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 9 – Finding Dean

Sam woke with a start, rubbing his temples as the headache from his newest nightmare remained. He must have dozed off while doing research; his back ached from sleeping with his head on the table all night. Rising from the chair, Sam stretched and noticed that it was almost dawn. Soon he would begin the search for his brother. But first, he needed to get his things ready.

As dawn broke over the trees, Sam exited the cabin and began to search the area for any sign of Dean's direction. An experienced tracker thanks to the hours spent with his father and brother on various hunts, Sam soon found Dean's trail. Luckily, Dean was not making any attempts to hide his trail; otherwise Sam would not have been able to follow him.

As Sam walked, he mentally reviewed what he knew about the nymph. The nymph was not immortal, but rather had a very long life span. Unfortunately, there was no known way to kill the nymph, but she also was not all powerful. According to what Sam found, she was able to control you on a temporary basis by using some type of mind control. But the power to maintain this control would drain her powers considerably if used for a long period of time. She could however bind the person to her by transforming him into an animal form. While in the animal form, the being would be under her control. Sam figured that was how she had been able to control the demon.

The person would remain trapped in the animal form until the nymph decided to release them, or until their death. Sam walked faster as he thought about his brother being transformed…he only hoped that he wasn't too late already. Sam reached the cabin in his vision by mid morning. He did not sense any danger and felt safe, just as he had in his vision.

Sam went to the door and was not surprised when it opened to reveal the nymph. "Hi Sam, I've been expecting you."

Sam sighed as he entered the cabin, already knowing what he would find. He also knew that his previous arguments had failed to sway the nymph. Sam glanced at Dean sitting calmly at the table. There was no recognition his brother's eyes.

Sam looked at the nymph and decided to try a different approach. "I understand why you feel you need my brother to help you. But what I don't understand is why him? Look, if you let him go, I will stay and help you voluntarily…surely I would be better than Dean, he is what you are trying to kill…he is a true hunter at heart."

The nymph looked at Sam and smiled. "You have a noble heart Sam. But you know so little about your brother. Yes, I know that he is a hunter, but his heart is not the heart of the hunter, but rather the heart of the protector. His strength comes from his power to protect. It is this power that will serve my needs, I will teach him to use his power if he will let me. But if not, then he will serve me as the other did before…in the form of one of my animals."

"You say he has a special power to protect, but in order for his power to be effective, he must choose to use his power. You can't just tap into it and use if for something that Dean doesn't care about…you may be able to control his actions, but you cannot control his heart!"

"I don't have time to deal with you right now Sam, I have bigger problems. You have a choice, you can either leave here alive or you can forfeit your life!" The nymph looked at Dean who slowly stood and faced Sam. Luckily Sam knew what to expect and had come prepared. Before Dean could pull the gun, Sam tackled his brother. "Dean…Dean…I know you are still in there. You have to fight her Dean, please I need you!"

Dean blinked for a moment, his green eyes looking up into Sam's brown ones with a trace of fear. "Sam?" Dean said as he shook his head. "Get off me…what the hell?" Then he remembered, he was at the home of the nymph and if Sam was here, that meant Sam was in trouble. Before Sam could move, Dean shoved him off and stood glaring at the nymph.

"You will not hurt my brother!" Dean said as he placed himself between the nymph and Sam.

The nymph closed her eyes and tried to gain control once more, but was astonished when Dean continued to defy her. This was not possible…no one could resist her mind control. "Dean, I told you before, Sam will not be harmed and I meant it. But we have work to do and he must leave here. Please, I need you help."

Dean could sense the nymph's powers fading, he had felt her attempt to gain control, but somehow he had managed to block it. Deciding that he didn't want to take time to figure it out, Dean motioned to Sam to exit out the door. "Go Sam, I'll be right behind you!"

Sam moved towards the door, keeping an eye on the nymph. Dean began to back towards the door when the nymph calmly walked towards him. "Stay back…I don't want to hurt you!" Dean cried as he turned to run out the door. But he wasn't fast enough, before he reached the door; the nymph had grabbed his arm. Dean felt a sharp pain and cried out, his eyes widening in fear.

"Dean…NO!" Sam yelled as he watched in horror. In the spot where his brother once stood, he could see a large grey wolf…a wolf with hazel green eyes! Sam stepped towards the wolf, but stopped as he heard the low growl coming from the animal's throat.

"Kill him" the nymph ordered. She now realized that in order for her to control Dean's powers, she would first have to get rid of the one that he protected…she needed to get rid of Sam.

"Dean…Oh God, Dean…" Sam gasped as the gray wolf jumped on him and knocked him to the ground. A flashback of the previous fight flashed before Sam's eyes. Once again he put his arm up to defend himself. The wolf bared his teeth and looked at Sam. Sam could swear that he saw the confusion in the wolf's eyes just before it leapt off Sam and ran into the woods.

The nymph ignored Sam as she drifted off into the forest after Dean. She could feel Dean's anguish and desperation as he fled. She had to get to him; she had to try to get him under her control. She would take care of Sam later.

Dean's mind was on fire. His mind was refusing to accept the change in his physical body. This couldn't be happening; it had to be some kind of trick. Dean continued to run; his only thought was to get away from the one who had done this to him. For the first time in his life, Dean gave into the fear.

He wasn't sure why, but he could sense the nymph following him. He could hear her calling to him in his mind. "Dean…stop, please! I had no choice; you must stop before you get hurt!"

Dean shook his head, he didn't believe her. She had said that Sam would be safe, and yet she had ordered him to kill his own brother.

ooooooooo

Sam got shakily to his feet and started to follow his brother into the woods. He had to get to Dean before something bad happened. He wasn't sure why, but Sam felt that time was running out for both of them. He quickened his pace, hoping that he could get to Dean before the nymph.

ooooooooo

"Oh God, Sammy!" Dean screamed in his mind. How was he going to protect his brother now? Once again he had failed him. Dean slowed, trying to figure out what to do. He couldn't keep running forever, he had to try to come up with a plan. Dean ran into a clearing and stopped just outside the tree line. He smelled the air and was satisfied that he was alone, at least for the moment.

Dean remembered reading that only the nymph could change him back into human form. So, he had to somehow trick or talk her into changing him back. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but he had to find a way…he had to or else Sam would be unprotected and that was something that Dean would not allow to happen.

Decision made, Dean turned to go back into the woods. He knew that she would find him soon. He could sense her coming as he heard her voice once more. "Dean, stay where you are…you are in danger!" Dean sniffed the wind once more, but did not sense any danger. He continued to walk towards where he felt the nymph was coming form. As he moved forward, he suddenly heard a branch crack off to his left.

Turning his head, he saw the end of the rifle pointing directly at him. Dean leapt forward, but even he could not outrun a bullet…the last thing Dean felt was the pain as the bullet hit.

TBC

Raven524: Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing this story. I really appreciate the comments…please keep them coming!