Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!

Travelers Beware

Chapter 21 – The Hunt Begins

They had been walking steadily for the past 2 hours. Dean paused and saw a nice spot near the stream that might work for a quick rest stop. Although he knew he could keep going, he was concerned about Sam. His brother had been extremely quiet for the last half hour.

Dean turned and looked at the travois carrying his brother. He could see Sam's hands gripping the sides, so tightly that his knuckles were white. Yep, it was definitely time to take a break and maybe see if he couldn't convince his stubborn brother to take the pain relief he obviously needed.

"Rusty, why don't we stop for a moment here by the stream…we can refill the canteens and I for one could use a quick break…how about you?" Dean heard a soft chuckle behind him.

"Boy, I was wondering when you were going to give this old man a break…I've got some trail mix too…we should try to grab a quick bite." Rusty knew why Dean was really stopping and he had sensed the younger man's guilt over holding them up. So he decided to play along. Besides, he really was feeling a little tired. That younger boy certainly was heavy.

Sam wasn't fooled; he knew that Dean was stopping to give him a break. The truth was, he was actually glad as the pain from his back and leg were almost getting unbearable from the constant jostling on the travois. He could feel the sweat running down his face as he tried to keep the pain from escaping from his lips. But when Rusty finally lowered him to the ground, Sam finally let the moan escape that had been threatening to erupt for the past half hour. He closed his eyes and wished that he was anywhere but here right now.

Dean heard Sam's distress and moved to check on his younger sibling. He didn't like the paleness of Sam's skin or the dark circles under his eyes. He could also tell that Sam was in a great deal of pain. "Hey there…Sammy, Rusty is getting some food and drink together…you think you could eat a little?"

Sam opened his eyes and shook his head. Even that movement seemed to send shards of pain down his body. "No…just tired Dean…just want to sleep." Sam whispered as he started let his eyes close again.

"Ok Sam, you can sleep in a minute…but first you need to at least drink this water down. You sure you don't want some of the pain medicine? We should be at the cave within the next couple of hours." Dean sighed as he felt the heat in his brother's body. The fever was climbing again…but it was too soon for more fever reducer.

Rusty passed Dean a bottle of water and waited to see if Sam wanted the pain medicine. The kid really looked like he needed it. "The pain medicine will help Sam…you don't need to suffer like this boy."

Sam forced his eyes open and shook his head. "No….no pain medicine…need to stay…alert." Sam licked his lips and tried to hold the water bottle. The water sloshed down the front of his shirt as his hand continued to shake.

"Here Sam…we don't need you catching pneumonia." Dean helped Sam drink the rest of the water, using some of it to wipe down his brother's sweaty face. "Sam, honestly…I would feel better if you took the pain medicine…I promise to wake you up when we get there."

Sam sighed. It would be so easy to give in…to let Dean have his wish. But he didn't want to lose the control. He needed to feel like he was contributing to this hunt…not just being a burden…but then who was he kidding…he couldn't do anything but slow Dean and Rusty down. If he took the medicine, Dean wouldn't insist on stopping again. "Ok Dean, whatever you say." Sam said as he resigned himself to once again being a burden to his brother. He looked away as Rusty reached into his pack and pulled out a syringe and a vial.

Dean could feel Sam withdrawing but he knew that Sam would never make it if he didn't take something for the pain. "Look Sammy, you need this so that we can get to the caves…I'll wake you up I promise…we need you to help us figure out a way to get these son of a bches!"

Sam didn't respond as he felt the medicine in his veins, making him feel light headed. "M'ok" Sam's eyes slid closed as the medicine did its job.

Dean sat next to Rusty and ate the trail mix. "You know Rusty…this stuff isn't bad…but peanut M&M's…beat this by a mile!"

"Well, sorry kid but we are roughin' it this trip. You think the kid will be ok? I mean, he seemed to be pretty upset." Rusty asked quietly

"I don't know Rusty…Sam sort of feels things deeper than most. Only time will tell…you ready to get moving again?" Dean stood and wiped his hands on his jeans.

"I'm always ready son…we should be there within the next couple of hours."

Dean nodded as he once again took point. He knew that Rusty wouldn't let him carry Sam and to be honest, he felt better in protector mode.

ooooooooooooooo

As night began to fall, Dean looked over at Rusty and smiled slightly. They had reached the caves and had managed to get some protections in place. Sam was still sleeping and Dean felt guilty about not waking him as soon as they got there…but his brother needed rest and Dean would make sure he got as much as he could.

Dean worried about what they might be facing. He knew that silver would probably work on the Azeman, since silver usually would kill any form of shape shifter. But the problem was…how would they know which thing they were fighting. Rusty had actually come up with the idea of how to use the holy water. Dean smiled in appreciation of the simplicity of the plan. Rusty had rigged some hollowed out pieces of wood to hold the holy water. He placed these carefully in various spry branches in the trees and bushes just outside their campsite. He rigged up a web of trip wires using clear fishing line so that anything larger than a small animal would trip the wooden bowls containing holy water.

"Well that should take care of our overgrown Peter Pan." Dean smiled. "But we still need to figure out what to do with the Azeman. I don't think Sam can stand to lose much more blood." Dean looked over to where his brother was softly moaning in his sleep.

"No, you're right there…he actually could probably use another transfusion but I'm hopin' we gave him enough to allow us to get him to the hospital." Rusty added more wood to the fire they had built at the front of the cave entrance. "Guess all we can do now is wait…I'm going to get supper started. You should wake up your brother…we need to get some food down him as well as another round of med's" Rusty stood and began pulling what he needed from his back pack.

Dean nodded and moved to wake Sam. "Hey Sammy, time to wake up…we are at your new home for the night." Dean shook Sam's good shoulder lightly, frowning again at the heat he felt in his brother's body.

Sam groaned but slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the darkness lit only by the fire. "What time…where…" Sam couldn't seem to put a coherent thought together. The pain medicine combined with the fever was making it hard for him to get past the fog in his mind.

"We are at the cave, Rusty is getting dinner together and you are going to eat and take your med's like a good boy. Then you can rest…we have put salt around the cave entrance and Rusty has put up a Peter Pan burglar alarm. Nothing can get in here to you Sammy…you're safe." Dean watched as Sam continued to try to focus on what he was saying.

"Pebbles…Dean…Azeman…we can use pebbles to distract." Sam licked his too dry lips and tried to tell Dean what he had remembered.

Dean reached for a bottle of water and helped Sam drink some of it down. "What do pebbles have to do with the Azeman Sam?"

Sam sighed and leaned his head back as he related what he remembered of the legend. His mind going back again to the Shaman who had helped cure Caleb of the werewolf bite. While Caleb was recovering, Sam had spent time with the Shaman, trying to learn all he could in case it was needed. The Shaman had liked Sam and agreed to show him how to cure the bite as well as talk to him about the various forms of werewolves that existed.

"Sammy?" Dean coaxed gently as he saw his brother's face grimace in pain before continuing softly.

"The legend says that the Azeman is normally a woman who has the ability to change into various animal forms by night…normally a bat or a wolf. But she can change into any animal form. It is said that she feeds on the blood of her victims but if you throw out seeds or small stones, the Azeman has to stop and count them. Some legends also state that you can keep her out by placing a broom across your doorstep…she has no choice but to count the bristles in the broom." Sam stopped, already tiring from the conversation.

Dean's eyebrow rose. "You've got to be kidding me…she stops to count things…come on Sam…that has to be just part of the legend."

Sam shook his head. "No…it works…I was able to distract her using small stones…it allowed me to get away…at least for a little while."

"Ok, so we need to each have a pocket full of pebbles…do you still think silver will work on her Sam?" Dean moved to gather up a small pile of stones and came back, placing them in easy reach of Sam, just in case.

"I don't know Dean…I shot her, and I know it hurt her, but I couldn't get a clear shot…so I'm not sure." Sam sighed. If he had just been a better shot, part of this could be over already.

"Ok boys, you both need to eat all of this and Sam, I need you to drink some more of this sports drink…you need the extra boost to compensate for the blood loss and fever." Rusty handed each boy a plate and then sat down with his own.

Dean watched as Sam tried to eat, but his brother stopped after only a few bites. "Sam, you need to eat…"

"I'm not hungry Dean…just give me the sports drink." Sam sighed

Dean handed Sam the sports drink along with the meds that Rusty had given him. "Ok Sam, but you need to take these and drink it all." Dean watched as Sam did as he asked, but also noticed that Sam was refusing to make eye contact with either him or Rusty.

Before he could ask Sam what was going through his mind, Dean saw Sam's head snap up, his eyes suddenly fixed past the fire. "What is it Sam?" Dean turned to look as well, seeing nothing in the darkness beyond the fire.

"Something's out there Dean…I…can feel it…"

"Ok Sam, you stay here…Rusty…" Dean started for the front of the cave, but paused to look at the older man.

"Yeah, I'll stay here and watch out for Sam…you be careful boy." Rusty pulled the gun Dean had given him and took up a position in the shadows.

"Dean…No!" Sam hissed, not wanting his brother to be alone. "Rusty you have to watch his back…please…I can protect myself!"

Dean looked back at Sam and smiled before quickly moving out into the darkness.

TBC

Raven524: Well now that the site seems to be working again, I'm actually able to update...Yay! Thanks again for all your patience in waiting for this chapter. On the plus side, I didn't stop writing...so there will be more chapters posted shortly. A big hug to all of you who are reviewing this story...I hope you continue to enjoy it!