Disclaimer: Not mine.
Mum has till mid January off so probably no updates on anything till after then.
Chapter 11
Caleb was sprawled out in the back seat of the car as they headed east. "So, what is the plan with Sam doing a Mummy impression?"
Dean chuckled and Sam huffed, faking annoyance but in reality he was fighting a smile. "Figured we could use some down time, maybe go see the sights." Dean offered and Sam turned to stare at him, something was up, had been since Rivergrove, before that even.
"Sights? What sights?" Caleb perked a bit.
"Whatever we want. Grand Canyon, countries biggest ball of twine?" Dean offered and Sam frowned, Dean was up to something, keeping secrets.
"Biggest ball of twine?" Caleb looked at the back of Sam's head. "Is that even real?"
"Yeah." Sam answered distractedly.
"Humans are strange." Caleb stated relaxing again, putting his feet up on the window. Sam smiled at him and then drifted back into his thoughts, he'd have to try and figure out what was upsetting Dean. Caleb sat up after a while. "I want to go to an aquarium!"
"Okay seeing fish it is." Dean answered. "Anyone know where the nearest one is?"
Caleb rattled off an address, driving directions, and time it would take to get there are current speed. When he felt both brothers staring at him he looked over confused. "What?"
"How'd you do that?" Dean asked in wonder.
"Computer in my head. I am synched up with satellites."
"Bet that's handy when you get lost." Dean told him with a grin as he followed the directions.
"I only get lost when something blocks me from them." Caleb replied. "So... I want to see Sharks!"
"Sharks huh? You like them?" Sam asked, joining the conversation.
"They remind me of Terminators."
"Really? How so?" Sam asked, turning to look at him.
"Well... the great whites are always moving, the apex predator. They have not changed in millions of years." Caleb explained. "Also, they are quite beautiful."
"So you've been to an aquarium before?" Dean asked as they reached the city.
"No... they do not exist in my time." Caleb replied as he sat up and looked around the city. "We do not have those either in my time." He pointed to the sky scrapers. And there went the cheerful mood as Sam stared at Caleb in concern. Caleb would never go back there! He would stay safe with them. Caleb pressed his hands and face to the window as he watched the city go by. "Are people not afraid they will fall?"
"No. There are safety rails in most high buildings and the glass is pretty tough. You want to go up, see the city from an aerial view?" Sam offered.
"Negative." Caleb replied. "I would end up thinking an FHK would bomb the place."
"What's an FHK?" Dean asked as he followed signs to their destination.
"Flying Hunter Killer." Caleb replied distractedly.
"Oh." Dean mumbled as he parked. "Good thing it's not school holidays." He commented as they got out of the car.
Caleb followed him out and looked at Sam. "You going to be okay on your feet? Want me to get a wheelchair?"
Sam looked down to where he was only wearing socks, unable to stand shoes yet. He sighed but nodded. Caleb nodded and got a wheelchair for him. "Need help?"
Sam shook his head and carefully moved into the chair, leaning back in it even as Dean grabbed Sam's backpack and stuck it in his lap. Sam rolled his eyes but dug into it and pulled out an apple, offering it to Caleb.
"Hungry?" Sam offered.
Caleb shook his head no and pushed him into the Aquarium, but he soon wandered off to look at all the different sea life. Dean took over pushing the chair both more interested in watching Caleb than the sea life. Sam felt so sad that Caleb had never gotten to experience things like this as a kid. Caleb stopped by the underground part of the Dolphin tank, his head cocked to the side as he studied the dolphin; the dolphin in turn was watching Caleb warily.
"Incredible aren't they?" Sam asked as Dean wheeled him over. Caleb nodded, resting his hand on the glass. The Dolphin turned upside down as it watched him then wandered away. Sam reached out and took Caleb's other hand, wanting him to stay closer. "There's a seal feeding show soon, do you want to watch?" Sam asked him.
Caleb looked at Sam and nodded a bit. "Sounds fun."
"One seal show coming up." Dean said, turning the chair. Sam grinned and yanked Caleb, pulling him into the chair too.
Caleb squawked and landed in Sam's lap. Looks at Sam confused. "What the hell?"
Sam just grinned and Dean laughed but pushed them faster. "Don't want a ride?" Sam asked. Caleb just stared at Sam and Dean like they were insane.
Caleb grunted as he was slammed into the wall by an unseen force. "What the hell was that?" They were in a house looking for a damn tooth to burn.
"Ghost!" Sam yelled as he dodged a flying knife. "Dean hurry up and find the damn thing!"
Caleb blinked and ducked another knife. "Seriously?"
"Yeah." Sam said as the ghost materialised in front of him. Sam shot and it vanished thanks to the salt.
"What the hell?" Caleb yelped, his computer wasn't processing this correctly, it couldn't.
"You okay?" Sam asked, glancing at him in concern.
"There is nothing there!" He couldn't 'see' the ghost.
"What do you mean?" Sam demanded even as he shot the girl's ghost again. "I just shot her!"
"You are shooting at air!" Caleb yelled. He growled and stalked around the room. Then he finally saw her, right before she reached into his head. He yelled in pain as his computer freaked out and shut down momentarily. He just fell to the floor shaking.
"Caleb!" Sam screamed in alarm and then he was at the kid's side, pulling him up, taking his weight even as the girl screamed and went up in flames. Sam wasn't sorry at all to see her go. He put his gun away and shifted his grip on the shaky body, lifting Caleb into his arms as he hurried from the room. Caleb stopped shaking after a moment, but he was out cold, some blood dripping from his nose.
"Sammy?" Dean called and Sam relaxed a little at Dean's call.
"Here. We need to go! The ghost did something to Caleb." Sam answered as he rushed outside and Dean ran for the Impala, starting her up while Sam got himself and Caleb into the backseat, still holding Caleb in his arms even as he gently wiped the blood form the kids face.
Caleb mumbled something in his unconscious state, something about rebooting, Directives, mission. Otherwise he was limp and unmoving, except for what looked like to be REM sleep with his eyes.
"It's okay Caleb; you're going to be okay little brother." Sam whispered, hoping Caleb could hear him and not liking the sound of what Caleb was mumbling. What had that bitch done to him? Dean heard too and pushed the Impala faster. Halfway to the motel Caleb's eyes snapped open, but stared into nothingness. "Caleb? Can you hear me? Come on kiddo answer me." Sam pleaded.
"Infiltrator 950 model 494 online..."
"Caleb please answer me." Sam whispered fearfully even as Dean slammed to a stop in front of the motel. Sam opened the door and got out, gently pulling Caleb with him, but didn't lift him. He held Caleb upright to see if he would stand. Caleb stood and let them lead him inside. Halfway in he stumbled and slumped, whimpering softly in pain. Dean moved to help and they got Caleb onto Sam's bed, Sam gently pulling Caleb's shoes off. "Dean?"
"I don't know Sammy. Give him a little more time then we'll call Sarah, see if she can help."
Sam nodded and sat beside Caleb, gently running his fingers through the kids' hair. "It's okay Caleb, you're safe." Sam assured him, not sure if Caleb could hear him.
Caleb relaxed slightly at the ministrations, eyes falling closed, soon his breathing evened out in sleep. Sam stayed sitting beside him, talking softly and still petting his hair, not wanting Caleb to wake up alone.
"Wake me up in four hours and I'll take a shift." Dean mumbled before falling asleep himself. Caleb finally stirred about five hours later, opening his eyes and blinking confused. He sat up slowly and looked around curiously. "Caleb?" Dean called cautiously, moving over from the chair he'd been keeping watch in. Sam was fast asleep in his bed. "How do you feel?"
"Where am I?" Caleb asked, still looking around.
"The motel. We rushed back when you collapsed; you've been out for over five hours. Was going to call Sarah soon for help. You worried Sam sick."
Caleb blinked and looked at Dean. "Why...?"
Dean sat on the edge of the bed; pretty sure Caleb wasn't totally with it yet. "Why what Caleb?"
"Why was he worried?"
"We gonna have to keep going over this kiddo? You're family now. You were bleeding and unconscious and then you mumbled about rebooting and mission or something. You sort of woke up for a bit but it was like you weren't there. Scared me too honestly. Do you remember what happened?"
"Coldness... then... nothing." Caleb frowned, rubbing his temples. "Something cold touched me."
"That was the ghost. Are you okay now?" Dean asked, reaching over to check his temperature and pulse.
Caleb started and backed away when he saw a hand reaching for him. "Cold!"
"Easy Caleb, you're safe. It's me, Dean. I'm not cold and I won't hurt you." Dean tried to reassure him, figuring whatever had happened had traumatised the kid a bit. Sam stirred in the other bed and then sat up.
"Caleb?" Sam called out hopefully, scrambling up and over to them.
Caleb winced and let Dean touch him. Shivering slightly. "It was cold..."
Sam sat beside Caleb and wrapped an arm around him. "Ghosts are cold." Sam told him.
"Well you don't have a fever." Dean muttered as he let go slowly. He grabbed the blanket and bundled it around Caleb since he was shivering. Caleb blinked at Dean from where he was bundled; he looked like a cat in a blanket, very small, very pale. Dean smiled in concern at him and Sam pulled Caleb closer, trying to help warm him up. Dean got up and went the small kitchenette, figuring a warm drink might help.
"Caleb are you okay?" Sam asked gently as he rubbed Caleb's arms to try and help warm him up.
"Head scrambled still." Caleb muttered. "Cold bad."
Sam hugged him. "You'll be okay, we're here." Sam assured his little brother even as Dean pressed a warm mug into Caleb's hands.
Caleb looked down at the mug curiously. "What is this?"
"Hot cocoa, should help warm you up. Plus chocolate cures all." Dean told him, sitting beside them.
Caleb nodded and sipped slowly. He relaxed and leant against Dean. "Feels good." Dean and Sam held Caleb between them, anxious for him to be okay. Dean mentally berating himself for letting the kid go with them. He hadn't been ready. "I do not like ghosts." Caleb finally admitted after a while.
Dean and Sam chuckled. "No one does Caleb." Sam assured him. Caleb nodded and moved, laying down and curling around Dean. Dean blinked in surprise, Caleb seemed a lot more comfortable with Sam usually but he moved a hand to gently run through the kid's hair, trying to offer comfort and ignoring Sam's smug little smile. Caleb whimpered softly before relaxing and falling asleep. "He'll be okay right?" Sam asked and Dean nodded, despite not being sure. Caleb curled his hand in Dean's shirt like a little brother. Trusting him to keep him safe.
"Get some more sleep Sam." Dean told him and Sam nodded, closing his eyes to try and sleep now that they knew Caleb wasn't going to die or something.
TBC…
