Augustine's Ring

Disclaimer: So okay I didn't do it so you can't blame me ... oh wait sorry umm yeah I don't own any of the Supernatural characters or the show and it's not my fault that the boys are temporarily MIA ... umm I didn't do it I swear!!

Author's Note: Sorry it has taken so long between updates. I started University this week and with O Week up there last week I haven't had the time or the energy to get much writing done, but however now I have my timetable I can organise myself to write as well as study! ;-)

CHAPTER 12

Manor de Joi

Home of Dr Eugene Cross

Dresden Kansas

February 1878

Dean stood over Eugene's body his back rigid with fury, 'get out here now Samuel before anyone else dies.' He bellowed.

'No,' the soft wail came from behind the closed door, with a cold grin he strode to the doors and threw them open. He saw Sam crouched in a corner with his long arms wrapped around his drawn up knees.

'Samuel stand up.' He ordered reaching down to grab Sam's arm when a fist collided with his nose. 'Get up Samuel now!'

'Leave me alone,' Sam growled turning his face up to see Dean's clearly, 'you are not my brother.'

'You are Samuel Winchester that is good enough for me.' Dean replied, 'now be sensible and come along with me please.'

'Leave ... me ... alone.' Sam emphasised each word as he pushed himself up the wall, 'get out of here Dean.'

'Stop these hysterics Samuel they really are becoming tiresome.'

'Mister Winchester?' A voice called from the hallway making Sam flinch and push further away from Dean.

'He's here.' Dean smirked, glaring at Sam, 'if you don't want to come home with me now you will be returning to Daimonledge, it is your choice.'

Sam stared at Dean in horror as his gaze slid over to Elias standing in the doorway holding a straight jacket, frantically he his stare moved from one man to the other, his heart beating so hard he thought it would burst.

Desperately he slid along the wall keeping an eye on both of the men, when he heard Emiline scream, Dean and Elias reacted and turned to where the scream came from, Dean cursing under his breath when he realised that she must have discovered the dead Eugene.

Taking the momentary break in tension Sam ran, as fast as he could he ran to the doors dividing the study and the dining room. Slamming it and ramming a chair against it he kept running out to the terrace. In his berserker rush, he crashed into the furniture and sent a large vase flying across the Italian tiles shattering the fragile china instantly. Without stopping, Sam kept running he could hear Elias and Dean behind him yelling at each other trying to corner him. He slipped and skidded into a tree before reaching the far wall of the garden, scrambling over it he dropped down the other side landing awkwardly on his left ankle. Trying to run he dragged his injured foot slightly as he disappeared into the alleyways behind Eugene's manor.

By the time, Dean and Elias got to their buggy and around to where they saw Sam heading he was gone. smudges of blood the only indication of which way he went but soon even that trail ended.

Swearing again Dean struck the horses viciously with the reigns and ordered Elias out; he could find his own way back to wherever he came from. Dean had a hunt on.

Sam shivered and wrapped his arms around his body trying to keep warm, his injured ankle throbbed with each limp as he wandered aimlessly through the alleys and backstreets, trying to stay away from the main roads.

He still couldn't work out how this could have happened in the first place, why mess with the time line? Then he stopped and shook his head, he had never thought about it before. If he died in the time then the demon would have free reign in the future. With a chance to take the next chosen one without the effort and fight needed against the Winchester family.

Wincing after shaking his head Sam lifted a finger to feel along his forehead, he could feel the blood congealing on his temple, he didn't even realise that he had hit his head or when.

Stumbling Sam fell to his hands and knees exhausted he crawled over to a wall and huddled against it, resting his head on his knees he tried to make himself as small as possible.

'Hey Darlin' whatcha doin' down 'ere?'

Sam lifted his head enough to look at the new intruder, he saw a pretty girl, with blond hair and sparkling blue eyes.

'Hey I aint gonna bite, well not til I get ta now ya'll better.'

'Sam,' he whispered hoarsely, 'name's Sam.'

'Hey Sam I'm called Jessica but I like Jess, pleased ta meet ya Sam,' she held a dirty but dainty hand out to him, 'whatcha doin' 'ere Sam?'

'Got no where else.' Sam said taking her dainty fingers in his own; she looked so much like ... now it was getting too freaky.

'I ah got a small room, taint much but ya'll welcome ta stay.'

'You don't even know me Jess; I could be an axe murderer or something.' Sam said with a small smile for the young woman, standing up he stretched to his full height and visibly winced when he put his weight on his left foot.

'Ya hurt?'

'I think I twisted my ankle.' Sam muttered embarrassed to seem so weak in front of the young woman.

'That does it, aint ya stayin' out 'ere.' Jess smiled brighter, slipped under his arm, and wrapped hers around his slim waist. 'Okay ya'll a wee bit taller than I thought but don't matta.'

'Thanks Jess, I ah appreciate it.'

'My ya'll speak so nice, whatcha doin' round 'ere Sam, taint a good area.'

'Why are you here?'

'Coz well I can't ... I aint no good so I ...' Jess' voice drifted off as she searched to explain why she ended up living in the slum area. 'Let's get ya outta ta weatha.' Jess finished as a misting rain started falling.

'Hey Jess, gota anotha one?' a random voice called from the shadows, but Jess just giggled and kept moving helping Sam manoeuvre through the debris scattered around the alley. Finally, the reached a small timber building that was in desperate need of a coat of paint, one window peeked through the fractured wood and a plain door the only signs of entry.

'Ya right ta go up ta steps?' Jess asked frowning slightly she had forgotten about the front steps. Sam blinked down at her and then gave in imperceptible nod and adjusted his weight slightly to take it off Jess' slight shoulders.

Awkwardly they made their way up one step at a time, leaving Sam winded and exhausted, the trauma of the day finally catching up with him.

'Just in 'ere,' Jess coached him, 'that's it, ya'll take the bed Sam.'

'No, no Jess I can't...'

'Nope aint taking no, ya'll need it more'n me.'

Sam sat down on the edge of the bed relieved to be off his injured ankle, blinking through his long fringe he stared around at the room, neat and tidy with tiny broken ornaments and scraps of lace making it look more like a home.

'Sam, ya'll don' mind me askin' but ya'll wearin' gentleman's clothes whatcha doin' down the scrubs?'

'It's a long story Jess,' Sam replied, 'one even I don't quite believe.' He gave her a small lopsided grin, although it faded as quickly as it came, replaced with a grimace of pain.

'Ah time for that lata, right now, ya'll need some cleanin' up.' Jess went to her small kitchen and gathered a few things, 'I'll be right back.'

Sam stretched out on the bed and sighed heavily, unable to comprehend everything that had just happened, Eugene was dead at the hands of Dean Winchester, but not his Dean one from a time so alien to Sam and yet it is now his home. A lone tear escaped as he thought of his time and of his brother Dean. The gap widening in the time dividing them.

'Sam?' Jess spoke quietly as she came back juggling a bowl of water and clean rages, but mercifully sleep claimed him. Humming to herself Jess gently washed away the dirt and dried blood on Sam's face, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at him, he truly was handsome.

Carefully as she could she undid his buttons and slipped his shirt over his shoulders examining him for any other signs of injury. Her mouth dropped open forming a small o when she saw the fading bruises and cuts decorating Sam's torso and around onto his back. Knowing that she had to bandage his ankle somehow Jess sat back and stared at his trousers. Taking a breath she whispered sorry to the unconscious man she undid the fastenings and slipped his pants down and off, thinking of mending them for him when she saw the rips on the knees, he must have had some fall that was for sure.

Standing over him she regarded his body appreciatively. The length of his muscular legs and the slim hips and waist but he had a wasted look, as though he had been ill for some time.

Forcing herself to look away from the rest of him she concentrated on Sam's ankle, the joint already swollen and was turning a strange purple-black in colour. 'Sorry Sam this is going to hurt.' She murmured as she lifted his foot and rested it on her knee before starting to bind the ankle tightly.

When finished Jess started to cover him with the scratchy blanket on her bed when she noticed deep bruising on his hips and upper legs. Her eyes widened as she realised that they were the shape of a man's hands. Someone had held him face down gripping his hips, her hand fluttered to her mouth as she worked out what had happened to him.

Quickly she covered his abused body and busied herself by making sure that Sam was warm and comfortable, she mended his clothes and washed the sweat from his face as he tossed in the midst of another nightmare.

'Jess?' Sam whispered opening his eyes slightly he tried to focus on the young woman, 'we're gonna be late for our lecture.'

'Sam?' Jess stood up and put her sewing down on the seat before going over to Sam and perched herself on the edge of the bed. 'Sam tis me Jessica, ya'll was hurt an' I helped ya.'

'Jess? No but you're dead.' Sam cried out pushing away from the gentle hand, 'you-you died in the fire.'

'Sam, Hon, I dunno who you think I is, but I aint your Jess.'

'Not my Jess?' Sam murmured trying to make sense of the jumbled thoughts in his mind.

'Where's Dean?'

'Who's Dean?'

'My, my brother.'

'Oh I'm not sure, I found you wandering around the alleys about a week ago.'

'A week?'

'Yep you've been running a feva since I brough ya here.'

'Oh I remember,' Sam winced as the memory of the other Dean murdering Eugene and his attempt at taking Sam back to the asylum.

'Feel like some soup?'

'Thanks Jess did you say that I've been here a week?'

'Aye that's right.'

'Shit.'

'What Sam?'

'It can't be a week ... Dean.' Sam said trying to push himself up off the bed.

'Sam! Where are ya going?'

'Don't touch me!' Sam hissed pushing himself backwards he jumped up and moved towards the door, 'where are my clothes?'

'Right 'ere, I mended ya pants.' Jess said holding the garment out to him. His chest heaving Sam reached out and took them from her as he put his trousers back on he realised something. 'Who undressed me?'

'I – I did.' Jess said nervously she didn't expect such a violent reaction from the young man.

'You? You saw?' Sam's eyes widened in realisation, his pale face stained with red from humiliation.

'I only did see all ya bruises and...'

'And what?' Sam snapped out but then he saw the tears forming in the young woman's blue eyes and he faltered, pressing his back against the wall he ran a shaking hand over his face, 'I'm sorry Jess I shouldn't have yelled at you.'

'I did see ya back,' Jess admitted her voice barely audible, 'ya got such scars Sam I – I cleaned em as best as I could.'

'Thank you, just ... no one has ... I mean no one has seen ...' Sam turned away even more embarrassed, 'I have to finish dressing,' he mumbled.

'I am so sorry Sam.'

'Don't pity me Jess, I couldn't take it not from you.' Sam said turning his burning face away from the young woman.

'I aint ta pityin' type Sam, I jus' wanna help.'

'You've done more for me than you could possibly know, but I have to go, I have to find my way home.'

'To Dean?' Jess asked her voice thick with jealousy.

'How do you know that name?'

'Ya'll kept callin' it.'

'He's my brother, the only family I have left.' Sam muttered fully dressed he turned to face her again, 'I don't belong here Jess.' He added softly.

'I – I can help you.'

'No, no Jess I can't let you get hurt,' Sam said, his gaze roaming over her lithe figure, her long blond hair framing her face and those large pale blue eyes. She looked so much like his Jess, it was too freaky for words. Perhaps that this was all a dream and that he will wake up with Dean taking stupid photos of him.

'Sam?' Jess asked timidly when he seemed to drift away, 'are ya alright?'

'Yeah, yeah I'm fine Jess thanks.' Sam smiled down at her, 'and feeling a lot better too thank you.'

'Tis my pleasure Sam, but ya aint better nuff to go roamin' again.'

'I have to, it's been too long ... I have to get back before it's too late.'

'Sam? Ya not makin' much sense.'

'I have to get back to the house, that's the only place I can make things right again.' Sam muttered more to himself than Jess. Taking her in his arms he bent down and kissed her deeply, 'thank you for all of your help Jessica.'

'Taint goodbye Sam, ya ankle there, tis still swollen, an' anyway ya'll only get lost round here,' Jess said firmly, 'at least lemme take ya back to where ya need to go, I know pretty much all of this place.'

'I can't let you...'

'Nope told ya aint takin' no at all.' Jess grinned reaching up she cupped his cheek, 'ya stuck with me Sam.'

TBC