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 11 – Bear Attack

Sam followed the nymph as she moved through the forest. Neither one of them had spoken since they had started to search for Dean. Sam hoped that meant that the nymph was thinking about what he had said. Suddenly the nymph stopped and looked in the opposite direction.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Sam asked fearfully, almost afraid to hear what she had seen.

"I must go, the demon is attacking a herd of deer nearby…I must stop him before he does more damage!" The nymph started heading away from Sam.

"WAIT!" Sam yelled. He knew that the nymph was the only one who could restore Dean. If he was right, every time the nymph used her powers, she became weaker. He couldn't explain it, but he had the feeling that if the nymph took on the demon, she would not be able to save his brother or even worse she could die. Sam knew that if the nymph died, everything within the forest would also die.

"Sam, there isn't time…I must go stop him before he kills again. Your brother is near here, I can sense him close by…he is hurt, but he is alive. I will return after I have taken care of the demon once and for all."

"No, please…listen to me! You can't go up against the demon; that is what he wants…he wants to destroy you. He is killing the animals to draw you to him. Look…you told me that you felt him getting stronger…if he has been able to switch into another body, his powers must have increased to allow him to break your hold over him. You will not be able to control him." Sam watched as the nymph accepted the truth of his words.

"That may be true, but it is my fate to do whatever is necessary to keep those under my protection safe. If it causes my destruction, then so be it. I am responsible for this monster, and I must be the one to destroy it." Once again the nymph could not see any other resolution.

Sam walked over to her and placed his hand on her arm. "Remember when we talked about alternatives…well you have an alternative here. I am a hunter…I know how to kill the demon. Look, I will make you a bargain; you find my brother and restore him. I will find the demon and do my best to destroy him."

"You would do this for me? Why?"

"I'm not just doing it for you; I am doing it to save my brother and to save all that would be destroyed if you should be killed." Sam was glad that he had grabbed his backpack when he left the nymphs cabin. All that he needed to fight the demon was contained within it…he hoped.

"You did not ask me to release your brother, only to restore him. I don't understand. Your goal was to set your brother free, but you would allow him to remain under my control in human form?" The nymph was having trouble understanding the young man in front of her. Yet, she sensed his sincerity…there was no underlying deceit.

"I am giving you a choice and trust you to make the right decision. Besides, we both know that I can't make you release him. I am hoping that you will think about what we have talked about and realize that Dean is not the solution you are looking for….do we have a deal?" Sam realized that he was taking a big risk, but also didn't see any other choice.

"Yes, I will do as you ask…but you must be careful, the demon has possessed the great brown bear. I no longer am able to control the beast from this distance, he will seek to kill you and I will not be able to help." The nymph was sure that Sam would change his mind. After all, it really wasn't his fight.

"Don't worry…I've got a plan…just point me in the right direction." Sam listened as the nymph gave him directions on where he would find the demon. Without a backwards glance, Sam left and headed back into the woods. He hoped that his fear hadn't communicated itself to the nymph…as soon as she said the words 'brown bear', Sam's vision came crashing back. The same bear that had killed him in his vision.

ooooooooo

Dean slowly opened his eyes, hoping that the past few hours had just been a nightmare. Unfortunately, the pain in his shoulder and the furry paws that his head currently laid on confirmed that it was definitely not a dream. Dean stood on unsteady feet as he moved outside of the small cave. He felt cold and weak, probably from the loss of blood. Looking at his shoulder, he could see that the wound had crusted over, but from the pain and fever he felt going through his body, he figured that infection had set in.

But through the haze and pain, only one thought remained. "I have to get to Sam…need to protect Sam!"

Dean stumbled through the forest, limping badly on the injured leg. He knew that he had to find the nymph and somehow convince her to return him to normal…"Huh, normal…now that's funny!" Dean shook his head, nothing about his whole life could be considered 'normal'. How was he going to explain this to his Dad? "Hey Dad, a funny thing happened on my way to killing a werewolf…"

Dean stumbled again, panting as the fever began to take tighter hold on his body and mind. As a small rodent came too close, Dean's jaws snapped and ate the mouse in one gulp. "Now that's definitely better than rabbit food…what the hell am I saying!" Dean's mind was still rebelling against the thought that he was in fact a wolf. Getting up once more, Dean's head snapped up as he heard a gun shot in the distance.

"Sammy!" Dean screamed in his mind. He didn't know how he knew, but he sensed that Sam was in trouble. "I'm coming Sammy…please be ok…you have to be!" Dean took off at a slow run, hindered by his injury. He wasn't sure what he could do in this form, but he would figure out something when he got there.

ooooooooo

Sam walked cautiously through the woods, knowing from his vision that the hunter had to be somewhere close by. He could still feel the anger running through his veins when he thought about what the hunter had done to his brother. But he would still try to stop the man before he got himself killed. Sam knew that the rifle would slow the animal down, but would not kill it. In fact, the hunter was likely to just make the demon/bear mad.

Sam's thoughts wandered to his brother. He hoped that he hadn't misjudged the nymph, but something told him that she would carry through with her promise. He was worried about his brother, he knew that he was hurt somewhere and probably needed him. But Sam knew that as long as the demon was around, both of them would be in danger. "Dean, I wish you were here." Sam thought as he moved on towards the clearing described to him by the nymph.

Once again, Sam watched in horror as the hunter took aim at the great bear. Before Sam could move, the bear saw the hunter and charged. "Run!" Sam shouted as he pulled his own rifle forward.

The hunter looked over at the young man running in his direction. He couldn't be caught, he couldn't leave any witnesses behind. He made his decision in a split second, turning his rifle from the bear, he aimed at the young man and fired. As he saw the young man fall, he returned his attention to the bear. Taking aim once more, he fired and hit the bear in the heart. Smiling as he saw the bear stumble and fall to the ground…the hunter walked towards the bear. "Well, this would make him more money than the wolf he lost…all in all a good day's hunt!"

The hunter kicked at the bear as he raised his weapon once more. But before the hunter could pull the trigger, the bear leapt to its feet and knocked the weapon from his hands. The last thing the hunter saw was the jaws of the great bear clamping down on his throat.

Sam struggled to his feet just in time to see the bear shredding what remained of the hunter. He felt the burning in his side where the bullet had entered. As he watched the bear, he reached into his pack and pulled out the machete and holy water. He attached the machete to his waist and placed the holy water into his pocket. He checked the rifle to make sure that it was loaded with the consecrated rounds and then walked towards the bear.

Sam realized that his plan was probably lame, but it was the best he could come up with on short notice. He was going to shoot the bear and then hopefully before it could recover, he would decapitate it. The holy water was there just in case the bear got close to him; hopefully it would deter the bear should things get too close.

The bear sensed Sam and turned, licking its lips as it realized his prize was close at hand. Once he killed the young hunter and fed on his body, he would powerful enough to go wherever he chose and kill whatever he wanted to kill. He saw the gun, but laughed…it would not stop him.

Sam knew he had to get close enough to the bear so that he could reach it right after he shot it. His mind was getting fuzzy from the loss of blood and his reactions were getting slower. "Damn it, I can do this…I must do this to save Dean!" Sam mentally kicked himself again for being weak. He had seen Dean take on a poltergeist with a knife wound that would have stopped most people…he was always amazed at how much pain his brother could endure. Funny, he had just taken Dean's fortitude for granted until now…maybe the nymph had something, maybe Dean had a special power of his own.

Sam's musings were disturbed by the roar of the bear as it charged at him. Raising the rifle, Sam took aim and fired. Unfortunately, the shot went high, only hitting the bear in the shoulder. "Shit!" Sam cried as he turned to run back towards the woods. He only got a few feet when he felt the bear's claws hit him in the back. Sam flew forward, landing on his knees, he rolled to face his attacker. Sam threw his arms in front of his face, trying to protect himself, he screamed as the bear's claws continued to rip into his flesh. The battle continued for a brief moment as Sam tried to push the bear off of him, but in the end Sam felt himself pinned beneath the massive paws.

He saw his death in the yellow eyes of the bear as his world went mercifully black.

TBC

Raven524: Sorry for the delay again folks, but I still haven't figured out how to add hours to the day…if anyone out there figures it out…let me know!