A/N: Hello, hello, hello my friends! I hope that you enjoy this next chapter. I've started work on my next story, but I'm curious as to what people actually want to read. Do you want teen!chesters? Do you Jack and Cas? Just Sam and Dean or a healthy dose of Bobby? Do we want angst or comfort? Sam and Dean separated or together? I dunno exactly what I'm doing yet so if you have a preference for anything, let me know.

Can't promise that it will be anything great, though, but I think we are all aware of my limitations. :)

Also, I apologize for any mistakes in this chapter. I just didn't have it in me today for the long editing process that I usually go through.

Chapter Four

Dean couldn't help the anxious glances he kept sending Sam out of the corner of his eye. The hike back was mostly downhill and a light breeze was drifting over them, yet Sam was sweating bullets and looked positively grey.

It's the adrenaline crash, Dean's mind supplied helpfully, and Dean drifted closer, ready to tuck a hand under an elbow or around his waist at a moment's notice.

They needed to get Sam out of here and to the hospital, or at the very least a motel room and their more extensive first-aid kit.

"We're get'in' close, right?" Sam mumbled softly, brushing his damp hair off his forehead and resting the back of his hand against it as he swallowed convulsively.

"Yeah, dude, just around the corner I think." Dean's hand flashed out, knotting in the back of Sam's jacket as he lilted to the side. Damn adrenaline crashes, Sam had been doing so good until things had calmed down… Hell, he had climbed up the side of a mountain just to warn Dean.

"Told Maddie that we were coming back, that the demon wouldn't attack her again," Sam shifted his hand just enough to meet Dean's eyes. "What if…"

"I doubt Emma even thought about Maddie still being alive, much less going back for her," Dean assured, but Sam still looked troubled and Dean's grip changed from supportive to comforting. "Whatever is there, we'll take care of it, okay? One way or the other."

Sam nodded jerkily, steeling his shoulders. "We go in toget'er, thoug'."

Dean hesitated and Sam came to a stop, giving him a pointed look that even the glaze in his eyes couldn't interfere with. "Together, Dean."

"Hey! I wasn't the one who went and added a new hole to my body when left to my own devices."

Sam's glare intensified and Dean kicked out at a lone rock, sending it scattering down the mountain path. "Alright, alright. We go in together or not at all, happy?"

Sam nodded, his shoulders relaxing and head dipping towards his chest as Dean grumbled something vaguely unpleasant. They rounded the corner and sure enough, sitting off to the side looking as run down and abandoned as ever stood the cabin.

"Birds are still chirping," Dean muttered, edging closer to Sam as he shifted his flask from hand to hand.

Sam only nodded, looking to worn out to complete the thought. Creatures were sometimes the best alarm system to the supernatural and they had been trained from a young age to pay attention to them.

The door was still open a jar from when Sam had left and Dean swiftly moved in front of his brother, taking point as he eased the door open.

Maddie was curled up in a ball on the floor, Sam's silver flask of holy water clutched to her chest. Again, he would take that as a good sign that the demon hadn't repossessed her, but then again Emma had played possum one time too many for him to feel completely safe.

Pulling out his own flask, Dean crept in through the doorway, careful to stay an arm's reach away. Maddie's head shot up, her eyes going wide and terrified as she fumbled to unscrew the lid on the flask.

"Stay away!" Back up!" Her voice was shrill as she scrambled back, dragging her bad leg with her.

"Woah, hold up, Maddie, it's just me, I swear." Dean moved back a step, holding up his hands. "Well, me and Sam but that's a good thing 'cause the demon can't possess two people at once." He grinned lightly at her. Sam waved a hand limply from where he was hunched over against the doorframe. He gave her a reassuring smile, but it faltered as quickly as it had come as pain darkened his face.

Maddie's eyes remained hard with distrust. "You could be lying."

"Lying? C'mon, sonofa—" Dean broke off, forcing himself to remain patient. "How's this, I toss water on you, you return the favor. If everyone passes the test, then we can all hold hands and sing Kumbaya."

Maddie glanced up at him, distrust and fear warring on her face before she nodded. Taking a step forward, Dean sprinkled a small amount on Maddie's hand as she flinched back, flinging a full arc of water towards Dean.

Nothing happened and both their shoulders dropped simultaneously as Dean wiped at his face.

"Now him," Maddie demanded, jerking her head towards Sam who had edged far enough into the room to lean against an old rickety table that looked like it was about to give under his weight.

"Would you believe me if I told you that that is wholly Sam, no demon?" Dean asked, tugging the flask from her and tucking it into his pocket for safekeeping. Maddie's eyes went wide with fear and Dean sighed heavily.

Exchthe holy water, he dipped his fingers in it and pressed them against the exposed skin on Sam's wrist. Nothing.

Maddie collapsed back to the ground, wiping shaking hands across her face before pressing them over her mouth, just suppressing a sob.

"Hey…" Dean said a little uncomfortably, "Don't—don't cry."

Sam grunted next to him, his knuckles turning white against the table as he closed his eyes. Dean swiveled, dropping the flask in exchange for wrapping an arm around Sam's shoulders. Letting him lean his full weight against him, Dean's free hand jumped up to Sam's pulse point.

Sam's heart was racing, further confirming his worry from earlier.

"You're not gonna pass out on me here, are you, Sam?" Dean tightened his grip, feeling the first dregs of panic racing through his system. This whole situation was rapidly spiraling out of his control and they weren't even close to seeing it through.

"Maybe a little," Sam mumbled, giving Dean another one of his half-smiles, and Dean's stomach churned.

"Alright. Uh…" Dean glanced from the crying girl on the floor to Sam and shook his head. First things first, they needed to take a minute, reorganize and figure out a plan and Sam didn't need to be vertical or aware for that. "Think that bed will hold the weight of a Sasquatch?"

Sam snorted, his fingers spasming against the wood and Dean ducked under his arm, pulling him away and towards the ratted old thing. "We're going down on three," he instructed and together they dropped towards the musty coverings. Sam hit the bed with a low keen, his eyes screwing up as he doubled over and Dean took the opportunity to push him over onto his side.

"Sorry," Sam's voice was soft and Dean scoffed, slapping his calf lightly in rebuke as he elevated his brother's feet using the headboard. Taking a step back, he shrugged out of his jacket and flicked it over Sam's shoulders, tucking it in around him.

"Rest for a moment, I'll figure it out," Dean said quietly, cupping Sam's face and patting his cheek affectionately. Sam could only nod, looking moments away from puking up his guts.

Maddie was still crying on the floor and Dean crouched down next to her. "Sam said that your ankle is busted?" He was already extending her leg and gently palpitating around the obviously swollen limb. She gasped sharply, breathing in and out through her nose as he worked. Shaking his head in frustration, Dean reached across to their already limited first-aid and began to unravel some of the ace bandages.

"This will help brace it, but I'm not going to lie, it's bad and there's not much I can do for you but give you some painkillers." Dean extended two tablets and she took them, curling back up on the ground.

"I shouldn't have talked to you at the diner. I knew you looked like trouble," she muttered under her breath and Dean shrugged.

"Probably, but what's done is done. We're going to get you out of here and then everything will go back to normal."

"Yeah. Normal."

"You'll live to tell the tale," Dean said gruffly as he finished bandaging her ankle and sat back, glancing at the door. How the hell was he going to get them all back in one piece? For a moment the weight threatened to drag him to the ground but then Sam's arm flopped against his shoulder and Dean turned, looking quizzically at him. Sam's eyes had slipped closed, but he rolled his head towards him.

"What?" Dean asked forcefully.

"How are our supplies looking?"

Dean blinked in surprise at the question but tugged his duffle closer, taking a quick inventory as he shifted nearer to Sam, subconsciously holding the conversation between just the two of them. "We've got a lot of useless weapons, two and a half bottles of water. Half a canister of salt and enough holy water to satisfy a craving. So basically we are screwed."

"Yeah," Sam huffed, his brow furrowing as he thought.

Dean sat back a little on his heels, leaning against the bed as he kept the doorway in view. "I'd kill for Ruby's knife right about now, but…hey, do you think Emma was serious when she said that she was going to give us three hours, well, two hours and…twenty eight minutes."

"Yeah, actually, I do." Sam paused, his face paling a little as he shifted. "ah, 'cause we know she's crazy but she also has this all played out in her head and it's a game to her. She's not going to break the rules of her own game."

Dean nodded once, his eyes traveling back to Maddie who was watching them with wide eyes.

"Hey, you still got that map?" Dean swiveled back to Sam, already pushing his own jacket aside and very carefully digging through Sam's. He pulled it out, grimacing at the wet splotches from where Sam's blood had soaked through the pocket. Laying it out on the floor, he glanced once at Maddie but spoke loudly enough that Sam knew he was included in it.

"You should get some sleep, or at least rest, cause we are going to have to move fast once we leave. I'll figure something out in the meantime."

#

When Dean had asked—ordered—for both Sam and Maddie to rest, Sam hadn't actually meant to do so, but he was growing increasingly dizzy and keeping his eyes open was just making it worse. The next thing that he knew, Dean's hand was against his shoulder and his voice soft as he shook him awake.

"Sammy?"

"'m up," Sam pushed Dean's hand away, prying his eyes open. The constant throb of pain greeted him, but at least the dizziness and nausea had abated somewhat. His head felt clearer as well. Dean was watching him with a critical eye, but something seemed to ease in his face a little and he stepped back.

"You look better," he said decisively as he reclaimed his jacket and tightened the straps on the duffle. "Ready for the race off Demon Mountain?"

"What?" Maddie spoke up in confusion from where she was sitting, propped up against the wall. The shadows under her eyes were more pronounced than Sam had remembered, and guilt stirred in his gut, she never should have been dragged into is.

"Race to Witch Mountain? It's a Disney…nevermind," Dean waved a hand before turning to Sam.

"We've got about an hour—"

"An hour?!" Sam sat straight up and instantly regretted the movement as white-hot agony coursed through his whole body. His face was pressed against Dean's chest when he resurfaced and his brother's arms were wrapped around his shoulders. They were probably the only thing keeping him from a graceless slouch to the floor as it was.

Sam pushed away, moving more slowly this time. Dean let him go, watching carefully even as something twitched in his jaw.

"Don't do that," he snapped but Sam was already shaking his head, his own anger rising.

"You let me sleep for over an hour? Dean, that was a third of the time that we had. We could have left ages ago!"

"Yeah, well, I figured it was a better use of our time to let you regain your strength. I can't carry both of you, so I need you up and on your feet, man." Dean glanced over at Maddie, offering her a tight smile, "and you are a hell of a lot heavier than Maddie, so there is that."

"But—"

"Oh, don't get your panties into a twist. We wouldn't have been able to get off the mountain in three hours anyway. Hell, I'm not even sure that we should be leaving in the first place. You just about passed out after sitting up."

Sam's anger was gone as quickly as it came as he took in the lines on Dean's face and the ones that said he was once again bearing the weight of the world. "Don't worry, I just moved too fast. It won't happen again."

"Oh yeah, don't worry," Dean mimicked before rolling his eyes. "How about we see if you stand and we'll go from there."

For once, it was easier done than said and Sam found that if he didn't move too fast that he was able to move about. At any rate, it was a far cry from how he'd felt an hour ago and, as much as he hated to admit it, the time had probably been well spent.

Bracing one hand lightly against the wall just as a precaution, Sam began to make his way towards the door as Dean bent down next to Maddie.

She looped an arm around Dean's neck. "Just don't get any romantic ideas, I'm still not giving you my number when this is over."

Dean's smirk was positively primitive. "Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart," he said lightly, but his hands were as non-invasive as possible as he scooped her up into his arms bridal style.

Sam pushed the door open, holding it for Dean, before trailing after him.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Currently?" Dean grunted a little, shifting Maddie into a more stable position and wincing as she gasped. "Remember how the path split about a quarter of a mile down from here. The one that we didn't take, that one connects with the river, which shouldn't be going near as fast or as high as it is at the bridge."

"And then we might be able to lose her if use the river to disguise our tracks and then cut back cross country." Sam caught on instantly and Dean's lip twitched upward as the warmth of what looked like pride flooded his face.

"Don't act surprised, you're the one that has been teaching me tactics like this since I was, like, ten."

Dean grinned. "And you were a complete pain. Kept trying to tell me about battles strategies they used in Lord of the Rings or some other such nonsense." Sam laughed, remembering vaguely the moment his brother was speaking of and how the night had ended with him in a headlock.

When he glanced back at Dean, his brother wasn't smiling anymore, looking almost apologetic instead. "Here's the deal, though, it would be nice to reach the bridge before the hour is over. That way we have a fresh start. I probably should have woken you sooner, cause we are going to have to move at a decent pace"

Sam was already nodding in agreement, once again understanding what his brother was asking of him. "I'll keep up," he assured and Dean grimly picked up the pace.

#

Sam clenched his arm tighter to his side and tried his hardest to ignore the jabs of white-hot pain that every step was sending through his gut. Getting stabbed in the stomach was no picnic, but it wasn't like he had hadn't had worse before. At least he was able to breathe, that was a nice bonus.

Dean paused just ahead of him, glancing back to make sure that Sam was still behind him…like he would be anywhere else. Deep lines had engravened themselves near Dean's eyes, but somehow Sam doubted that it had to do with Maddie's weight and everything with Sam's pained grunts.

Sam nodded shortly in response and Dean cocked an eyebrow silently, his eyes going stony with concern at whatever he saw.

"How much time is left?" Sam asked, breaking Dean's train of thought and trying to aim them somewhere more positive, not that they had a lot of choices in that matter. Dean glanced down at his watch.

"About fifteen minutes," he answered lightly. "But we should be getting close."

Grunting, Sam gritted his teeth as he swallowed back another wave of nausea. It wasn't bad, just enough to make everything all that more miserable. And least he didn't feel like as bad as he had right before they had reached the cabin. He wasn't about to pass out. That was an upside, right?

Dean's face screwed up again and Sam trained his gaze forward, focusing on the path and the small dips or rocks in the uneven surface. Slowly, the sounds of rushing water reached his ears and a mixture of relief and dread flooded Sam. Relief that they were going to be able to leave the path, but at the same time, they were going to leave the path.

Sam was barely keeping up as it was…

"Stop thinking so hard, Sam," Dean called back and Sam shot him another a glare, annoyed to no end that Dean could still seemingly read his mind so easily. Dean didn't slow his hurried steps as he half turned, looking at his brother. "Seriously, we're gonna be fine."

Sam huffed, trying to blow his bangs out of his eyes. "Yeah, it's not like we've got a murderous demon on our tail." He dully regretted the sharp words, but his side was really hurting and Dean was setting a killer pace.

His breath was punching in and out of him, forcing Sam to blink through the sweat that was dripping down his hair and into his eyes. At least they were going downhill. The dull sound of the river was becoming clearer and once they got into the water, he would be cooled down.

The river was gurgling happily downstream when they finally came upon it and it was with no small relief that Sam bumped up against a nearby tree, sweating and shaking as he tried to catch his breath. Dean was staring at him, he could feel it.

"I'm fine," he panted, pushing his bangs up and attempting to wipe the worst of the sweat off his face.

"Yeah, you're just peachy." Dean was closer than he remembered when Sam looked up, and the strain in Dean's face and the sweat patterns that were beginning to darken his shirt became clear.

Huh. At least he hadn't been the only one pushing himself.

Bowing his head, Sam braced a hand against his hip and focused on breathing for a minute. Dean gave it to him and leaned his own back against a nearby tree, studying the river.

"The hour was up about five minutes ago. Are you good...?" Dean asked softly and Sam nodded in recognition as he straightened, looking away from Dean's eyes as embarrassment flooded him.

"Just maybe if we take it a little slower with the river." Sam dared a glance at Dean, only to find his shoulders relaxing a little.

"We'll slow down," he agreed, straightening with an anxious glance over his shoulder. They needed every minute that they could gain if they had any hope of staying in front of Emma, of beating her back to the bridge and the car.

Dean could make it to the car in about half the time if he wasn't keeping up with two invalids.

"Fine, then I bet that you get him killed because he won't leave you behind. He'll be dead this time tomorrow, double or nothing, whaddya say?" The demon's words rang hauntingly through his head and Sam stared at Dean's back for a long moment.

"You could, ya know, just—"

"No, Sam," Dean was instantly shaking his head, his eyes growing dark as his uncanny ability to read his brother come forth. "I'm not leaving you behind."

"But—"

"I don't even want to hear it, alright?" Dean was practically growling the last few words and Sam backed down, recognizing the fear and concern that were thinly veiled. Both of them took deep breathes, pushing emotions to the background.

"If we're gonna go, let's do it," Dean pushed off from his tree, waiting for Sam to join him as well. The water rushed past at a fast pace, just off the rocky path, and it made Sam's stomach churn uncomfortably but he simply braced his arm a little tighter against his side and watched as Dean jumped the bank and plowed unhesitatingly into the water.

It went up to a few inches below his waist, just enough to wet Maddie's toes, and Dean shuddered slightly. "It's freaking cold," he warned, taking a step back to the edge of the water and turning around to present his shoulder to his brother. Sam made a face as he neared the edge and reached out with his good hand to brace himself against Dean.

"Okay?" Dean asked softly and Sam made a face. They would see in a moment. Taking a breath and stabilizing his arm against his side, Sam jumped off the bank and into the river.

The impact was brutal and Sam staggered forward, the water tugging at his legs as he doubled over and further shifting his center of balance. Dean stumbled forward as well, trying to keep them both on their feet without the use of his hands but Sam's knees were refusing to lock and he could feel himself going down.

Letting go of his brother, Sam threw out both hands to catch himself. The quick current caught him, instantly tugging at him and attempting to pull him over and under the water but then Dean was crowding in around him and bracing Sam's bad side with his leg.

"Sam?" Dean asked tightly but Sam could only nod. Dean shifted, pressing in closer and Sam took advantage of Dean's stability to claw his way back upright. Dean let him, planting his feet firmly until Sam was leaning against him, his forehead buried against his shoulder.

"You bleeding again?" Dean shifted, jostling his shoulder.

"Doesn't feel like it," Sam mumbled and Dean made a face.

"Well, I'm checking it the next time we stop."

"You do that." Sam took a second to regain his bearing and then released his brother, straightening on his own. Dean eyed him for a second before nodding and setting off.

The water would conceal their tracks and, if they were lucky, would also offer a way to cut a more even course straight back towards the cars.

They moved in tense silence, searching for any sign that they were being followed. Maddie was awake but lay listlessly in Dean's arms while he pushed doggedly forward, checking over his shoulder every few seconds to ensure that Sam was doing alright.

Sam swore that he was doing alright.

Totally.

He really was.

The icy sharpness of the water was at first a relief as it drained the heat from overtaxed and tired muscles, but just as quickly it began to make him shiver. He was wetter than Dean after his quick trip under, and a soft breeze kept tugging at him, only further compromising the problem.

Not that he was going to tell Dean that it was a problem. First thing first, they were going to get to the car and there would be blankets and strong painkillers and rest.

But first, he had to get to the Impala.

The river continued to lead them downwards in a zigzagging course down the mountain. They passed thick trees and strands of shrubbery but after only a mile Dean seemed to sense that Sam was about at the end of his endurance.

Still, Dean waited until they came to an area when the river and bank were relatively low before clambering out. Sam hesitated before following suit, his eyes following the path down the river.

"It's only going to continue to pick up in speed and width." Dean paused on the ground, shifting Maddie, who jerked reflexively, clinging tighter to him "Better to get out now than end up swimming our way out. Besides, I can hear your teeth chattering from here. Gonna give us away faster than anything else."

Sam glared at his brother as he waded over. Dean had clambered up the bank with only a little problem but Sam could only stare at it with weary resignation. Bracing a hand against it, he breathed out slowly and grabbed the nearest sturdy-looking root of a nearby bush and began to pull himself up. He ended up doing more a roll than he intended and for a long while just laid there, gasping quietly.

"Wow. That was graceful," Dean said dryly over his head and Sam raised one finger in his direction. "Seriously, though, you need a hand up there, grandpa."

Sam held his finger in place, too tired to actually come up with an actually witty comeback. Instead, he rolled back over onto his knees. From there it seemed to take an inordinate amount of effort to lever himself onto his feet. Dean was watching every move carefully, his fingers flexing around Maddie and Sam knew that he was itching to help, to offer some sort of relief.

"Don't strain your eyes," Sam tried his best to infuse his voice with I'm okay, don't worry but even he could feel their weakness both in wittiness and strength. He glanced down and the pit in his stomach increased. Any tracker worth their salt could tell when they had left the river, Sam's whole ground-hugging experience had assured that.

Dean was also eyeing the marks before finally shrugging and turning his back on them, beginning to walk again. Sam grimaced, pulling his arm tighter to his side and bowing his head as he let his mask slip now that Dean wasn't facing him. His brother twisted and Sam righted himself, forcing his rubbery legs to move forward.

"So I think that if we continue heading northwest, then we should reconnect with the path for a minute. Hopefully, the demon is down in the water and trying to find us and then we can make up some lost time."

"Sounds good."

Dean slowed his pace a little and Sam picked his up, sliding into place right next to his big brother. Dean gave him a little smile, his eyes flying over his face and no doubt cataloging every sign of injury and weakness. The regret was there so strong that Sam could feel it.

"Dean, it's not your fault. You can't protect me from everything," he said quietly, gripping Dean's arm. The muscles were tense under his hand, straining under the pressure of carrying Maddie and keeping them all alive.

"I can damn well try," Dean insisted, but the vehemence and absurdity that would have been there before May, before Sam had been stabbed, was diluted. Soon enough, he wasn't going to be around and it would be just Sam against the world.

The thought chilled Sam worse than the river had and his stomach clenched around the sudden pit of anxiety.

He wasn't prepared to lose Dean, not if he had to march through all the gates of hell, killing every demon there, to free Dean from his deal.

First, though, he had to get off the mountain. Tightening his hand against his side, Sam nodded his head. "Let's just focus on getting out of here, alrigh' Then we can toss blame around."

"I blame both of you if that makes you feel any better," Maddie pipped up and Dean's eyebrows arched upwards.

"I could just drop you, you know. Leave you right here."

Maddie let her head fall back against his chest, "Right, cause that would for sure earn you my number."

"Maybe I don't want it anymore." Dean sniffed rather prudely and Sam let Dean led the way again, a sudden feeling of bittersweet swamping him as he couldn't resist a small smile. Dean was good at that and even when Sam wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball of despair, Dean could make him smile.

"Oi! Move your ass, Sam!" Dean called over his shoulder, the disgruntlement clear from whatever blow his ego had just taken and Sam pushed off the tree, trailing after him.