I'm so very absent minded. I should have thanked some peopel in the first chapter. Thanks to Tidia, Wendy and Ridley for the support and feedback. Tidia & Wendy for beta and Ridley for letting me use her wonderful characters
Chapter 3
Caleb walked into the living room of his adoptive father's condo. The room was large with an open floor plan. The ceiling to floor windows overlooked the balcony with a view of Central Park just beyond. Caleb always liked this place. It was minimally decorated. The rooms resembled the inside of an old warehouse. As he entered the room he heard Mac talking on the phone. Not wanting to disturb his father if it was important, he turned to leave. He stopped when he heard a familiar name.
"Sam, where's your father?"
The young hunter cursed as he walked further into the room. John's obsessiveness with the demon that killed his wife was putting a strain on the brotherhood. Not only on them, but the two people Caleb knew John loved. From the one-sided conversation Caleb figured Dean was in the hospital. Taking a seat he waited for Mac to finish.
"Sometimes I wonder about that man," the doctor sighed. The younger hunter didn't comment on the habits of one John Winchester.
"How's Deuce?"
Mac gave his son an annoyed look. "Why do you insist on using that juvenile nickname?"
"He calls me Lucifer, I call him Deuce."
"So it's a bonding thing?"
"In a matter of speaking," Caleb smiled. "But Deuce is better than some of the other things I've called him."
"I'm sure."
"Seriously, how is he?"
"Not good, I'm afraid," Mac answered. He stood up and walked over to a wall filled with books. "Dean may be in serious trouble."
"He's tough." Caleb admitted grudgingly. "That brat of a kid brother ain't so bad either."
Mac said nothing as he found the book he was looking for and pulled it down. Caleb noticed it was one of the older ones containing archaic spells. This caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. If his adopted father was consulting that book it didn't look good for Dean. The older man came back to the couch and placed the book on the table. Flipping it open, he thumbed through the pages. When he found what he was looking for he laid the book flat and turned to his adopted son. Caleb looked at the page and cursed. In several languages.
"My sentiments exactly."
"How long ago was he bitten?"
Caleb looked away from the book. The drawings of a man transforming into a wolf were disturbing enough. Thinking about Dean in that context was even worse.
"Two days," Mac answered. "But, that wasn't the only injury Dean received. His right femur is broken along with some ribs and his collarbone. Sam also mentioned claw marks on his brother's chest."
"Claw marks?" Caleb asked confused. "Wolves don't usually claw their prey."
"This wasn't a werewolf," Mac said. "But a werecat. Mountain Lion to be exact."
"Great!" The younger hunter replied, running his finger through his long hair. "The perfect hunter."
"What has me a bit concerned is Dean has been unconscious since the attack."
"Blow to the head?"
"Yes," Mac stood. "I'm going to give Dean's physician a call. You start going through the book and see what you find."
Caleb watched his father leave. He quickly became engrossed in the information. He didn't know how long he'd been reading when images started flashing into his head. Images of Mac's apartment with Dean standing on the balcony. The images flickered as if it was a bad movie. The eldest Winchester brother walked towards the balcony and stepped over the railing. Sam screamed his name and as the blond hunter turned towards Caleb. His eyes were slit like a cat's. Just before Sam reached his brother, Dean jumped.
"No!"
"It's alright son." Mac said, squeezing his shoulders. Caleb shuddered and drove the heals of his hands into his eyes. "What did you see?"
"I saw Dean jump off the balcony," Caleb explained. "He had the eyes of a cat."
Mac's lips were set in a grim line as he looked at Caleb. "We're not going to let that happen."
Caleb sure hoped his father was right.