ON TIME'S DOORSTEP – sequel to Augustine's Ring

Disclaimer: Still the same, I don't own any rights to them, I make no money and do this only coz I love em. The boys that is. Supernatural, the characters and plots all belong to Kripke Enterprises. The only ones I own are the original characters.

Sorry bout my enforced abscence, just suffice it to say that with a new phone connection done ... I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!

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CHAPTER TWELVE

Jonas' Cabin

The Plains just outside St Augustine

Florida

1626

Dean supported a very shaky Sam as his younger brother ventured outside for the first time since they had arrived in 1626; shading his eyes from the bright morning sun Sam smiled at Dean and then nodded to the stool by the door. Taking the hint Dean led Sam over to the seat and helped him ease onto it.

'Thanks Dean.' Sam smiled for the first time in ages, he had a genuine smile on his face, 'feels good.'

'Yeah well you're looking good too.' Dean said as he appraised Sam's condition in the sunlight, 'bruises are fading fast, and your rash is all gone.'

'That's a relief.'

'Yeah it is, looks like your fever has gone too, no more red blotches on your cheeks, well where I can see where's there no bruises.'

'Uhhuh, Dean ahh can you check my back for me?' Sam blushed he hated asking for help but his back was something that he couldn't check on his own.

'Looking good too dude, if you keep this up you'll be fitter than me.' Dean grinned happily, 'so you be right here for a tic, I'll go and get us some coffee.'

'Thanks ... sounds good.' Sam sighed and closed his eyes, enjoying the sun on his face, 'man this beats hospital any day.'

'Yeah I guess it does.' Dean patted Sam on the shoulder and disappeared inside, not wanting his brother to see the sadness, he never thought that he would miss Heather as much as he is, just the thought of her not knowing and thinking that he had just up and ditched her, made his heart ache even more.

Pouring out the dark brew Dean pushed his emotions further back and pulled his old game face back on, wanting to get back out to Sam. He eased out of the door and passed the tin cup to Sam, before he pulled over the other stool and sat down next to his brother. 'This is nice isn't it?'

'Yeah but why do I get the feeling that it's the calm before the storm?' Sam smirked.

'Coz you're the pessimist of the family.' Dean shot back.

'Yeah right and you're such an optimist.'

'Ah shit.' Dean grimaced when he looked up and saw the wagon approaching them, 'looks like Jonas had decided to grace us with his presence.'

'Dean he ... something isn't right with Jonas, he's not the one we knew from home.'

'Yeah I get the feeling too, but I can't find any of the stone on him or in his stuff.'

'So is he a plant?' Sam glanced at the wagon driver, 'be careful around him Dean.'

'Goes for you too Sam.' Dean muttered as he stood to welcome the new arrival, 'morning Jonas, want some coffee?'

'Thanks boy, sounds good.' The older man grinned but his smile didn't reach his eyes as he stared down at Sam, the little shit was getting better instead of getting sicker, 'Sam you're looking good.'

'Thanks Jonas, feeling better too.' Sam smiled sweetly flashing his full dimples, 'you look good, rather pleased for yourself.'

'Yeah I am got some good intel.'

'Well don't keep us in suspense.' Dean said and handed the coffee to Jonas who smiled smugly at the two boys.

'Looks like Augustine will arrive at his mother's home tomorrow, so we can start to put our plans into action.'

'Sounds good.' Dean enthused glancing over at Sam when his brother remained silent, 'Sammy you okay?'

'Dean I ah ...' Sam blinked furiously and tried to focus on Dean's face, as his sight blurred and faded, 'I ahh ... lights ... argh.' Sliding off the stool Sam landed hard on his knees but didn't feel anything as the vision took hold.

Dean watched in frozen horror as Sam slid off his stool and then pulled himself out and caught his brother before he face planted on the veranda. 'Sammy hey you with me dude?'

Bright lights swirled sickenly in front of him, making his nausea worse, as he shook it off he could see a young man standing next to his mother, his attention lost, his fencing tutor took the advantage and disarmed him. He smiled shyly and excused himself unable to curb his curiosity.

The lights flared again and this time danced around him, blocking him from everything and everyone, when they cleared he was lying on the floor of his bedroom, his entire body ached, blood trickled from his nose and he could feel a dampness between his bare legs. Weeping softly he tried to sit up when he felt someone behind him, whimpering he tried to crawl away but gentle hands stopped him.

Flames flared around him this time instead of lights, as he stood and watched his home burn, he knew that his parents and sister were still in there but he felt little sadness, now he had his brother by his side, he felt whole again.

Sam whimpered and clutched at Dean's hand as the vision dissipated, the usual headache flared behind his eyes and he felt blood trickling from his nose.

'Sammy, hey dude you back with me?'

'Yeah, sorry.' Sam murmured, not wanting to let go of Dean just yet, he could still feel the warmth and love radiating from his brother, though the confusion about which one still remained. Dean or Augustine?

'What was it?' Dean asked as he helped Sam to his feet and guided him back inside and towards the bed, 'it's just us.'

'It was so weird Dean, I was the young boy again, the day he met his brother, his brother finding him after another attack by his father and then watching the villa burn while he stood next to his brother.'

'Starting to fall into place...'

'yeah but there's something ... something else Dean.' Sam interrupted his brother.

'What exactly?'

'Dunno, it's just the only evil I can feel in these visions is the father.' Sam blinked and looked up at Dean wearily, 'when his brother is around all I can feel is love and a feeling of safety.'

'This is getting too freaking weird Sammy.' Dean sighed running his fingers through his hair, 'it seemed to simple at first but now ...'

'It's like everyone is changing and the only ones we can trust are ourselves.' Sam yawned and settled back in the bed, the vision zapping the last of his strength.

'Sleep Sam, I'll be right here with ya.' Dean said pulling up the blankets over Sam; he took up his post on the chair next to his brother's bed. On his knee he balanced a writing tablet and pencil, he started to write dot point notes, trying to workout where everything started to change.

S—D

Jonas watched the brothers through the window, this latest vision of Sam's confused him, he knew what he had to do to gain the position he wanted for himself and for his daughter, his true daughter.

He sauntered over to the barn and rolled himself a smoke, he walked a fine line between the different times, manipulating the same people in all of the times. In ancient times, he was the strongest of the demons walking the earth, his true name Jazael, and the humans considered him a God. They worshiped him and sacrificed their young willingly for his favours. But, then times changed his son Darius, decided to copulate with a human woman producing a male child. The first manipulation came into play, he convinced Darius to take the child and replace it with a dead human baby. Easily done in the end, and Jazael thought that he would have both his son and grandson to serve at his side. Darius was weak; his love of the human women was his downfall. Augustine started out with such promise, his own hatred of his mother and her weaknesses fuelled his desire to follow his grandfather. Together they ruled, Jazael taking delight in Augustine's anger until he also betrayed him.

Augustine returned to his mother, when he uncovered his grandfather's lies and deceits, Darius redeemed himself slightly when he raised an army to fight the heavenly hosts who wanted to eradicate Jazael and his line from the mortal plane.

In league with Azazel, Jazael plotted the war, he rejoiced when Augustine returned to them, with a traumatised young boy and girl in tow. All he would say was that they were his brother and sister, they were family.

Over the years, the fights continued, but Jazael and Darius were forced to take on human personas, Jonas and his son Micah, and the grandchildren, Augustine, Samuel and Jessica.

With the help of Azazel who could move between realms, they continued the fight this time breeding with as many humans as possible over the centuries. Until Augustine and Samuel disappeared, no one knew where they went, even if they were still alive, nothing. Jazael searched the world but his grandson proved to be elusive; he needed to make sure that the legend stayed intact. He brought about Augustine's ring, poisoned the stone with a spell and left it for the descendents of his family, to use as they desired.

The portals came as he neared the end of his existence and gave him reason to continue, he left Darius playing with the humans and he travelled where he wanted changing things to suit himself. But, the only thing he could not change was Augustine, no matter how many times he manipulated time, the scenario played out the same, and then the brothers still disappeared. Nothing could change that.

Until now, now he had the future Augustine, or should he now say Dean and Samuel working for him, working against the original, he had poisoned them enough, tortured them enough to make them his weapons against his grandson and his bastard brother.

S—D

Bobby and Jim sat waiting impatiently for Heather to bring in Bobby's discharge papers; Bobby finally getting his way and was on his way home. They had to work out how to open a portal and to track the boys back in time to wherever they are and bring them home.

'Bobby, Pastor Murphy ... I know I shouldn't really ask this but ...' Heather bit her lip and handed the paperwork to Bobby, 'I need to help find Dean,' she finally blurted out.

'Heather ... my dear I know how much you love Dean I can see that in your face but trust me when I say that you cannot help us anymore than you already have.' Jim spoke gently taking Heather's hand in his, 'just pray that we find both of our boys and we can bring them home, Dean back to you and Sam back to all of us.'

'Please call me, for anything.' Heather pressed a small card with her phone numbers on it against Jim's hand, 'anything at all.'

'Thank you Heather.' Jim said with a genuine smile.

S—D

Sam woke with a start sitting up he stared around wildly as he tried to remember where he was, 'Dean?' he cried out, panic gripping him even though he didn't know what he was panicking about. 'Dean!'

'Hey Sammy, I'm right here.' Dean hurried inside with a handful of kindling to light the fire with. 'I'm right here dude, what's wrong?'

'I ... ah ... don't know.' Sam twisted his fingers in Dean's shirt for some reason he did not want to let go.

'Sammy? What is it? You're freaking me out here.' Dean sat on the edge of the bed and stared at his brother, 'calm down dude you're gonna start to hyperventilate.'

'Something is so wrong Dean, I can feel it,' Sam tried to articulate what he was feeling but nothing came out right, 'Augustine, Samuel I can see through Samuel's eyes, he loves his brother Dean, Augustine is not a monster like ... and if he's no monster who's doing this to us?'

'Good question Sammy, but at the moment I need you to calm down or you're gonna get sick again.'

'I feel so strange Dean, my head ...' Sam paled and looked like he was going to throw up. Dean jumped up and ran to find a pail, only just managing to pass it to Sam before he started to heave, vomiting violently until he was wracked with dry heaves.

Dean held Sam's shoulders and rubbed his back until the spasms eased and Sam was able to lie back against the pillows looking weaker and sicker than ever before. 'Don't understand Dean ...' Sam mumbled before he started to dry retch again.

'Jonas.' Dean muttered as he went to empty the bucket, bringing back a glass of cool water for Sam, 'where is the bastard?'

'Dean?' Sam whispered weakly, his face paler than ever before. 'What's wrong?'

'Jonas is gone again just before you get sick ... Sammy we have to get out of here.'

Dean started to pace the small area around the bed, 'Sammy you feel up to doing a little running?'

'Yeah to get away from Jonas, I'll be fine.' Sam said though the slight greenish tinge to his former pallor belied the sentiment.

'Hang tight in here and I'll go and get some transport or something for us.' Dean said, 'now don't you move.'

'Yes sir, though I might need the bucket again.' Sam grimaced as he felt another spasm shoot through his abdomen, clenching his stomach muscles threateningly.

'Right back.' Dean ran from the cabin to the barn, heaving a sigh of relief when he saw that Jonas had taken one of the horses and left the other with the wagon still hitched.

After packing what they needed, Dean created a bed in the wagon for Sam before he went to help his brother outside. He found Sam lying in a sweaty mess, tiny flecks of bile and blood stuck to his dried and cracked lips, the red fever blotches were back on his cheeks and his breath came in raspy wheezes. 'Ah Sammy, this is so not fair.' He murmured, he carefully lifted his brother's frail body into his arms and carried him easily out to the wagon. 'Geeze kiddo we're so gotta get some weight on ya.'

'Dean?' Sam moaned slightly as he felt himself get lowered into the wagon, 'what?'

'We're getting out of here Sammy, and gonna find Augustine and Samuel.' Dean said as he ran his hand down Sam's face before climbing up onto the seat, 'so where's the brake on this thing?'

TBC