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!!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has reviewed and I haven't had a chance to send a personal thanks too. (((((((((((((GROUP HUGS))))))))))))))))

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CHAPTER 26

Room 112

Memorial Hospital

Dresden Kansas

March 2006

Sam's eyes fluttered open and was immediately greeted with an empty bed across the room, panicking he tried to sit up but then he realised he was still lying on his stomach and unable to roll over.

He could feel his breathing hitch and his chest tighten again as he tried to work out what was going on and where Dean was. 'Dean?' he called out with effort, forcing his voice past his dry throat taxed him more than he wanted to admit. Dean died. The thought bounced around in his mind making Sam shudder and start to weep. Dean died while he was asleep and it wasn't fair he never got to say goodbye.

'Dean?' he called again lifting his head slightly he gazed around the room; something was off, something that Sam couldn't put his finger on. Where was Dean?

'Dead, you killed him, you and your patheticness killed him, and he died bringing you back.'

'What are you ... Samuel?' Sam blinked as he stared at his ancestor's face floating in front of him dizzily. 'Where? How?'

'Oh I can do a lot of things now Sam, how is your heart lately?'

'My, my heart?' Sam stared at him confused and then he remembered what the doctor told Dean. 'You gave me your heart disease.'

'Ah so you have worked it out, Sam all you have to do is embrace your darkside like I have and the world opens up to you.'

'What, what did Augustine do to you?'

'I can give you the gift too Sam, all you have to do is accept that part of you.'

'Never, what have you done Samuel? How could you?' Sam stuttered trying to understand what was happening, 'Dean said that you were so helpful and so...'

'That was then Sam this is now, now I have fully understood what the ring means and I intend on retrieving it and controlling the portal completely.'

'What about Dean? Your Dean?'

'He is ... safe.' Samuel shrugged elegantly, 'he understands everything now.'

'You can't do this Samuel.'

'What are you going to do Sam? Stop me?' Samuel laughed lightly, 'you can barely lift your head and your heart is ready to give out. Such a shame but what can one do?'

'This is not you Samuel.'

'Perhaps for the first time I am embracing what I am.' Samuel said thoughtfully, 'now I must bid you goodbye dear nephew your Dean is about to return.'

'Samuel.' Sam cried out but he was alone again in the room, audibly groaning he pushed himself up until he could turn over and sit up, his back muscles flared to life with scorching flames of pain spreading through him biting down on the pain Sam started to pull at the monitor patches stuck to his chest. His anger fuelling his adrenalin rush he managed to push his legs over the edge of the bed and haul himself up until he was sitting unaided. Swallowing hard Sam knew that the next step was to stand without keeling over he stared at Dean's empty bed and drew strength from the need to find his older brother even if he was in the morgue. Tentatively he put one foot on the floor and then the other one the sharp pins and needles took his breath away but he pushed the sensations down and held the bed frame with a death grip until he felt steady enough to let go. Exhausted part of him wanted to lie down and sleep but Sam stubbornly refused to listen to his own body instead he took a halting step he could hear running towards his room and he turned his head to look at the monitors flashing, the nurses were on their way. Determinedly he took another step towards Dean's bed, his thoughts drifted to his brother and then back to making it to his deemed destination. First the bed and then the door.

Shaking he reached out to place a hand on the bed frame to steady himself when his legs gave way and he couldn't stop himself tumbling forward, the floor rushing to meet his face. 'Dean?' he cried out as he landed striking his forehead on the leg of the bed his breath knocked out of him with the contact with the cold vinyl flooring.

'Sam are you alright?' Heather puffed as she reached the door and pushed it open her eyes fixed on the bed furtherest away from her. 'Sam?' blinking she stared at the bed trying to understand why it was empty. After coding the previous day Sam was yet to regain consciousness and now his bed was empty.

Her gaze flickered around the room searching for a clue to what happened when she saw the bare feet on the floor, moving stiffly she stepped closer her gaze travelling along the feet and the long legs to where Sam was sprawled on the floor between the two beds. Dried blood covered his forehead and pooled under his cheek, one hand remained outstretched as though he was holding his hand out to someone when he fell. Pressing the call button Heather knelt down next to Sam and checked to see if he was still breathing.

'What happened to my brother?' Dean's voice broke through Heather's shock and she stared up at the angry look on the young man's face. 'What are you doing?'

'I – I don't know, his monitor alarms went off and when I got here ... Sam was already lying on the floor.'

'I don't understand they said he was still unconscious when they took me for scans.' Dean mused, 'Sammy?'

The nurse pushing Dean's wheelchair came around to help Heather roll Sam over as two male nurses and an orderly came running in response to the call. Easily they lifted Sam back onto his bed and Heather was able to reattach his patches before checking the cut on his forehead. 'It's only a surface cut.' She sighed relieved, 'Sam hey you coming back to me?'

Sam blinked and stared up at Heather he was on his back and in his bed once again, ignoring the young woman he turned his gaze to the bed opposite him his face falling when he saw it still empty. 'Dean?'

'Dude what the freaking hell do you think you were doing?' Dean groused at him from the other side of Heather. Confused Sam looked up at the nurse and then tried to see where his brother's voice came from. 'Damn it let me.' Dean snapped and then he was there next to Sam's bed.

'Dean? Where? You were gone...' Sam stumbled over his words as he took in Dean's appearance, 'he said you were dead.'

'Who Sam?' Dean frowned at the clear confusion and pain written across Sam's face and the cloudiness of his eyes, 'who said I was dead?'

'Samuel.' Sam whispered brokenly, 'he wants me to go darkside with him.'

'Sam, Sam listen to me that thing is not Samuel now and he can't hurt you anymore.'

'Dean no...he was right.' Sam protested feeling the tears start to well behind his eyes. He could feel the tightness in his chest and his breathing hitch, 'no not now.' He moaned.

'Sam I need you to calm down.' Heather said as she finished replacing his IV port and rebandaged his forearm keeping the needle firmly in place.

'Dean?' Sam gasped his hand flailing for his brother's, desperately needing to feel Dean's solid touch.

'I'm right here Sam but you have to calm down okay, just take a few deep breathes and calm down.' Dean didn't take his eyes from Sam's, keeping that eye contact strong as his brother fought his way back. Finally, the beeping quietened and went into its regular beep.

'Dean where were you?' Sam gasped pushing Heather's hand away from his face where she fitted his nasal cannula.

'They wanted me to get stupid scans on my leg or something.' Dean grumbled pouting slightly, 'I didn't want to leave you but they said that you were still unconscious.'

'When I woke up and you were gone ... then Samuel came and he said that you had died.'

'What the fu...freaking hell was Samuel doing here?'

'He wants me to ...' Sam stopped when he saw Heather standing there, 'nothing.'

'Is this Samuel? Is he one of the ones that hurt you guys?' She asked without hesitation.

'No, no not really.' Sam said trying to brush it off, 'he ah got mixed up in it that's all.'

'Sam now that you're conscious I am going to have to call Doctor Fin and let him know,' Heather said, 'and after your little attempt at getting out of bed...' she let her words hang in the air as she left the room.

'Dean ... Samuel has gone full on darkside, he wants me to join with him ... he wants the ring and total control of the portal.'

'What about his Dean?'

'All he said was that Dean was safe, it wasn't Samuel like you knew him Dean. This, this demon Augustine he's seriously ...' Sam shook his head slowly, 'man we can't stay here.'

'Sam with ... you can't leave the hospital dude your heart could give way at anytime and fuck Sam look at me.' Dean snapped angrily, his frustration spilling over.

Sam's gaze drifted over the large full leg cast, the various white bandages covering wounds that he could only imagine, 'I'm sorry Dean.' he mumbled turning his face away from Dean.

'Hey Sammy, uhhuh you are not going to do that.'

'Do what?'

'Wallow in your self-imposed guilt.' Dean snapped wearily rubbing at his face, 'damn it Sammy look at me.'

Sam turned back to look at Dean and then dropped his gaze again, 'Samuel has changed so much Dean; he's not possessed he said that he finally embraced his darkside.'

'Sam...'

'He's our ancestor Dean ... what if ... what if it is a gene or something like that, something that gets carried down our family?'

'Aint like that Sammy.'

'Why? I mean Dean how do we know; do we know anything about the Winchester family?' Sam asked, 'when you think about it Dad never really mentioned any family and I know that after Mom died he cut off from her side, we only knew that one uncle or something when we were kids.' He took a deep breath and winced as it pulled on his aching chest, 'we never met our grandparents or any cousins no one Dean.'

'So? That means there is nothing to know about.' Dean countered but Sam could hear the doubt in his voice.

'Well Sam I hear you tried to do some walking today.' Doctor Fin said as he strode into the room smiling brightly at his two patients and closely followed by the ever present Heather, 'and Dean still out of bed?'

'Hey Doc.' The brothers said in unison.

'So Dean I think it's time for you to get out of that chair and back into that bed.' Doctor Fin said without preamble, 'Heather could you help Dean while I check out Sam please?'

'Dean?' Sam whispered turning his attention back to his brother, 'I'm ...'

'Yeah I know Sammy.' Dean replied as Heather wheeled him back to his bed when she went to pull the curtain around his bed Dean leaned over and grabbed her wrist, 'not all the way please.' He said nodding to the panicked look on Sam's face. Heather smiled and only drew the curtain enough to give him some privacy from the doorway.

Michael Fin silently listened to Sam's breathing and his heartbeat before he made a small humming noise and went to take his blood pressure a frown forming on his face as he read the screen.

A coughing fit coming from the other bed made him stop and turn casting a glance over at Dean, the antibiotics should be really kicking in by now, 'Doc what is it?' Sam whispered breathlessly, 'something wrong with Dean?'

'No, no Sam it's alright I could hear Dean coughing that's all,' Michael turned and gave Sam a small smile, 'now you have to keep calm I mean it Sam if not then I am going to be forced into sedating you.'

'Sedation why?'

'Your blood pressure is rising steadily and that coupled with your ... I need you to stay calm, no more getting out of bed, no more talking to anyone except, me, Heather and Dean okay.' Michael said suddenly becoming very serious, 'if you want anything you press your call button, and I mean anything Sam.'

'Doc...'

'No, no Doc me I want you to promise me Sam.'

'Okay I'll promise.'

'You bet your freaking ass you'll promise Sammy.' Dean called from the other bed as Heather pulled the curtain back. He looked so pale that Sam let a small gasp escape and push the doctor away.

'Dean...'

'No Sammy you stay put I'm fine just tired.' Dean countered when he saw the stubbornness set in, 'I'm with the doctor on this one.'

Sam opened his mouth to argue when he dropped his head against his pillow and gave up fighting, it was simply too exhausting. Heather came over and straightened Sam's sheets, made sure that he was comfortable on his side and that his leads and IV were all free from entanglement. Once Michael was satisfied, that Sam was set he went over to his other patient's bed with a deeper frown on his face, 'now Dean it's your turn.'

'I'm fine Doc.' Dean grinned wanly then grimaced with the pain in his chest, 'just breathing in a bit of fire that's all.'

'How's the leg?'

'It's there.' Dean answered succinctly.

'So I see much pain?'

'So how's those ahhh Yankees going?' Dean smirked at the doctor.

'I take that as a yes,' Michael grinned he was fast learning the famous Winchester double talk. 'How about your chest?'

'Fine as long as I don't breath.' Dean glanced over to watch Sam sleeping soundly, 'how about Sam?'

'First we deal with you and then we talk about your brother.'

'Anyone tell you that you're stubborn Doc?'

'Yeah my wife,' Michael laughed 'every day.'

Michael finished his exam and sat down on the edge of Dean's bed balancing his clipboard on his knees, 'Dean ... we need to talk about Sam's treatment.'

'Go on.'

'Is there someone else who can take over Sam's medical decisions? You're not well yourself...'

'Can it Doc it's just me and Sam now tell me what is going on.'

'Sam's blood pressure is dangerously high, I have ordered some medication to help bring it down but he has to stay as calm as possible and limit his contact with people as a consequence, no more trying to get out of bed and lots of rest. Once we get it back to a manageable level then, then the cardiologist wants to do the surgery we discussed.'

'Sammy needs a heart op?'

'Yes his symptoms are progressively worsening; with the aided complication of the infections and the gangrene ... we are working against time to ...'

'You mean Sam could die?'

'That is the extreme Dean, we are not going to let that happen I promise you.' Michael said following Dean's gaze to the other bed, 'he is going to receive the best care we can possibly give him and we're going to make sure he pulls through.'

'Thanks Doc it means a lot.'

'My kid brother is probably about Sam's age,' Michael let slip, 'we haven't spoken for five years.'

'Sorry Doc ... Sammy and I we went through a bad patch but...'

'Maybe there's hope for me and Troy then.' Michael said standing up he patted Dean's cast and gave him a tired grin, 'buzz if you need anything, I'm sure Heather will be around somewhere.'

'Thanks again Doc.' Dean said returning his attention back to Sam's sleeping form. Tiny beads of sweat formed on Sam's face along with fine lines of pain around his eyes. Dean's gaze narrowed as he watched the twitch start and then the mumbling, either Sam was in pain or he was having another nightmare. Mindful of what the doctor had just told him, 'Damn it Sammy.' Dean grabbed his call buzzer and kept his finger on it until Heather came running in, flushed and breathing heavily.

'Dean you only have to press it once.' She scolded him gently. 'Is there something wrong?'

'Sammy.' Was all he could reply.

'Sam?' Heather called out softly when he didn't stir she moved closer and pressed a hand on his forehead, she could feel the heat radiating from him before she made contact with his skin. Worry spread across her pretty features as she took a reading of his blood pressure, pulse and temperature, scribbling the details down as she went keeping her back to Dean she checked all of Sam's monitors and then hit the emergency button alerting the staff for a possible coding.

'Heather what's happening?' Dean called out as he watched her gently roll Sam onto his back flat on the mattress discarding his pillows, 'what the fuck is going on Heather?'

'Sam's having some heart problems Dean.' Heather answered a little shorter than she intended, turning to apologise she watched horrified as Dean got himself out of bed and tried to balance on his good leg. 'Dean what do you think?'

'Dammit help me get to him Heather.' Dean demanded the shocked nurse reacted after a second and managed to get him to the seat next to Sam's bed, 'Hey Sammy, dude I need you to wake up your scaring the nice nurse.' He whispered, ignoring the staff running into the room, instead he kept talking softly to Sam. 'Come on dude wake up and talk to me.' Sam's face contorted in pain but his eyes fluttered open, cloudy and confused he gazed around searching for his brother's face.

'Sammy I'm right here dude.' Dean reached over and brushed Sam's fringe away from his face, 'hey you back with me?'

'Dean?' Sam blinked and stared at his brother, 'hey.'

'Nightmare?'

'Yeah.' Sam blinked furiously and tried to focus on the familiar face next to him, 'yeah I think it was.'

'Dude you got Heather all hot and bothered.' Dean grinned continuing to stroke Sam's forehead and hair, 'you got me a bit scared too.'

'Sorry, I – I ... it was Samuel.' Sam whispered when he shifted his gaze and looked up at the faces of Doctor Fin and staff including Heather. 'Sorry Doc.' He mumbled.

'How about I give you a check ... thanks everyone but I can take it from here.' Michael smiled to the others, 'Heather can you stay please.'

'Okay, you sure that you're alright Sam?' she asked still pale faced as she looked down at him.

'Yeah sorry guess I had a nightmare.' Sam said blushing profusely.

'Sam, you've got yourself quite a temperature there,' Michael said as he took another reading, 'and your blood pressure is still rising, I think I might give you a mild sedative just for tonight.'

'Dean?'

'No Sam I think that the Doc is right and anyway I need to sleep and I can't do that if you keep having nightmares can I?'

'No.' Sam whispered his eyes downcast.

'Sam look at me.' Dean growled softly, 'dude you are so not going to have another guilt fest, it was just a dream.'

'I'll go and write up the sedative, Heather can you get Sam comfortable?'

'Sure thing Doctor.' She smiled, 'I'll be right back, I just want to get some fresh slips for the pillows, they've been on the floor.'

While they were alone Sam turned his face away from Dean not wanting him to see his obvious distress. 'What did you dream Sammy?' Dean asked without preamble.

'Nothing, it's okay Dean.'

'Sammy!'

'I was back in the asylum and ... and it was this Augustine and Samuel instead of the guards ...'

'Ah damn Sammy, I am so sorry.' Dean sighed sadly, 'I couldn't protect you from that.'

'What did I do Dean? What did I do that was so bad that I had to be punished like that?' Sam whispered his fingers twisting in the sheets.

'Sammy you didn't do a thing, you had no control over what happened it was that screwed up demon Augustine who stuffed us ... stuffed you around.' Dean said forcefully, he put his hand on Sam's opposite cheek and made him turn back to look at him, 'Sam I mean it you did nothing, they were animals who didn't know any better.'

'Dean I ...'

'Sam when you get better and we get sprung from here we are so going to burn and salt that bitch I promise you.'

'You are going to what?' Heather gasped standing in the doorway after listening to their conversation, 'and what do you mean demon?'

'Heather you know you shouldn't sneak up on two guys talking.' Dean chided her but his mirth did not reach his eyes. Heather opened her mouth to argue when she saw the murderous glint in Dean's eyes and the protective way he positioned himself on the chair covering Sam completely. 'And don't ask questions that you don't want answers to.'

'Dean I ...' Heather blinked back her tears of anger and confusion and strode over to Sam's bed, 'I have to fix Sam's bed up.' She said without looking at either brother she did what she had to do silently, made sure that Sam was comfortable on his side again, took his ops and then left without making another sound.

'Dean that was harsh.' Sam said softly.

'No, that was nosey and you know what they say about curiosity.' Dean grumbled, 'for her own good Sammy.'

'Yeah I know.'

'Hey now you stay nice and calm for me please no more angst about anything okay.'

'Kay.' Sam nodded sleepily.

Heather coughed this time, came in with the loaded syringe, and quickly administered the sedative into Sam's IV port. 'Now Dean let's get you back to bed.' Heather said her face fixed in a neutral mask. She was not going to give him anything as she helped him hobble back to the bed and after she settled him down she glanced over at Sam and then back to Dean a small smile on her face, 'Sam is lucky to have you as a brother Dean.' she said softly before leaving the boys to rest.

'Dean it is time you and I talk.' A familiar voice came from near the end of the bed. Blinking until he could focus properly Dean stared at Samuel in shock.

'What the fuck?'

'Sh Dean now we don't want young Sam over there to wake and get all upset again would we?'

'What do you want Samuel?'

'Just to talk.'

'Then what? How could you turn on Sammy, he even saved your life?' Dean couldn't help but start on questioning Samuel's motives.

'And for that I am eternally grateful but as I told your brother there is so much more to life if you embrace the gifts offered to you.' Samuel smiled. 'However I do need young Samuel back in my time for a short time.'

'You keep your freaking hands off him,' Dean snarled, 'haven't you done enough?'

'Oh I will wait until his heart has been repaired,' Samuel smiled coldly; 'I need him healthy.'

'It was your fucking disease to begin with.'

'Yes but Sam was so much younger and stronger than me, I know now that in this time he would survive where in my own time I would be dead by now.'

'Something I can still arrange.' Dean said in a low toneless tone.

TBC