Wild West Brotherhood AU Summary:

The Supernatural link: Samuel Colt;

Disclaimer: If you stumbled over this story by coincidence, make sure to read my others of the Wild West Triad first (a timeline-related listing is attached in my profile). The story is set in the Brotherhood AU by Ridley C. James; I own nothing of the Brotherhood or Supernatural

The link to the Brotherhood of Dean, Sam and Caleb: many little details. Have fun finding them - feel free to comment or PM me if you find one (Easter Eggs mostly)

The current Triad: Wade Wilmington (Ridley's character for the Guardian), Mike Campbell (OC for The Knight) and Bastian Summers (OC for The Scholar), George Harris (OC for the Advisor)

The next Triad (The Wild West Triad): Daniel Wilmington (Ridley's), Cole Tanner (Ridley's) and Samuel Colt (Supernatural and Ridley's)

All six men live in Wyoming on the Wilmington Ranch. There is a small town named Canaan about 20 minutes (horse ride) east. The witch coven of Maddalena Talutti (Ridley's / the current Advisor's mother and Grandmother of Malachi Harris (Ridley's char)) is south of Fort William (later named Fort Laramee), today's Wyoming borderline to Colorado.

Caution: This is a death fiction. Very heartbreaking. So if you don't want to read it. Stop now! All who want to read - enjoy and have a tissue at hand.

A big thank you to Meemzz for reading through and your quick help. Check out her Brotherhood stories here on fanfiction as well.

Grief, A Heir, And A Bottle Of Gin

story by Meilean

Chapter 1 - Grief

Early April 1838 Wyoming, Wilmington Ranch

Grief. He had enough of that. He had lost enough. Cole Tanner wasn't willing to lose even more, but he already had. Last night had been the worst of his life. Even worse than losing Carolyn though before yesterday he couldn't even imagine a hurt that was more painful than losing his love almost six years ago.

Yesterday their fathers had died. The thought alone brought Cole to his knees.

His father, Mike Campbell, had given him this damn coin on his deathbed. Turning it in his hands he read the inscription for the hundredth time since then. NE OBLIVISCARIS - Cole wouldn't forget - never.

Yesterday

…. Mike Campbell looked weak, a thing Cole would have never brought in unison with the man. A next coughing fit went through The Knight's body. Cole handed him a cloth, he knew if not a miracle happened his father wouldn't survive the night.

Mike held it to his mouth and coughed a few times more. As he took the cloth from his mouth there were bloody stains to it. Exhausted Mike sunk back against the many pillows his son had stuffed behind his back to ease his breathing. Cole collected the other slid off cloth which had rested on Mike's forehead. He washed it out in cold water, rinsed it a bit and replaced it back on his father's forehead.

Mike sighed over the relief the cool fabric brought. Cole knew it would only help for a few minutes. "Son, open the drawer for me and give me the coin you'll find inside," Mike asked weakly.

Cole would do whatever Mike wanted him to do. He had listened to his orders before but since he had become so sick, Tanner's soul cried to see him so bedstricken. The young man would do everything to make it easier for Mike. He opened the drawer and handed his father the wanted item without words.

A faint smile rushed over the man's lips as he took the coin from Cole. "NE OBLIVISCARIS - it is the slogan of the Campbell's, I already told you. I chose the engraving to your harmonica because you are a Campbell too. My father gave me this coin as a talisman when I left Scotland for the ship to America. I want you to have it now. Seems its magic for me is gone. But for you it's still magic inside."

Tears blurred Cole's sight. He didn't want to hear these words of goodbye. He wanted Mike to get better. He knew there was no cure from the fever at this state. He lied to himself. His mother died the same way, he only had been too young to see it coming then. Now he saw it with all its cruelty. But he couldn't lose his father, mentor, The Knight, his friend. "No Mike, you'll get better, you'll see."

"Oh son, my brave strong son," Mike laid a hand on Cole's wet cheek. "I love you. And you made me so proud to let me be your father. Don't be sad, you have your family still here. Daniel will need you more than you can imagine. Wade will not make it any longer. I feel his suffering, as well as Bastian's. The Triad will ride to its last journey soon. And then you three will be the Triad. We taught you everything we could. You will be a good Triad, George will guide your way as your Advisor, he always was a good and loyal friend to us. Like all others he may have his failures but he never let us down. Can you watch out for him? He knows how to find trouble."

The next coughing fit began. It was more intense than the one before and Mike had to gather his strength for several minutes, before he felt able to speak again. The rattling breaths he took worried Cole the whole day.

"Here take it, it is yours now." Mike pushed the coin in Cole's hands. "It is not all of your heritage. I gave my last will to Lewis Baker. You should visit him soon after we are gone."

He paid not much attention to the cool metal in his hand, still listening to his father's words. "No, Dad, I can not do this without you. Please don't …," Cole pleaded.

"Cole, you can't change destiny. God has a plan, trust him."

"How can this be God's plan? I can not lose any of you." Cole let the tears run down his cheeks freely, taking Mike's weak hand to hold it. He rested his forehead on the mattress, crying desperately.

He was exhausted too. All three young men cared for the Triad for a whole week bound to bed. They had neither the time to care for the ranch, themselves, nor to sleep properly. Cole felt so drained. He closed his burning eyes only for a second, listening to his father's calming voice.

"Don't lose your trust in the Lord, my boy. I know sometimes he seems to be cruel but he plans for longer time periods as mankind. One life is sometimes not enough to see his plan come true. The people we meet and any life we touch during our time on earth can be the saviors of the future." Mike smiled warmly at Cole while he stroked through his dark wavy hair, shushing him to sleep.

*** The Wild West Triad - prequel ***

Cole was woken by a strange feeling and he felt cold. His hand was still connected with his father's but it was much too silent in the room. Cole's head jerked up from the mattress where he had fallen asleep, still sitting on the chair next to Mike's bed. There was a missing sound in here. Then he realized what it was.

Mike wasn't breathing.

Cole touched his hand which had slid from Cole's head. It felt ice cold.

"Mike?" He croaked brokenly. Cole touched the man's cheek. "Dad?" It felt lifeless, no reaction, no life. "No! No, dad, no, don't go, No ... please don't … I need you, please don't leave me," Cole whispered, heartbreakingly crying. In the depth of his heart he knew it was too late - Mike Campbell was gone.

Sky began to howl together with him, snuggling her snout under his arm. Cole brought a hand to Sky's fur and hid his wet face in her comforting fur.

Soon a shout from the neighboring room brought his mind back to reality.

"NO, dad!" Daniel's voice sounded hoarse and broken.

Cole knew what must have happened. Mike had told him - The Triad would ride a last time. He had to get to Daniel. His cousin would need him.

Wiping his own tears from his cheeks and eyes, he tried to gather some strength for the next cut through his heart. Cole got up, placing a kiss on Mike's forehead. "I love you, dad. Have a safe journey with your Brothers."

The shouts changed to sobbing. Cole hurried out of the door followed by Sky. On the floor he turned right to Wade's room. His uncle had been his father too. The man had raised him before Mike had found out he was his real father.

Daniel gave the same picture like Cole must've given earlier with Mike. Bent over the dead body of his father, Daniel Wilmington's shoulders trembled from crying. Cole found no words, he just kneeled next to him and took him in his arms.

"He is gone, Cole. My dad is gone," Daniel sobbed into Cole's shirt, whispering barely audible.

"I know, I'm so sorry … so sorry, sh… I'm here for you, I'm here…" Cole's own tears fell down on Daniel's back while holding and rocking them both back and forth. His two years younger cousin had always been his best friend, his brother. His pain was as physical for Cole as his own.

The floorboard quaked. Strong calm hands came around them. Samuel Colt had a gift - not only one - but this one was no supernatural one, it was his nature. Strong and supportive. He held his Brothers in their grief. "Bastian is gone too. So is Mike, I was in his room."

Cole nodded at the words. "I know." Cole felt Daniel tense in his arms, crying even more under the added loss.

Later the three young men were gathered in Cole's room. Sam held Daniel in his arms sitting on Cole's bed until Daniel finally fell asleep. Cole stayed in the wing chair next to the bed with one hand stroking Daniel's back and the other in Sky's white fur. Neither of them wanted to be alone that night.

TBC

A/N: Please tell me what you think of it so far. Did I promise too much?