Four Months
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: See chapter 1

As Caleb made his way to his room he continued running everything that had occurred over the last few days through his exhausted mind. The psychic couldn't recall what had happened when he collapsed at Mac's that night; however, Caleb was holding something back. He hadn't told his father for fear of worrying the older man further, but Caleb had no recollection of Wednesday at all. He remembered his father calling him Tuesday night, asking if Caleb could pick him up at the airport the next day, but as for the twenty-four hours prior to his collapse-nothing. Waking in the Emergency Room unable to breathe, feeling scared, trapped and alone were the first memories he could recall. Later when Mac had asked him if it was a vision and Caleb had concentrated, everything that came into his mind was vague, there was nothing he could focus on, but deep down in his soul, the flashing images and intense feelings that came with it scared the hell out of him. It was an uneasy feeling he had been silently carrying every since.

Then with Dean's sudden appearance yesterday things just got that much more confusing. Thinking back, Caleb had known ever since the day that the quiet, withdrawn five-year old had first whispered into his ear all those years ago, making him the first person the traumatized child had talked to other than his baby brother, since his mother had died, that he had a special and unique connection to Dean Winchester. Over the years that 'intuition' had proven vital on a number of occasions, but when that connection was so savagely ripped from his subconscious as the Hellhounds tore Dean's body apart, Caleb had felt a part of him die as well. Upon reading Dean yesterday afternoon, Caleb was able feel the essence of his friend, but something was different, it wasn't something that he could put his finger on. He knew Dean was 'Dean', but it felt different somehow.

After learning from Bobby when Dean had returned, bits and pieces of the vision were starting to make sense. Though the whole 'heart-stopping' episode didn't seem to fit nor did the seizure, but the flashes of fear, panic and darkness did. Caleb's connection had been reestablished and if Dean had to get himself out of his grave, as Caleb assumed because no one was aware of his return until he showed up at Bobby's, then that could explain those feelings. Realizing you're buried alive and having to force your way out would freak anyone.

Caleb laid back on his bed letting his thoughts go back to the stranger that had been in the house that morning, if Dean and Bobby were right, they were now not only having to contend with Demons, but Angels as well. However, it was the threat toward Sam that Caleb was having a hard time with, he had known the youngest Winchester nearly his whole life and had watched as the lovable toddler, turned into the brooding teen who fought with John every chance he got. Then, as much as Sam had fought against it, he had grown into a very efficient hunter and much to John's resistance Sam began to show psychic abilities at a younger age than even Caleb, who's didn't manifest until he was a pre-teen. Sam had shown a tendency toward Vision's, much like Caleb's abilities, but he also had a few episodes of telekinesis, much like what Mac could do. But what was starting to worry Caleb more than even the threat to Sam from an Angel was his inability to read the younger man.

Since they had started working together during the year prior to Dean's deal coming due, they had become very close and had both been able to read one another's thoughts with little resistance, but after Dean's death and Caleb getting called out on a hunt a week later, Caleb had lost that connection he had with the younger man and now it was like Sam was putting a great deal of energy in to blocking Caleb and that worried the older psychic. If he was to figure out the meaning behind the Angel's threat, then he needed to figure out what Sam was trying to keep from him, and knowing Sam it wouldn't be easy.

At breakfast Caleb noticed the tension between Sam and Dean, clearly the emotions of the morning hadn't been resolved. Dean sat next to Caleb with Sam across from his brother, Mac was in the spot at the head of the table, where Jim had sit when he was still with them and Bobby was next to Sam. Considering everything that needed to be discussed and figured out the table was quiet. Caleb volunteered to clean up after breakfast, still trying to convince his father he was all right, he wasn't nearly as tired as he had been, but still wasn't up to speed just yet. The others converged on the library with Mac and Sam going between there and the Hunters Tomb, where past generations of hunters journals were kept.

Coming into the room a short time later Caleb sought out his father, "Dad?" Mac had just taken one of the journals he and Sam were looking through from the younger Winchester when he heard his son's voice, "Can I talk to you a minute?"

Mac handed the journal back to Sam as Dean spoke up, "You okay, Damien?"

Caleb grinned, 'Maybe I should ask you that Deuce, you look a bit run down yourself."

"Bite me." Dean smirked as Mac walked toward his son.

"You okay Son?" Mac noticed how cautious Caleb seemed to be acting.

"Yeah, I just wanted to talk a minute." Caleb motioned out of the room, Mac followed his son outside.

The temperature outside was comfortable for mid-September, the breeze gave a hint of the chill to come, but the sun shine helped to warm the day. Mac watched Caleb closely, the younger man's emotions had been all over the place since his collapse Wednesday and that just added to the worry that Mac had been feeling.

Caleb sat down on the picnic table that was a few yards off the porch, Mac followed suit, sitting next to his son. The younger psychic needed to talk to someone about what the stranger had said, but he didn't feel comfortable discussing it with Dean just yet, at least not until he understood the threat. They sat silently for a few minutes, the Doctor knowing his son was trying to figure out how to start what was obviously a difficult conversation and whatever it was that was troubling the younger man was making it hard for Mac to get a read on him. Unable to take the silence Mac spoke, "Caleb?"

Caleb blew out a deep breath before speaking, "My father, he was about 30 when he kil…when he died and my great-grandfather was about 35, right?" Caleb glanced at Mac, who wasn't sure where this talk was going, even though it was tightening a knot in his stomach.

Nodding Mac answered, "Yes, according to the journals and what we know of Isaac Reaves."

"So, I've already lived longer than the rest of the men in my family." It really wasn't a question; it seemed as if Caleb was thinking out loud.

Mac watched his son, the train of thought that the younger man was on worried the Doctor. He knew Caleb had always been plagued with guilt when loved ones died and Mac had worried about Caleb after Dean's death, but the young hunter had never really specifically brought up his father or great-grandfather. "Son, is something wrong? What brought this up?"

Silence fell for a moment as Caleb collected his thoughts, "That guy or Angel or whatever the hell he was, he knew who I was, knew my name and he said he knew what I was and that dealing with me was a 'unique' experience for him." Caleb, again, glanced sideways at Mac.

"Caleb, you are just as human as I am, no matter what your family history entails." Mac couldn't understand how after all the years of Jim, John and himself trying to get Caleb to understand that there was nothing different about him and that he was just as good as anyone else, how the younger man could still be questioning his 'humanity'.

Caleb nodded his head, "I know Dad, it's something I have finally come to terms with. I know I can't let what happened over a hundred years ago dictate what I do now. But what puzzled me is what he said about it, he said that the taint on my family ends with me, that I have successfully fought what destiny had planned for me. He said the abilities I have, at their root, are mine, but with the Demon blood it made them more powerful than they would have been." Caleb finally turned and looked at Mac, "Castiel?" Caleb looked at his father to make sure he had the strangers name right, once Mac acknowledged he was correct, Caleb continued. "He said it was important that I remember that, because I would be responsible for protecting Dean. He said Dean was brought back for the battle ahead, whatever that means."

Mac watched his son; it was as if he could see Caleb trying to process everything that was going on. "Caleb, you have always protected Dean, its second nature to you, what would make this any different?"

Caleb watched as a squirrel race across the yard as he spoke again, "That's what I told him, then he asked me if I'd protect Dean from…" Mac noticed Caleb started to struggle with what he was trying to say, as if speaking it was going to make it true.

Laying his hand on his son's shoulder Mac asked, "If you'd protect Dean from what?"

The emotion that rolled off his son nearly took Mac's breath, what could possibly be causing this much turmoil in the younger man next to him. But the words that came from Caleb's mouth left Mac speechless, "From Sam." Caleb felt tears filling his eyes as his emotions were taking full advantage of his weakened state, then he looked at the shocked expression on Mac's face as he cleared his throat. "Maybe the rumors you've been picking up over the last few months about Sam have some merit. If this guy or Angel or whatever is to be believed he said Sam is heading down a dangerous path that if we are unable to stop him, if Dean is unable to stop him, this Castiel said he has orders to deal with him and I don't even want to know what he meant by that." Caleb looked down as he finished talking; grabbing a stick near his feet, he unconsciously started drawing protection symbols in the dirt.

Once Mac finally found his voice he asked, "Did he say who gave him the orders to deal with Sam?" Mac was becoming more and more worried about the stranger that Dean and Bobby supposedly summoned, who had greeted his son this morning in the kitchen and had, for a third time in three days, rendering the younger man unconscious.

Caleb's golden gaze looked into Mac's gray eyes as the older man saw a flash of fear in them, "He said it was God." Silence settled over the yard as the birds could be heard in the nearby woods. Both men on the picnic table trying to figure out what was happening and what it meant. Neither man realizing Dean had been watching from the enclosed porch, overhearing their conversation.