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 5 – Visions Revealed

Dean carefully removed the inflatable cast. "Damn it Sammy…that's twice now that you've left me hanging here…we gotta get you fixed up so you can let me in on what's happening in that freaky brain of yours." Dean sucked in his breath as he saw that the wound was still badly infected. "Man Sammy, you're just not going to give me a break here are you."

Dean knew that he would need to clean the wound again and cauterize it in order to save the limb. He looked at his brother and shook his head. "This is another fine mess you've gotten yourself into!" Dean went to the fireplace and started to build a fire. He next started water to boil on the stove, he would use it to sanitize what he would need to clean and seal the wound.

Sam moaned as he struggled to open his eyes. His head felt like it was splitting open and the pain in his arm was almost unbearable. "Dean" Sam whispered

"I'm here Sammy…just take it easy bro'." Dean helped Sam sit up, noticing the sheen of sweat glistening on Sam's too pale face.

"Dean…I think I'm going to be sick" Sam struggled to keep the contents of his stomach from coming up.

"Hold on Sammy…you get sick in the bed and you're going to clean it!" Dean grabbed a bowl from the kitchen and held it while Sam emptied what little was left in his stomach. Dean patted Sam on the back, waiting for the heaving to stop. He murmured comforting words as he stroked his brother's back, feeling him relax as the last of the spasms hit.

Sam sat back on the bed feeling totally spent. "Sorry" he whispered as Dean gently wiped his face and helped him rinse his mouth.

"No problem." Dean watched as Sam continued to try to focus. He could tell that Sam was still having problems. He didn't know if he should question Sam now or wait…maybe Sam was just hallucinating because of the fever.

"Dean…we need to talk…I think I know what we are up against." Sam said quietly, running a shaky hand through his damp hair. "I've had a couple of visions or maybe they're nightmares, I can't tell. But the last one…well, it felt different…so I'm guessing it was definitely a vision."

Dean tried to make Sam more comfortable, pressing a bottle of water into Sam's hand and helping him to drink. "That's it Sam, just drink slowly. Now tell me about these visions of yours." Dean sat back and waited as Sam tried to sort out the visions in his mind.

"I don't know Dean…it's all kind of mixed up, I mean I saw a bear with yellow eyes, it…well it was trying to kill another hunter and then…" Sam looked away; he still felt a shiver when he saw the bear's eyes in his mind.

"Come on Sammy, spill it...all of it" Dean watched the emotions flowing across his brother's reflective face.

"I saw the bear with yellow eyes kill me Dean…I felt myself die!" Sam's breathing hitched in his throat as the horror of the vision was made real the moment he spoke it. He felt Dean grabbing him around the shoulders, but the shudders in his body wouldn't stop.

"Sammy…it's ok…you're safe. How many times do I have to tell you, nothing bad's gonna happen to you as long as I'm around?" Dean watched as Sam's tear filled eyes found his.

"But Dean, you weren't there…I was alone!" Sam could feel himself quivering like a child. He took a deep breath and tried to pull himself together. He didn't want Dean to think he was weak…acting like a small child who just woke from a nightmare. He was a grown man and would act like one.

Dean felt the change in Sam as he got his emotions under control. He patted Sam gently on the shoulder and wondered if he should press him for the rest. "Sam, can you tell me the rest?" Dean asked gently, deciding to leave it up to Sam.

"Yeah, the second one is all jumbled though…all I can remember is something about a white bear…a spirit bear, with yellow eyes. It wanted to kill her, but I don't know why…I just felt like we needed to protect her." Sam rubbed his aching temples as he tried to remember more of the dream, but nothing else would come.

"Well, the bear in the woods was white and it had yellow eyes…I'm betting it was mad at whatever stopped it from killing us…I could have sworn I heard…" Dean shook his head; maybe he didn't imagine it after all.

"What did you hear Dean?" Sam asked as he downed the rest of the bottle of water.

"I thought I heard a word floating on the wind…it was 'come'…nothing else." Dean watched as Sam's eyes were beginning to lose focus once more. Talking was taking a lot out of his brother.

"Look Sammy…we can talk about the rest of this later. The wound on your arm is still pretty badly infected. I'm afraid I need to clean it out and seal it…" Dean saw the resignation in his brother's eyes as he realized what was to come.

"Dean…we need to finish, I mean if this doesn't work…I might not be able to help you later." Sam swallowed as he thought about the pain to come. He quickly told Dean about his third vision, including the nymph and her plans for his brother. "Don't you see Dean, she is going to possess you and use you to help her do her job…I can't lose you Dean…I just can't do this on my own!" Sam grabbed at Dean's arm. "We need to get out of here today…before it's too late!"

"Sammy…listen to me…you are in no condition to go anywhere. We are both safe in the cabin, so you don't need to worry. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. Remember Sam, your visions don't always come true…in fact, we can use them to help us figure out a way to get rid of these supernatural freaks once and for all." Dean stood and placed the implements he would need to take care of Sam in the boiling water. He looked over and watched as Sam's face went a shade paler than before, but he could also see his brother gathering himself to endure it.

Dean handed Sam some more pills and helped him to take them. "These should help Sam, the pain pills should make you sleepy and the antibiotics will help with the infection…are you ready little brother?"

Sam nodded as Dean placed a clean washcloth in Sam's mouth. "Here, bite down on this. I'm going to wait just a few moments for the pills to take effect, and then I'll start. Don't worry, you'll be just fine." Dean watched as Sam's eyes closed again. Whether it was the pills or his injuries, he was thankful that Sam would not feel the worst of the pain.

Dean grabbed some rope from his pack and carefully tied Sam's good arm and legs to the bed. He didn't want Sam to move while he was doing his work. Looking again at his brother, Dean grit his teeth and carefully re-opened the wound, letting the blood and puss run out of the wound. Once he was sure it was clean, he took his knife and went to the fire place, letting the metal get hot, he returned and held it on the wound until the wound was sealed.

Sam arched off the bed when the hot metal hit his flesh…tears poured from his eyes that matched the tears falling from his brother's face as well. "I'm sorry Sammy…I wish there was another way!" Dean finished as quickly as he could; sighing with relief once the task was done. He patted Sam on the shoulder. "It's all done bro'…now you just need to do you part and heal. Just relax; I'll be here when you wake up!"

As Dean began his long vigil over his brother, he thought over what he had learned from Sam. Pulling out the computer and his father's journal, he figured he may as well spend the time learning as much as he could about nymphs. His eyes opened wider after he finished reading the first article on nymphs…"Great…just freakin great…how the hell do you kill a demi-god!"

ooooooooo

A pair of yellow eyes watched the cabin; frustrated when its attempts were blocked by the protective symbols…the demon realized he would have to come up with another plan to get into the cabin. Yes, he would come up with a plan and soon he would have his revenge on the Protector of the Woods, she would be sorry that she had messed with him….and so would the young hunter within the cabin.

TBC