Chapter 7

The road to the Ranger Station ended directly in front of the building. Dean didn't wish to advertise his arrival, and turned off his headlights. Darkness enveloped the Chevy and he smiled. Maybe these cool powers weren't so bad. His new vision made the road clearly visible.

The building was a few yards ahead; Dean pulled off the road and cut the engine. Grabbing the two shotguns from the passenger seat he slowly opened the door to keep it from screeching. After tonight, he really needed to think about fixing it Once the door was open, he stepped out and slowly closed it. Dean made sure the guns in the holster were secure, and then checked the shotguns.

This gave him time to recall the layout of the station. He'd only seen the two rooms in front used by the public, but knew there was a residential part of the building. Deciding going in the back might be his best bet he headed around the building, slinging the strap of the smaller shotgun over his shoulder. Dean kept the large pump action shotgun in his hands. Reaching the backdoor without incident was the easy part. The door was unlocked. This instantly made him suspicious.

The door opened into a small kitchenette. Directly across from the door was a hallway. A small fridge and some cabinets took up the rest of the small room. He silently walked across the room towards the hallway. Dean concentrated to see if he could hear anything in the rest of the building. As he passed the fridge the compressor came on and Dean cursed, covering his ears. The noise was loud to his heightened hearing, drowning everything else out. When he finally got his hearing under control he cautiously stepped into the hall.

There were three doors along the corridor. He could hear strange noises emanating from the room furthest down, but was unable to identify the sounds. Checking the other doors he found open to be the bathroom and the other a closet. He continued down the hall, staying close to the wall. The door was closed on the last room, but light seeped out. Dean stopped outside the door and listened. Even this close he still couldn't discern the noise. He aimed the shotgun in front of him as he kicked open the door. The hunter stood in shock at the scene before him.

Two small cat like creatures were feeding on a body. The larger of the two looked up at Dean bearing its teeth. Dean reacted on instinct as the creature lunged.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean cursed as he pulled the trigger.

The demon dropped dead at his feet. The smaller one snarled at him from behind the body. Dean pumped the shotgun ejecting the spent shell and chambering another round. He fired just as the other one leaped towards him. The consecrated rounds did the trick and both demons were dead. As Dean looked at them he realized Sam's fears had been right. He remembered reading something that Sam had found. That under the right conditions and with a good food supply the Rakshasa could breed.

Dean didn't bother with the body, as it was too short to be Sam. If the adults were near they would have heard the noise from the shotgun. Dean had to find Sam fast. If he had better control of his powers when the hunt first started he would have seen the demons that first night. None of this would be necessary if he had clearly seen the two rangers that first night when they were attacked. If he only had better control of his powers then he would have seen them clearly. He returned to the hallway and quickly continued to the room at the end. It was a small living room. There was a couch and two end tables but now demons. Across the room was another door. Before Dean had a chance to move he heard something coming down the hall. He turned, leveled his gun and fired as the Rakshasa lunged. The demon was still in the form of the male ranger but he quickly changed into a half man half cat. The first shot slowing it not at all. Dean emptied the shotgun, backing up as it kept coming. Dropping that gun he pulled his Colt 1911 from the holster and continued firing.

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Sam was dozing when he heard a reverberating sound. It was hard to tell what it was since everything was muffled in the basement. Things were quiet for a few minutes then the sound repeated. This time was closer and Sam swore it sound like gunfire. The same sound repeated in rapid succession, Dean had arrived. If his brother was facing both demons he didn't stand a chance. He just hoped the female was still out looking. It frustrated him that he was locked in this cage and couldn't help his brother. Suddenly, the sound stopped and Sam turned towards the stairs. When no one came down he feared the worst. The next few seconds felt like an eternity until he heard the door at the top of the stairs open.

"Sam!"

"Dean!"

Sam sighed in relief as his brother came down the stairs. He could see Dean's tumble down the ravine hadn't left him unscathed. His big brother's face was scratched and he was limping on his right leg. The leg the Lycanthrope broke a little over a month ago. Sam could also se he was favoring his right side. Either he had some broken ribs or they were badly bruised.

"You don't know how good it is to see you, man." Sam sighed.

"Ditto, little brother." Dean placed the large shotgun at his feet and knelt to try the lock.

"Give me your kit," Sam demanded. "You now I'm better at picking locks."

"Back off Sasquach." Dean smiled, holding up the keys.

Sam returned the smile. At least he knew the male demon was dead. There were quite a few keys on the ring and the first few Dean tried didn't fit the lock. Sam was about to berate his brother when he looked up to see the female demon standing behind Dean.

"Dean!'

The warning came too late as she slashed her claws across his brother's back. Dean screamed and dropped the keys. The demon grabbed his collar and threw him across the room.

Sam searched frantically for the keys when he heard his brother scream again. He looked up to see the demon biting Dean's shoulder. Sam looked away as his brother fired the gun in his hand. The demon roared and backed off, but not for long. Sam had to get out of this cage to help his brother. He finally spotted the keys. Reaching his arm through the bars he was barely able to touch the keys. Jamming himself against the bars and pushing his shoulder through gave him a couple of millimeters. It was enough for his finger to hook the key chain. Sam pulled them towards him and once they were secured he sat up and fumbled to open the lock. On the second try he found the right key. There was a crash from across the room and Sam watched in horror as his brother slid down the wall to land in a boneless heap. The demon advanced towards Dean as Sam exited the cage and grabbed the shotgun. He fired repeatedly until the gun was empty. The demon lay dead, inches from his brother. Sam hadn't seen the demon in this form before. Its upper body was that of a cat, mostly tiger in appearance. The lower half was still dressed in human pants and shoes.

"Oh God, Dean?"

Sam quickly moved to his bloody brother. When the Rakshasa had thrown Dean into the wall he'd hit his head and blood covered his face from a cut above his right eye. That was the least of the damage. Sam carefully turned his brother over to check his back. The coat and shirt were in tatters revealing long, deep claw marks from Dean's shoulder to his hip. Wasting no time Sam grabbed the guns Dean had dropped, then slung his brother over his shoulder. Moving quickly he went up the steps. The station was dark and Sam tripped over something in the living room. The second demon was crumbled on the floor dead. Sam moved around it heading for the door. He remembered there was only one road leading to the Ranger Station and he hoped he could find the car. They were just lucky the station was so remote.

Sam knew he needed to burn the place. He found the car and laid his brother down in the passenger seat. Racing to the trunk he pulled out a gas can and went back to the station. He entered and poured gas around the room. Moving back to the door he lit a match, throwing it into the room. A familiar whoosh sent flames heaping up. Sam pulled the door closed and ran back to the car. He replaced the gas can and grabbed the first aid kit. Blood soaked his brother's back as Sam slid into the driver's seat, pulling his brother's head into his lap. Sam ripped open several compresses and applied pressure with his right hand. With his left he started the car and pulled out. He took his right hand away and dialed his phone. Wedging it between his shoulder and is ear he again applied pressure to the wounds on his brothers back.

"Where the hell have you been?" Caleb growled. "I've been waiting here at the hotel worried."

"Caleb, just shut up and listen!" Sam demanded. "Dean's bad. The demons did a number on him."

"Where the hell are you?"

"Heading back into town," Sam answered. "I'm taking him to the nearest hospital."

"Shit!" Caleb cursed.

"God, Caleb I don't have a choice," the younger Winchester said. "He's really bad. I just don't know what to say to cover this one up."

"What's wrong?"

"They transformed into sorta cats," Sam replied. "They slashed his back really bad."

"What the hell is with your brother and cats?"

"I'll say it was a bear," Sam said, absently.

"Lame, but what choice do we have," Caleb agreed. "Do you know where the hospital is?"

"Yeah," Sam said. "I make it point to learn where they are in each town. It's Highlands General, not too far from the hotel."

"I'll meet you there."

Sam hung up the phone and concentrated on driving. The roads inside the park were winding. He yearned to go faster but couldn't risk wrecking. As he paced he entrance Sam stepped on the gas heading for the hospital

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Caleb hobbled into the emergency room and stopped inside the door to search for Sam. The youngest Winchester was nowhere to be found. Reaves moved to the reception desk.

"I'm looking for Sam Reaves." They decided to use his last name on this trip. Dean was technically dead, they couldn't use Winchester.

The nurse typed into the computer. "His in trauma room two, but you can't go back there"

"I need to see him," Caleb insisted.

"I'm sorry, sir."

As they were talking a police officer walked up to the desk. "Carly when a Mr. Reaves comes can you let me know?"

"I'm Reaves," Caleb answered.

"Officer Parker," he said, holding out his hand. "I'll take you back to see your nephew."

The psychic followed the officer, but it was just a formality. He knew exactly where Sam was. He could also feel he was worried. They stepped into the room to find Sam lying on a gurney getting stitches.

"Sam?"

"Caleb!"

"Is this your uncle?" A red haired officer asked.

"Yes, Sir," Sam answered.

Caleb held out his hand and the officer shook it. "Caleb. I was worried about them, but didn't think they'd run into a bear."

"Riley. It's rare but it does happen," he said, turning back to Sam. "Are you sure you gave us the right area where you were attacked?"

"Yes." The youngest Winchester nodded. "It's close anyway. We started running. Guess that wasn't the smartest thing to do."

"There's no way to tell with them," Riley hypothesized. "I'll inform the Fish and Wildlife and they'll go looking for the bear."

"Thanks," Caleb said.

Caleb waited for the officers to leave, then turned to the doctor. "How is he?"

"Slight concussion and a few stitches," he answered. "I'm almost done here, then he can go."

"What about my brother?"

"I haven't heard anything," the doctor admitted. "Okay, that's the last."

Caleb helped Sam sit up. "Anything I should watch out for besides the obvious?"

"You've dealt with concussions before?" The doctor asked as he stripped off his gloves.

"We're all adrenaline junkies." Caleb smiled.

"That explains the broken leg." He laughed, gesturing to Caleb's cast. "Sam's concussion isn't that severe so just make sure he takes it easy."

"Thanks, Doc." Sam said, standing carefully.

Caleb followed Sam out to the waiting area. The youngest Winchester didn't go too far from the doors before he took a seat.

"What happened?" Caleb whispered.

"They caught me," Sam admitted. "It was the rangers. They put me in a cage in the basement of the station. There was another guy there too, but I think they killed him."

"And Dean?"

"When they were chasing us through the woods they knocked him down a ravine," Sam explained. "Then they knocked me out and I woke up in the cage. I was there for a few hours when Dean showed up. When I was carrying him to the car I found the other demon dead upstairs. Got Dean to the car, then I went back and torched the place."

"Good," Caleb said. "So they're taken care of. Now we just have to wait for word on your brother."

They were sitting in silence for a few minutes when a doctor walked out the door. He walked straight to Sam.

"Sam Reaves?"

"Yes, sir." Sam answered, standing. "How's my brother?"

"I'm doctor Nichols," he said. "Why don't we take a seat?"

"This isn't going to be good," Reaves said.

"This is my Uncle Caleb," Sam said, introducing him.

"There's no easy way to say this," Dr. Nichols said. "Your brother is in a coma."

"What?" Sam exclaimed.

"Besides the lacerations on his back, and the bite to his shoulder, your brother has several broken ribs," Dr. Nichols said. "He also sustained two blows to the head. One at the base of his skull, the other to his left temple."

"Is that why he's in a coma?" Caleb asked.

"How do you even know he's in one?" Sam interrupted. "Couldn't he just be unconscious?"

"Dean isn't responding to severe stimuli," Dr. Nichols explained. "I've poked him with a needle along several areas of his body and there is no response."

"What can we do?" Sam asked.

"Sometimes the symptoms last only a few hours to a couple of days," he said.

Caleb knew the doctor was thinking this wouldn't be Dean' case. "But you don't think so?'

"I'll be honest, Dean's in pretty bad shape," he said. "All we can do is give him rest and quiet."

"Can we see him?"

"Of course," Dr. Nichols said. "I'll take you to him."

Dr. Nichols took them up to the third floor where the beds were in an open area with a nurse's station in the middle. Caleb's stomach rolled as he picked up thoughts from some of the people in the area. This was the neurological wing and the thoughts where disturbing. The young man sitting next to a pretty girl kept thinking, "I can't believe she's a vegetable." Caleb shut them out as the doctor led them to Dean. The older Winchester brother was propped on his side to easy the lashes on his back. Caleb was just glad to see Dean wasn't hooked to a respirator.

"Your brother's lucky," Dr. Nichols said. "His vitals are stable and he's breathing on his own."

"Yeah, lucky." Sam laughed bitterly.

"I'll leave you with him."

They both waited until the doctor was gone before they touched Dean. Caleb was met by complete blankness as he reached for Dean. He knew Sam was getting the same thing.

"I'll call Mac."

Sam watched as Caleb walked away. He sat next to his brother, taking his hand. This was unbearable. Dean was a complete blank. The feeling was unnerving. He never realized just how much he felt from his brother. It felt like he was missing a limb, he didn't like the feeling. He just hoped Mac could help.