Chapter 23

Everything in Sam was on fire. His body was in complete and total agony. He looked wildly and pleadingly to the area behind the demon where John Dayton stood looking rather shocked, but unable to make a move. The boy started to step forward, but a sharp turn of the head from the demon stopped him even though Sam could see that he was clearly struggling to break the hold that the creature had on him.

"I can't do anything!" John Dayton replied anxiously.

Sam didn't respond, because he couldn't. He wanted the psychic to try harder, because Sam could feel the demon stealing strength from him and with every jolt of pain sent through Sam, the demon gained more control. The skies had cleared off some and patches of blue peaked through the grey clouds, maybe the demon couldn't control the weather after all. Then again, maybe it could, but it was just taking too much of the thing's concentration to focus on Sam and the weather both. One of the items had to be released and Sam knew that it wasn't going to be him.

However, the approaching blue didn't seem to bother the creature. Sam hadn't expected it to. True enough, most supernatural elements came out at night and that's when they were strongest, but perhaps the demon standing before him was an exception to the rule. The brothers had been in contact with this thing both day and night and it seemed to be just as strong at either time. The strength of the creature was constant and unwavering. Another jolt of pain shot through Sam and he yelled out in surprise.

The Dayton boy had ceased all attempts at breaking loose and now, lines of concentration were painted across his face. He stepped closer to the demon, the controlling aura flickering madly and reached out to him. The demon released its hold on Sam and turned to Dayton, who only watched the thing through bright eyes.

Sam collapsed to the ground, his body pulling him into unconsciousness almost instantly. He didn't even see his father and brother rush toward the scene. All he saw was the darkness that swallowed him up the first chance it got.

Dean took the offered iron from his father's hand and pressed it into the demon's back as it began to turn toward them. There was a shout of surprise, mingling with pain as the thing hit the ground, steam rolling out of the small puncture wound that Dean had made. The oldest brother pressed his knees into the thing's back and shoved the iron against the black material of the suit it wore.

"Do it, dad!" Dean shouted above the demon's screams.

John obeyed instantly and began the banishing incantation once more. The demon thrashed wildly beneath Dean's hold, but was unable to escape as the Winchester father continued. Dean felt a heat radiating from the demon that scorched his knees and hands, but he refused to move and kept the iron firmly in place, even as it grew hot to the touch. He grimaced at the metal he held and shot a quick look over his shoulder to where Sam lay unmoving in the grass.

Sunlight streamed through the clouds above and tiptoed gently across Dean's face, he turned his attention back to where John was just finishing the banishment. With the final word said, the demon cried out loud enough to pierce even the thickest silence. Dean's knees hit the ground as the body beneath him whispered away and a dark cloud shimmered from existence.

"Is it done?" Dean asked.

"It's done." John finalized.

Dean quickly tore his hands away from the smoldering iron and shook them wildly. John hurried to Sam's side and knelt, feeling for a pulse. He found one and breathed a sigh of relief. A nod toward Dean gave the younger man a huge sense of thankfulness; he hadn't lost his baby brother. He then looked back to the spot where the demon had just been.

"What about the person the thing was inhabiting?" Dean asked.

John shook his head. "That demon didn't inhabit, it only took on the characteristics of an individual. The man should be nearby, still alive because the demon could only shift into the image of a living person." John replied.

"It was like a shape shifter then?" Dean wondered.

"Yes, but it also had similarities with other demons. It was a lot like a Saenu, but with benefits." John replied.

The father's eyes scanned the surrounding area and he got to his feet. John moved swiftly to a place in the grass further away and knelt, he pulled the remainder of the antidote he gave to Dean from his pocket, kneeled, and splashed the ground with it. Then he stood again.

"Here's the real man, he's fine, just unconscious." John called.

"Poisoned?" Dean asked.

"No. He should be waking up anytime, now that the demon's gone." John replied.

Next to Dean, Sam began to stir slowly, blinking rapidly and clawing his way back to consciousness. Dean smiled and patted the younger man's chest. The youngest brother's eyes opened and he looked wearily at Dean who only flashed a grin his way.

"He's awake, dad." The older brother called. He looked to where John was pulling a now conscious, Liam to his feet and leading him to where Dean and Sam were positioned.

John settled the young man next to Sam who was sitting up with Dean's help. Sam's eyes locked on Dean and a confused look crossed his face.

"What are you doing here?" Sam questioned, but he didn't sound disappointed.

"Pulling your ass from the fire, again." Dean smirked.

"Oh, thanks." Sam replied.

"Not a problem, Sammy."

"Dude, it's Sam." The youngest brother corrected.

"You wish." Dean said.

Sam looked up and saw John Dayton watching him with a smile.

"Thanks." The dead psychic replied and without further words, he was gone, leaving Sam with a broad smile resting on his lips.

"I'll drop Liam off at the hospital and then take you guys back to the motel for the Impala." John replied.

The brothers nodded in agreement and made their way toward the truck.


At the hospital, Liam was taken inside with the aid of John and Sam. Dean followed. After the other man had been taken into the ER, Sam grabbed his father by the arm.

"Can we stay for a few minutes? I wanna check up on the Daytons." Sam questioned.

John sighed, but nodded with a small smile. "Sure."

Sam thanked him and asked the front desk where Kaylee was being cared for.

"Room three thirteen, just before you get to the ICU." The nurse replied warmly.

"Thanks." Sam told her and then followed Dean and John to the room.

Stepping into the hospital room was both inviting and intimidating at the same time. Inviting, because the moment Kathleen saw the Winchesters she smiled warmly and rushed forward to greet each man. However, it was intimidating because neither brother knew what to expect upon crossing the threshold of the door.

What greeted them, however was a smiling Kaylee, holding her father's hand and casting gentle eyes in the direction of the family of three.

"You know, I still feel like I know you, Michael. You're a lot like John in so many ways." Kathleen replied.

"Maybe that's why we were such good friends." Sam said.

He thought about the communication that he'd been sharing with the other man and realized why he seemed so familiar to Kathleen. When Jonathan had reached out to Sam's mind, a piece of him had gone with it. That small piece imbedded itself in Sam's consciousness, which is how the youngest Winchester knew so much about the Dayton family. In a sense, he'd been sharing the consciousness of the Dayton psychic. That small piece of consciousness was slowly edging away as John Dayton's spirit finally found rest, but there'd always be a piece of the young man with Sam. Kathleen sensed that small piece of her son in Sam and therefore, felt as though she knew Sam from a previous meeting.

"Maybe." Was all Sam said.

There was a soft knock on the door and all turned to see Kacey watching with a soft smile.

"Am I interrupting?" The young man asked, his grey eyes searching the room and passing from face to face.

"No, not at all, dear. Come on in." Kathleen said warmly and pulled him into a hug. The man returned the hold and then his eyes went to the Winchesters. They rested on John and lingered there.

"I guess I owe you a thanks for getting me out of there." Kacey replied simply.

Kathleen's eyes wandered to the Winchester father.

"You're the man that found him, aren't you, professor?"

John only nodded.

"We've got to get going, we just came by to see how Kaylee's doing." Dean replied.

"Do you really have to be going so soon? You just got here." Mr. Dayton replied.

"Yeah, we really do." Dean responded.

"Oh yeah, we brought Liam in, he's in the ER getting checked over. Everything's fine with him though, so he should be up here shortly. He knows the room." Sam replied.

"Thank you." Kathleen said.

Kaylee smiled and Mr. Dayton nodded a farewell, not leaving his daughter's side. Kacey shook hands with the three Winchesters and thanked each of them in turn. With the farewells said, the three men left the hospital.


At the motel, Dean got out and immediately went to his car to caress it fondly.

"There you are, safe and sound, just like I left you." He told the vehicle with a small smile.

Sam shook his head and turned to his father, ignoring Dean's childish obsession with the inanimate object. Although he had to admit, he did love driving that car. Not that his big brother entrusted that honour to him very often, but when he did, he truly treasured it.

John's face was grave, but still showed the compassion he had for his sons.

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" Sam asked simply, getting straight to the point. John nodded somberly.

"That thing that killed your mother is still out there and I plan to destroy it."

"Why do you have to do it alone? I mean, it killed Jess too, dad." Sam replied a bit sharply.

"Sam, I realize that, but I think it's safer if I go alone." John said calmly.

"What if it's not?" Sam asked.

John gave the young man a look that told him it would be best not to question the decision at the moment and Sam sighed. The youngest brother turned his eyes away and regained his composure before looking back to his father.

Dean, who had been watching the exchange with shadowed eyes, walked up next to Sam.

"Be careful." Dean told his father. The man nodded and stepped forward to pull the oldest into a hug.

"You too. Look after each other. Oh, and thanks for not listening, I couldn't have taken that thing down without you, son. But, that doesn't give you the right to do it again, got it?" John asked.

"Yes, sir. You're welcome." Dean replied.

The father's eyes shifted to where his youngest son was staring coolly at him. John sighed and grabbed Sam's shoulder with a small expression of fondness. He then turned away and got back into the truck. The engine was turned on and the two brothers watched their father pull out of the motel parking lot.

The Winchester father watched his sons in the rearview mirror and kept driving. The boys would watch out for each other. There was no way that Dean would let anything happen to Sam, and Sam would be sure to be there if Dean needed his ass to be pulled out of danger. They worked well as each other's support system and kept each other grounded.

"So Sam, where we headed next?" Dean asked after their father's truck had left their sights.

Sam shrugged quietly and Dean watched the younger curiously.

"You okay, Sam?" Dean asked.

"I'm fine." The youngest man replied before ducking into the passenger seat of the Impala.

Dean didn't press further and slid into the driver's seat with a satisfied groan.

"This, now this is nice. I missed this and I'm sure she missed me, didn't ya?" Dean replied touching the steering wheel gently and winking at his little brother.

A small chuckle came from Sam's side and Dean grinned with the satisfaction of knowing that he had gotten through his brother's gloomy attitude and made him lighten up.

"I'm hungry, you hungry?" Dean questioned.

"Yeah, a little." Sam admitted.

"Then let's go grab lunch." Dean offered.

"On one condition." Sam said.

"And that is?"

"You let me pick the place this time." Sam smiled, recalling the horrible service they'd gotten at the last restaurant Dean had picked.

Dean thought for a moment with a look of dreamy contemplation on his features and then he nodded.

"Sure thing." He told the man in the passenger seat. He turned the key in the ignition and pulled the car out onto the main road. He leaned ahead and flicked the radio switch, turning the music up to a huge volume.

"Dean!" Sam shot at him.

"Sorry Sammy, did you say something?" Dean teased.

THE END

A/N: Thanks for reading, to those of you that did and I hope to hear your opinions on this piece. Until next time!