It's a Terrible Life

Chapter 6

The one thing guaranteed to push Dean over the edge was the sight of his brother curled on the floor and moaning in pain. He crossed the space between them and dropped down to his knees, pulling Sam into his arms and mumbling meaningless reassurances. Sam's whole body was shaking as if he was in the grip of a seizure.

"This is all your fault," Ruby said. Her mouth was twisted into a sneer.

Dean gave her a murderous glare. "What did you say to him, bitch?" he asked. "What caused this?"

"You're trying to blame me? I was here to look after him. Where were you?"

"None of your damn business."

"When are you going to accept that I'm the only one who can help you stop Lilith? All your angel friends ever do is mess with your head." Ruby walked closer. "You're holding Sam back, just like always."

"Leave him alone you skank," Dean yelled. Then he heard Sam gasp and tightened his grip. "It's alright, Sam. I'm here."

That was when Sam began to scream, the sound filling the room.

Dean looked past Ruby to where Castiel was standing by the doorway. "Help him, Cass," he begged.

There was only the slightest hesitation before Castiel walked closer. Ruby backed hurriedly away. The angel bent down and rested his right hand on Sam's forehead.

Sam's screams faded to whimpers while Dean held his breath. When Castiel stood up, Dean was concerned to see a slight frown on the normally impassive face. "What?" Dean asked.

"The wall is crumbling."

"That's good...isn't it?"

"No. His two sets of memories are colliding. Sam cannot separate the truth from the lies planted in his mind by Zachariah. The human brain was never meant to suffer such intense trauma."

"There must be something you can do."

"I am sorry, Dean. Zachariah is the only one who can help your brother. I have made it less painful for Sam, but eventually the strain on his body will become too much to bear."

"He's not going to die," Dean said. "I won't let him."

"How touching," Zachariah said, appearing beside Castiel. "I warned you what would happen if you continued to defy me."

Dean ground his teeth together, tempted to let fly with a tirade of colorful insults. Instead, he looked Zachariah fearlessly in the eye and begged. "Please. I'm the one who pissed you off. Sam doesn't deserve to suffer because of me."

"Hold that thought," Zachariah told him, a self-satisfied smirk blanketing his face. "I have a few things to attend to first and, I must admit, I am savouring the moment."

"Bastard," Dean said savagely.

Zachariah turned round and took a couple of steps toward Ruby. Her usual arrogance had been replaced by the wariness of a cornered alley cat.

"I find your presence here to be offensive," Zachariah said. "You are an abomination who should not be walking the earth. If I could spare the time it would give me great pleasure to rip out your twisted black soul. As it is, I have more important things to do so be a good little witch and scuttle back to your master."

"I don't have a master." Ruby's voice shook and she edged closer to the door. "But, I'll go. I can't stand the stink of all that sycophantic holiness." She didn't turn her back on the angel until she had walked out of the room.

Zachariah's next target was Castiel. "You have some explaining to do, Castiel. I specifically instructed you not to help the Winchesters."

Dean was torn between concern for his brother and unease about what Zachariah might do to Castiel. To his relief, Sam's breathing had evened out and he no longer seemed to be feeling any pain. If he didn't know better, he would think that Sam had just fallen asleep. Without releasing his hold on Sam, he settled more comfortably on the floor and turned his attention to the two angels.

Zachariah was right in Castiel's face. Not that Cass was showing any reaction. He just stood as still as a statue.

"You disobeyed a direct order," Zachariah said. "I think it's time you came home for a refresher course on respecting your elders and betters."

"My orders to protect the Winchesters come from a higher authority than you," Cass said.

Dean watched with a great deal of satisfaction as a mottled flush spread up Zachariah's neck and into his face.

"We will continue this discussion later," Zachariah said. "You will learn your place, Castiel."

Castiel's steady gaze wavered and he turned away from Zachariah's blazing anger.

Dean's own anger surged. "You don't have to let him talk to you like that."

"This is not your concern, Dean," Castiel said. "Tend to your brother."

One minute Sam was still and peaceful. In the space of a heartbeat, that all changed. Sam's breath caught, his eyes flew open and his back arched as his muscles went into a violent spasm. His chest heaved with the effort of breathing, his face a mask of helpless fear.

"No!" Dean yelled. "Help him you son of a bitch."

"You really need to learn some self-control," Zachariah said, making no move to undo the damage he had done to Sam.

"I swear I will find a way to kill you, you sadistic bastard," Dean said.

"You aren't exactly motivating me to do you any favours," Zachariah replied.

Sam's breath was coming in short, shallow bursts. "Dean?" he whispered, "What...?" His eyelids slid shut and he fell still.

"Sam, wake up. Sam!" Dean pressed a hand to the side of Sam's neck, feeling for a pulse. When he looked up, tears were threatening to spill from his eyes. "He's dead."

Tbc

Caroline

June, 2011