AN

My apologies people I went away to an evil place were there was no internet. or rather there was but…anyway. Yes. Here is the next chapter in the gripping…

Mmm. Well it the next chapter anyway. And it might be a bit rushed cause I was eager to get to the exciting bit. So sorry if it is

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There was the smallest frown on Dean's face as they pulled up the long drive. Sam glanced over at him and then at the drive unsure as to what it was about this seemingly normal road that had Dean glaring at it as though it had burst into flames just to spite him.

The frown was getting deeper and there was a slight crease around the eyes. Both the only clues that Sam ever got that Dean was really worried about something.

"What is it"

Dean shook his head leaning onto the dash in front, squinting through the looming darkness "No lights"

Sam blinked "What?"

Dean glanced in his direction briefly "There are no lights on. Anywhere. They're always on"

Sam shook his head "Maybe they finally got the electricity bill" he broke off at his brothers filthy look. "Dean I'm sure there's some reasonable explanation"

Dean shot him a look "When has it ever been that simple"

Sam nodded in silent acknowledgement. "We still drive all the way up?"

Dean nodded.

The house that appeared from behind the firs was old and slightly overly rustic. Sam raised an eyebrow at that, unsure if this Holly had just done well for herself or if Dean had actually had more than a little bit of success at his less than lawful lifestyle.

As Dean had mentioned there were no lights, not the one turning into the driveway to this and three other houses, not the lamp on the way up.

And not the house.

Dean was already out of the car and up the steps that led to the front door. There was an aura of urgency to him, one that would have stunned Sam in its intensity had he not seen the way Dean had reacted to the news of their fathers capture all those months ago.

Sam got out of the car hesitantly. If it was something supernatural then they were sitting ducks. If it wasn't…meeting his nephew for the first time by aiming a kick at his head wasn't the best way to go about it

Meeting your nephew at the age of eleven isn't exactly the best way to go about it a voice snipped in his head.

Sam held back the rebuke as Dean fiddled with the lock. After listening to Dean earlier ranting on about setting a good example, he had to assume that there was a good and valid reason to all of this.

Dean disappeared into the darkness inside and Sam leant against the porch railings as the dusk set in. It was a beautiful scene he thought with a hint of jealously. How was it that this was what he had always had in mind for a family home and Dean was the one who got it.

The thought immediately disappeared when Dean appeared five minutes later a dark look on his face. And missing the two occupants that they had driven all this way to find.

Sam opened his moth to offer something, some lame words that conveyed the idea that there was some hope. Because the minute Dean had appeared his heart had just sunk and galloped in horror. If this was what he was feeling he couldn't even begin to imagine what Dean thought.

But Dean had whipped out his phone…

Sam blinked in confusion, probably his mind latching onto the welcome distraction to the chaos he was sorting through now. But when the hell had Dean picked up a phone. It wasn't Sam's…he glanced quickly at the back seat where he'd tossed it that morning. Nope it definitely wasn't his phone.

Suddenly his mouth tightened as he realised exactly what Dean had done with that pound when they'd stopped for a drink at the gas station.

Little…

"What?" Dean's shocked voice cut through his irritation at his brother. There was a naked look on his face, it was the best way to describe it. Dean would never of showed this much shocked horror willingly.

Sam moved closer as if the speaker could broadcast the words to him as well

"When, how what….god. How's James coping?" the stunned sound was still lingering.

Then Dean stiffened and a guilty look came into his face "I'm…I know but…" then the classic I'm getting pissed off Dean Winchester face made an appearance, relieving Sam to no end. Even more so when Dean rolled his eyes and held the phone away from his ear. Sam shot him a questioning look and Dean simply mouthed "Map"

Sam reached in through the rolled down windows and held it questioningly at Dean, who pointed to the hood of the car and made a "flat" sign with his hands. Sam rolled it open and glanced at Dean who had put the phone back to his ear

"I'm in town…yes I realise that…do you think me staying away will make it bet…would you put Matt on the phone Patricia"

Dean pursed his lips and glanced at Sam who was waiting patiently for his next instructions

"Dude pull my finger" he whispered, clearly, Sam hoped, between talking to his son's grandparents

Sam glared at him but held the map open all the same.

"Matt" there was a hint of relief in Dean's voice and a flicker of sorrow "I'm so sorry…yeah. Listen I…something's happened. In my department…uh huh…Matt I need to come over tonight"

Sam tapped his fingers desperate to hear what was being said

A look of pain washed Dean's face and Sam frowned. Sure Dean had been away for a long time but with good reason…

Dean suddenly shot out a hand and grabbed the car as though for balance, his head tipped down so that Sam couldn't see his face

Sam looked at the house wondering what the hell was being said to drive Dean to this state.

"Matt I…" Dean managed to croak out before the phone dropped from his fingers

"Dean" Sam shouted coming round the car to the form that was doubled over. "Dean what"

Dean began to make a hacking noise as though he had a bad cough. Sam had a second warning to back off before Dean leant over and puked.

And in the twig light Sam could make out a trickle of red down Dean's chin.

Dimly in the shadow under the car, mercifully missed by Dean a faint voice could be heard shouting Dean's name.

Sam glanced down and helped Dean manoeuvre into a position where he was leaning against the car and gasping deep breaths of air. Terrified concern in his eyes Sam hesitantly reached down and picked up the phone

"Hello?"

"Who is this" a voice that rang absolutely no bells in Sam's head demanded

"Sam"

There was a silence "Little Sammy"

Sam gritted his teeth amazed that the nickname could still irritate him when it came from a non family member. He held Dean's shoulder to keep him from slipping down the side of the car. Dean who just blinked disorientated at him "Yeah"

"Where's Dean?"

"He's" Sam hesitated unsure of exactly what to say "He's sick."

"Then phone an ambulance. I'll meet you later at the hospital"

"I can't" Sam whispered

"What"

It occurred to Sam dimly that he was spilling more of his problems to a stranger than phoning his own father. "Dean and I, we have no ID that we can use…" he trailed off as Dean looked at him with some clarity "Wait a second hold on"

"What?" he mouthed gently to Dean

"Tell him we'll be there within half an hour" Dean grounded out

Sam put a hand over the speaker "Dean your dead on your feet"

Dean cracked a horrific laugh at that "Sam I need to…we need to…crap" he gritted banging his head backwards and resting for a few seconds. "We need to teach them basic protections"

"Dean"

"Holly died in a car crash a week after ours" Dean hissed "Get the directions, get that map and drive us there"

Sam glanced between the phone and Dean. "Dean we have no idea what's happening with you perhaps"

"Sam" Dean yelled "What you gonna do explain the whole thing, expect a normal" Dean broke off and attempted to rise "Sam please" he whispered

"Sam don't"

Sam flinched visibly remembering the last and only time his brother had ever begged him. To save their fathers life.

Blowing out a shakey breath sam turned back to the man in the phone

"We have to teach you how to protect James. What's your address?"

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Sam glanced at Dean in the car. "Is it your chest?" he whispered

Dean looked at him then shook his head, blowing out quietly a few calming breaths.

Sam turned up the next road "Maybe we should call Dad"

Dean glared at him "You do it. I done enough explaining today"

Sam shook his head in half hearted amusement, then turned serious "You feeling better?"

Dean nodded "It's fading" he said in a tone that invited no further queries.

"Dean…man we have to face this sooner or later"

Dean refused to look in his direction

"Dean you should be"

"Dead?" Dean said in a no nonsense tone "Yeah I'm kinda aware of that Sammy"

"No. Dean you should be careful. We have no idea what happened or why it happened. You have to take it slow. For all we know…" Sam trailed off not wanting to voice his thoughts

Dean glanced at him impatiently "Could be what?"

"Temporary" Sam said in a small voice hating himself.

There was a long silence "Looks that way at the moment doesn't it?"

Sam nearly drove them into the woods with shock

"Dude are you positive a demon caused the crash" Dean quipped

"Dean…you can't just blurt that out in the blue" Sam nearly shouted "its only one of many theories, I just wanted to make sure"

Dean shook his head "I just…I wanted to…Dude don't you make me say it"

Sam frowned at the road as he made another turn. Then his eyes widened and he pulled over

"Sam we said we'd be there"

"Screw that Dean" Sam snapped "You thought that the moment I told you didn't you?"

Dean rolled his eyes "It occurred"

"What that this was a temporary reprieve to set right all your unfinished business. Tell me about James so I become his protector, don't bother about Dad cause you think he's come to terms with it. Tell these two pensioners how to protect their grandson. What was the grand plan for me Dean. Huh?"

"Sammy"

"Don't Sammy me Dean. Is that the reason that you won't take the whole trying to stay healthy thing seriously?"

Dean shook his head "Sam I'm either dying or I'm not. Eating tuna ain't gonna change that"

"Dean"

"Sam I'm not talking about this with you. I" Dean broke off pulling his hands to his stomach and bending over

"Dean" Sam reached one hand over to grab his brothers shoulder, to offer some form of protection or comfort while glancing around for the phone

"Dean you need a doctor" he said in a tone that brooked no arguments

"Dude I have no valid ID. What you gonna tell them huh?"

"I'll think of something" Sam said flipping open the phone

"Let me see my boy" Dean said calmly but still in that awful position

Sam hesitated and glanced at him

"For Gods sake Sam…look his gran was a nurse briefly. If she recognises any of this stuff. I'll go"

Sam looked ahead, avoiding the look. People want to know where he got the puppy dog look from, look no further. Though Dean's was a paler contrast it could still do the job when needs must

"You swear?"

"Every damn day"

Sam glared at him

"Fine. Yes I promise. You?"

"Yes Dean" Sam said in a slightly worn out voice and pulled the car back into the road again. "What hurts now?" he asked

There was a slight hesitation "My hands"

Sam was taken aback slightly "Your hands…What the hell kind of symptom is that?"

Dean opened his mouth to reply then the look changed. Sam followed his gaze to the stream of light that flooded the darkness. It was coming out of one of the houses.

"Is this?" he asked

Dean nodded and Sam switched off the engine and glanced at the silhouette that stood by the door.

The moment of truth

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Dun Dun Dun

Think that I can drag it out any longer or should I have pity on you all? In fairness I do keep intending on having the Dean James reunion much earlier. I even had one version where he was in it by the third chapter.

Thank you to all those who have reviewed and keep em coming. I'm a junkie. Seriously even if its to criticize (constructively)

RavynJensen - oh the questions. I've missed those! And I'm dragging it out so I get more. Yay!

Tangled Pencils – yeah it does flow better now thank you. I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Hope this meets your approval!

And thankyou to becomingwhaturmeantobe, purehalo, toyatezuka and powrRangrFreeek for reviewing