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

Heart of the Protector

Chapter 3 – Spirit Bear

Dean stood still as he looked into the yellow eyes of a pure white bear. The bear stared at him, but made no threatening move. Dean carefully lowered Sam to the ground. He noticed that Sam had a machete attached to his hip. Drawing the weapon, Dean stood between the bear and Sam. "I don't want to hurt you, but you are not going to get my brother!" Dean said quietly, feeling a little foolish talking to the animal.

The air was charged as man and beast both stared at each other. The forest was completely silent as if it was holding its breath. Dean stood still, waiting to see what the bear would do; wondering what would happen to Sam if he was killed by the bear. As the bear rose on it's hind legs, Dean prepared to defend, but he wasn't prepared for the bear to simply turn and walk away from him. He was further confused when he thought he heard a word whispered on the wind. "Come". The eerie word caused a shiver to run up Dean's spine.

Dean was brought back to the present when he heard a soft moan behind him. "Dean?"

Sam was struggling to open his eyes. His body hurt and he felt like he was burning up alive, but he could feel that something was wrong. Opening his eyes, he saw Dean kneel down next to him, the machete in his hand. "Dean, what's wrong?" Sam asked as he tried to focus.

"Shhh, it's ok little brother, just a freaky polar bear…nothing to worry about." Dean was beginning to wonder if he was hallucinating…after all, what would a polar bear be doing in these woods? "Come on Sam, let's get you someplace where I can patch you up." Dean placed Sam's arm over his shoulders and helped Sam towards the cabin.

By the time the cabin came into view, Dean was carrying most of Sam's weight. He could tell that Sam was close to collapse. "Just a little further, then you can rest…that's it, stay with me Sam."

Dean helped Sam into the cabin and placed him on one of the beds in the room. Before he worked on Sam, though, he wanted to get a few more things from the Impala. He needed to make sure they were safe before he started to take care of Sam.

Dean worked quickly, salting the doors and windows as well as placing the various protective symbols around the cabin. Satisfied that anything supernatural would not be able to get inside the cabin, Dean turned to Sam.

Sam had been awake, watching as Dean protected the cabin from intruders. He wondered what had his brother so spooked. Of course, nothing on this hunt was going as planned. They had come prepared to fight a werewolf, only to find that the animals were possessed by something or someone. It could be a demon, but then it could be a number of other things as well. Until they figured out what they were dealing with, both brothers would be in danger.

Sam jerked back from his musings as he felt Dean gently cutting the bandage that he had placed on his broken arm. "Ow…hey man, take it easy!" Sam hissed as white hot pain shot up his arm.

"Sorry Dude, but I have to get all your wounds cleaned up and then set this arm. Next time, why don't you try throwing the doggie a stick instead of your arm?" Dean didn't like the look of the wound. It was red and swollen. He would need to lance the wound and set the arm before he could bandage it. Sam really should be in a hospital, but the nearest hospital was many hours away. Dean hated it when the hunt took them into such remote areas.

"Dean…any idea what we are up against?" Sam asked as he watched Dean prepare the medical supplies he would need to work on Sam.

"Not a clue…but I gotta tell you, one thing is for sure…it's not a werewolf or a shape shifter. The silver bullet would have taken care of it." Dean helped Sam sit up so that he could get his clothes off. Leaving Sam in just his boxers, Dean decided to take care of the claw marks on his brother's chest and legs first. He noticed some bruising around Sam's ribs, probably from his fall. Luckily though a little painful, nothing was broken.

"So Sammy, what was your vision about?" Dean asked casually, watching as his brother's face went a shade paler than before.

Sam swallowed, not sure that he wanted to tell Dean that he had in effect seen his own death at the paws of a bear. "I'll tell you, but first you need to tell me what spooked you out in the woods."

Dean looked at Sam quizzically, he had already told him but recognized the stalling tactic for what it was, decided to go along with it for now. "Well while you were taking a nap, I had a little discussion with a polar bear…nothing noteworthy." Dean smirked as he watched Sam's eyes open wider.

"Stop goofing around Dean, there are no polar bears in this part of the world. What did you see?" Sam said exasperatedly.

Dean wiped his hands as he finished cleaning the last of the claw marks. He wasn't looking forward to dealing with the arm, but it had to be done. Looking at Sam, he could tell his brother was struggling to stay awake. The fever and wounds had taken their toll on him. "Look Sam, it was a big white bear with yellow eyes. We kind of eyed each other and then it walked away…end of story. Now I need you take these pills before I start working on your arm…in case you pass out on me, ok?"

Sam took the pills and drank down the bottle of water that Dean gave to him. He wasn't looking forward to what was coming, but then he was sure that Dean would suffer more. "That's strange." Sam muttered as his eyes started to close. "The bear in my vision was brown…not white…" Sam lost his battle and fell unconscious.

Dean looked at his brother in concern; he had a vision about a brown bear…a brown bear doing what? Dean figured it was a conversation that would have to wait. He had given his brother a heavy dose of pain killers, hoping to knock his brother out before he had to lance and set the arm.

Dean shook his head as he prepared to repair Sam's arm. He just hoped that the infection in the arm could be stopped…he wouldn't accept that his brother might lose his arm.

ooooooooo

A low growl came from the white bear's mouth as it approached a secluded cabin in the woods. The being within the bear was seething with anger. How dare she call him back, he could have killed both of the hunters and eliminated the threat. He knew that they were not normal hunters, but were specifically hunting him. He would not stand for it…she would have to answer.

The white bear pushed the door open and entered, finding the object of it's anger calmly sitting at the small kitchen table. Sky blue eyes looked into the cold yellow eyes of the bear. "I've been expecting you."

ooooooooo

Sam moaned as he tossed in his sleep, his mind reliving the attack from the wolf with yellow eyes. He could feel the claws tearing at his skin, the teeth tearing at his flesh. It was so hot, he couldn't stand it. His vision shifted as the wolf was replaced by the bear with yellow eyes. He could see his death in those eyes.

"No…Dean…Help!...the eyes…the eyes are going to kill me…please Dean, make it stop!" Sam cried as tears began to fall from his eyes.

Dean had been resting on the other bunk, but jumped up when he heard his brother's distressed cry. Sam's eyes were open, but they were unfocused and clouded with the fever raging in his brother's body. Dean grabbed the basin of cool water and began to wipe the sweat and tears from Sam's face. Reaching for the thermometer, he placed in Sam's mouth, praying that it would not be as high as he feared.

"Sammy…shhhhh…there's nothing here. You're safe…can you hear me…just rest, I won't let anything hurt you." Dean removed the thermometer and grimaced at the reading, 103.2. He had to get Sam's fever down and fast.

Dean went into the bathroom and filled the tub with cool water. He was glad that he had left Sam in his boxers, it would make this easier. Dean gently sat Sam up. "Come on little brother…bath time for you…complete with bubbles and your rubber ducky!" Dean placed Sam's good arm over his shoulder and maneuvered his brother into the tub.

Sam jerked as his hot skin hit the cool water. "Dean…ccooolldd…too cold!" Sam whispered as he struggled to get out of the tub. Dean held him down and began to pour the cool water over Sam's head. He was being careful to keep Sam's injured arm out of the water, but Sam continued to try to use the arm. "Sammy…just relax, you have a fever. Damn it stop trying to use that arm…do I have to tie you up!"

Sam stopped struggling and lay his head back. He would have fallen into the water if Dean hadn't been there to keep him above water. "That's it little brother, just relax. You'll feel better soon, I promise."

Sam's fevered gaze met Dean's worried one. "Dean…we have to help her…she doesn't realize…have to protect her from the spirit bear."

TBC

Raven524: Ok, so I'm posting another one today…hopefully that will make up for the time it took to get you chapter 2. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews…you all made my day!