam started gasping for air, hands going to his throat, reminding Dean of his last meal. Sam stared at Dean with wide, confused eyes as he saw Dean's legs. Dean just pulled him into his arms, cradling him as Sam's tail slapped against the stone floor.

"It's okay Sammy, not too much longer, just relax and let it happen." He whispered and Sam reached up to cling to him, whimpering as his gills began to disappear into his skin, his body changing from mer back to human. When it was over Sam lay limp in Dean's arms, exhausted and confused.
"See, you're alright." Dean soothed and Sam nodded. Dean helped him sit up and Sam looked around curiously.
"This is our place Sam. Do you like it?" He asked and Sam nodded shyly. Dean wrapped an arm around his waist and helped him up, smiling at Sam's jelly legs. Dean walked him around the cave a few times before Sam got the hang of walking and he let him go. Sam looked at him nervously and Dean smiled.
"It's okay Sam. You hungry?" He asked and Sam thought it over.

"Yes." He answered and then blinked at how different he sounded out of the water.

"Okay, let's get you some food." Dean went over to where he'd stored some things and then sat on the bed, petting the spot beside him. Sam walked over and climbed up beside him, taking food when Dean offered it. Sam ate it without complaint and then yawned so Dean got them comfortable on the bed. Sam looked at him and Dean smiled.
"It's okay; just go to sleep Sammy, just like in the water." Dean explained.

"Okay." Sam answered and settled down; snuggling into Dean as Dean gently stroked his back. Dean waited until he was sure Sam was sleep before letting himself drift off.

TBC….