I don't own Supernatural.

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Chapter 17

Dean slowed the car as they drove through the streets of the Oklahoma town. "So this is it?"

Sam nodded and pointed out the window. "Look."

The few pedestrians that were out and about were wearing blue hospital masks to prevent them from breathing in any sickness as they went about their business. Dean shuddered at the sight. They had always fought things that they could kill and destroy, but this was germ warfare. How could they fight disease, especially if it was being controlled by an all-powerful creature?

Castiel had placed his hand against the car window and closed his eyes, concentrating. Dean noticed this and was asked him, "Do you feel any Horseman mojo?"

"I don't know." Castiel said uncertainly, removing his hand and opening his eyes. "I can sense something strange, but I'm not sure what it is."

"Something supernatural?" Sam asked, sitting up and leaning against the front seat.

"Perhaps."Castiel frowned. "It's like my vision is blurred. I know something is there, but I don't know what, or where." Dean was quiet before voicing a thought. "Is this because of the baby? You told me your powers would be muted."

Castiel nodded slowly. "Maybe, but I don't know."

"What do you think? Should we explore more?" Dean asked.

"I think so. If Pestilence is here and we passed up the chance, it might be harder to find him next time." Castiel said.

Sam nodded in agreement. "We should go to the hospital, talk to the doctors, see if they know anything."

Dean suddenly stopped short, slamming his foot on the brake pedal and causing Sam's head to whip forward. He glanced sideways at Castiel, who was looking straight ahead at the woman who had just fallen over right in front of the car. She tried to sit up, clutching her chest and struggling to breathe, pulling her face mask off so it would be easier.

"Should we take her to the hospital?" Sam asked, finally realizing what was happening.

"I don't know." Dean said distractedly. "Cass, what if you take Sam out of here? I'll bring the woman to the hospital, and poke around and you two can wait at the next town over?"

"If Pestilence is here, we're not leaving you alone," Sam argued.

"But I don't want you two getting sick!" Dean turned to Castiel to get his opinion on the matter, but he was gone. "Where?" Dean started, but Sam pointed out the window silently. The missing angel was kneeling beside the woman on the ground.

"Damn it!" Dean hopped out of the car and was next to Castiel in an instant. The angel had the woman's head in his hands, two fingers to her forehead. "Get back in the car."

"She needs help, Dean." Castiel locked his gaze onto Dean. "And I can't heal her. We need to help her."

Dean huffed and looked around. No one else had stopped to help; they had all hurried by, keeping their eyes averted forward.

"Fine." Dean relented, and wound an arm under the coughing woman. She had mucous dripping from her nose and her eyes were hazy with sickness. She felt hot and heavy in Dean's arms as he lifted her, one arm under her legs and the other under her back. "Now you get in the car next to Sam. I'll put her in the front with me."

Castiel nodded quickly, opening the passenger door for Dean, and then hurrying to get into the backseat. Sam scooted over to make room for him as Dean laid the woman down gently.

"Where's the hospital around here?" he questioned the woman, and she pointed ahead weakly. She continued giving him directions until they reached what looked like a deserted warehouse that was just outside of town.

"Did I make a wrong turn?" he frowned, looking at the sick passenger, who suddenly sat up, grinning. She touched a finger and a thumb to a shiny silver ring on her right hand and turned it.

Castiel suddenly stirred beside Sam with a look of horror on his face. "Dean, that's-" he began coughing, dribbles of mucous running from his mouth. Sam put a hand on the angel's heaving back and stared at the woman, who turned the ring two more times. Both Dean and Sam felt their vision growing hazy, and felt feverish and faint, listening to Cass hack out warnings in the backseat.

"Well well, I do believe I have myself a nice catch to experiment with. Two hunters and an angel. Fantastic." the rest of the woman's voice was lost to Sam and Dean as they lost the battle against consciousness and passed out.

SNSNSNSN

Dean opened his eyes, blinking to clear his vision. His whole body ached, like it had when he was a kid and he had the flu. Dean grunted and tried to sit up, but his arms and legs were locked to the bed he was in with thick leather restraints. He tugged fiercely at them, but it did no good; he was bound tight to the bed he was lying in. He stopped struggling for a moment and allowed his body to fall back into the comfortable comforter. Where was he anyway? His eyes quickly and expertly scoped out the room he was in. It was small, and was separated in the middle by a hanging curtain. There was a chair by his bedside and was he lying in one of those adjustable hospital beds? Was this a hospital room? It certainly looked like it, and smelt like it, too.

"Dean?" a voice called weakly from the other side of the curtain Dean jumped, startled.

"Sam? That you?"

"Yeah." a slight coughing fit followed this confirmation.

"Are you okay?" Dean frowned and turned his head slightly to stare at the curtain. He could detect a faint shadow that was probably Sam's bed.

"No, I'm not. I'm sick Dean. And so are you." Sam replied grimly, voice muffled. "That woman was Pestilence. She must have known we were here, or sensed Castiel, or something."

"Cass!" Dean had almost forgotten about the angel. "Is he here? Cass!" Dean called, but there was no reply. "Shit! Sam, I need to find him-" Dean tried to rip his arms and legs from the restraints, struggling madly. Sam must have heard the commotion because he said in a commanding voice, "Dean, you need to calm down. We'll find him, don't worry."

"Or will you?"

Dean whipped his head around to stare in the direction that the new voice had come from. A man wearing glasses and a white doctor's coat was leaning against the doorframe of the room.

"Pestilence." Dean snarled, and the horseman chuckled.

"Right you are, kiddo." Pestilence stepped forward, edging closer to Dean, who backed away as far as he could. "I thought you might be more willing to help a sick damsel in distress, that's why I possessed that meat suit."

"What do you want?"Dean snapped and he heard Sam cough again from behind the curtain.

"Oh, a little of this and a little of that." Pestilence chuckled, and touched a finger to Dean's face. Immediately, an angry red rash sprung up that started oozing yellow pus from the pustules. "But mostly because I need hardy subjects to test my creations on. And who tougher then the Winchesters? Oh, and that angel of course. I was surprised to find out he was pregnant, but then the Supernatural world never ceased to amaze me. Must have been angel mating season. I can make a whole batch of something to make the angels sick, now wouldn't that be impressive?" Pestilence snapped his fingers and Dean vomited all over the sheets.

"Leave Cass alone." Dean said when he could talk again, and clenched his fists in the sheets.

"Why would I let such a jewel slip out of my fingertips? Especially pregnant...I could create a disease that will sterilize the angels. Oh, no, 'Cass' and I will be having lots of fun." Pestilence stepped away from Dean's bed. "Now if you excuse me, I have to check on my other patient."

Pestilence disappeared behind the curtain, and Dean heard Sam moan in pain.

"What are you doing?" Dean screamed, struggling to see, but of course that damned curtain blocked his view. "Stop!"

There was no reply, but after another minute, Pestilence came back into view, wiping his hands on his white coat and leaving smears of blood.

"Sam!" Dean called, never taking his eyes off the horseman, who grinned. "Can you hear me? What did he do?"

"I'm okay, Dean." Sam said, in barely more then a whisper.

"I'll be back with your 'meds' eventually, but until then, I must work with your angel friend." Pestilence said, and then quickly exited, closing the door to the faux hospital room behind him.

"Sam! What are we going to do?" Dean panicked, which was unusual for him. In a normal situation, his mind was clear and he could focus on how to win. But right now all he could think about was his pregnant mate, alone in the hands of Pestilence.

SNSNSNSNSN

Castiel was taking in his surrounding, feeling more then a little scared. It seemed to be that he was in a hospital room. His coat and top garments were gone, folded on a chair nearby, leaving his torso exposed. His belly protruded up like some human flesh version of a hill. He felt weak and sick, something he had never experienced in his vessel before. Metal restraints were around his wrists, attaching him to the bars of the bed. Enochian sigils were artfully carved into the metal to keep him in place.

"Are you enjoying your stay?"

Castiel looked up into the eyes of Pestilence, who was standing at the foot of his bed. His heart fluttered in fear. He was helpless, and the horseman could do whatever he wanted. Pestilence rolled up his sleeve before sitting on Castiel's bed. Castiel scooted over as far as he could, and Pestilence smirked.

"Think of the things I can do with you, little angel." Pestilence reached out a finger and lightly traced Castiel's pregnancy. "I've never witnessed a pregnant angel before, although I have heard of the mating season. I can make you so sick that you'll miscarry. One less warrior of God to worry about, eh?"

"No." Castiel half-whispered. "Don't."

"Oh, you're in no position to argue. But until I figure out what exactly I'm going to do with you, I'll just have to keep you as sick as I possibly can to prevent you from thinking too much and escaping somehow." Pestilence twisted his ring, and Castiel felt welts rising on his face accompanied by a vicious nausea. He placed a hand on Castiel's stomach, pressing down hard. "I'll be back and we'll play then."

Castiel closed his eyes as the nausea overcame him and when he opened them, the Horseman was gone and he was alone. Castiel looked down at the burning sensation on his swollen stomach; the spot that Pestilence had touched was red with a nasty rash. He swallowed, his throat raw and painful. He was terrified and by himself, helpless with no way to protect his unborn child and he didn't know where Sam and Dean were.

Was it the hormones getting the best of him again, or was it the situation? Castiel thought as tears began slipping down his cheeks. He coughed and felt something wet coating his lips. When he raised a hand to wipe his mouth, it came away smeared with blood. His heart pounded as he stared at the red smear on his fingers; it scared him more then he could imagine.

"Dean!" Castiel cried out, his throat burning from the effort. He needed the hunter, he needed Dean to wrap him up and hold him and they could escape together. "Dean!" he screamed again, grabbing the sheets in his fists and squeezing them, trying to release some the fear that was burning inside him. "I need you. Where are you?"

SNSNSNSNSN

"Sammy, I can't just sit here." Dean said, addressing the curtain.

"We can't do anything until we think of something to do." Sam pointed out and Dean hissed in frustration, knowing that Sam was right.

"Do you have anything that can cut these straps?" Dean asked, looking around himself for anything sharp but the only thing in his reach were the blankets and that would do squat.

"I don't have anything, Dean." Sam said apologetically, and Dean felt an overwhelming sense of panic come over him. What were they going to do now?

The door to their room suddenly banged open, and the sick woman/Pestilence from earlier was standing there, looking about as sick as Dean felt.

"What do you want?" he snapped, as Sam questioned, "Who is it?"

"I'm not him." the woman said quickly. She desperately wanted to ask the man what the hell was going on, but there was no time for explanations right now; first they had to get out. "He left me after using my body, probably thinking I was too sick to do anything and I would die. But here I am. And I want to help you." she pulled a silver scalpel out of her pocket and brought it down to the leather restraints, beginning to cut them.

"My name's Amber."

Dean watched her distrustfully and didn't respond.

"I was going to leave, but I remembered you three, and I couldn't leave you here." Dean snatched the scalpel from Amber's hand as his left hand restraint popped off, the last fiber cut. He quickly sliced through the other hand restraint and sat up the do the ones around his ankles.

"You don't trust me." she stated it matter of factly, watching Dean wit her arms crossed.

"I don't trust anyone I just met, especially if the first time I saw them they were the meat suit of a horseman." Dean hopped out of the bed once his legs were free, ignoring the pounding headache in his temple, and whipped the curtain back to reveal Sam. His face was flushed and red with fever, and his eyes were hazy and unfocused.

"You look like shit."

"Thanks." Sam smiled weakly as Dean reached down and began chopping away at his brother's restraints. Sam rubbed his now free wrists as Dean cut away the ankle restraints.

"Alright, let's go." Dean said throwing away the last of the leather. Sam sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, trying to stand, but immediately fell onto the floor.

"Dean," Sam used the bed as a support to pull himself up. "I don't know if I can walk alone."

"Crap. Alright, grab my shoulder." Dean stuffed the scalpel into his pocket for safe-keeping and wound an arm around his brother's waist, helping him stand upright. To his surprise, Amber came over and stood on the other side, supporting Sam as well. Sam glanced at her and a smile played across his lips, and she caught his eyes and blushed.

Dean caught this little action, and thought if they got out, maybe Sam would at least get a date out of it.

"C'mon." Dean said gruffly and began walking. "We need to find Cass."

"Oh, that other man that was with you?" Amber asked and Dean brightened a bit as they stepped out of the room. "I know where he is."

"Show us." Dean said immediately. They stepped out into what looked like a hospital corridor. He didn't know how Pestilence did it, but he made an exact replica of a hospital inside this old warehouse. If it was an illusion, it was a pretty damn good one.

Amber steered them down another corridor on the right. There were four closed doors here. "I saw where he brought you all before he left my body," she explained.

"Is there anyone else here?" Sam questioned, trying to ignore the severe ache in his head. He noticed Dean and Amber were slowing down and breathing heavily; he had forgotten they were sick too, although not as bad as him.

"Not that I know of." Amber said. "But then I was just captured today."

Amber stopped in front of the second door. "I think it's this one."

Dean glanced at her. "Where's Pestilence, anyway?"

"Pestilence? You mean that guy?" Amber shrugged. "I told you, he left me and then I had enough strength to get up and find you after a while."

Dean pushed the door handle slowly and peeked inside. There was no sign of Pestilence, but Castiel was there in a room much like theirs in his own hospital bed. Dean gently set Sam down with Amber's help and rushed to Castiel's side. His eyes were closed and he was breathing heavily. He looked much worse then all three of them,

"Oh, baby," Dean touched Castiel's face, which was spotted with welts. "Cassie, I'm here."

"Dean?" Castiel opened his eyes, unable to focus. He reached out, hand trembling, and Dean grabbed it and kissed his fingertips lightly. His eyes swept quickly over the rest of Cass' body, his gaze resting on the red rashy handprint on Castiel's swollen belly. His heart burned with anger as he touched the spot; what had Pestilence done to his angel? He had to get Castiel out of here.

The restraints binding Castiel were metal, carved with Enochian sigils to prevent him from escaping, so the scalpel wouldn't come in handy here. Instead, Dean quickly pulled a bobby pin from his pocket{he always kept one handy for two reasons: they were useful to pick locks, and also fun to sting people with, mostly Sam when he wasn't paying attention. It never got old.} and got to work on the handcuff locks. With in a few minutes Dean had succeeded in picking all of them and removed the confining metal from Castiel's limbs.

"I'm gonna get you out of here, Come on." Dean wrapped his arms around the angel, one arm under his legs, the other around his back and hoisted him up. Castiel rested his head into the crook of Dean's neck and Dean brought his lips to the angel's forehead, planting a gentle kiss there. "It's gonna be okay."

He grabbed Castiel's coat and clothes from the chair nearby in one hand and struggled a moment with Castiel's weight as he headed for the door.

"Is he okay?" Amber asked, eyeing Castiel worriedly. Her gaze rested on his belly for a minute, but she decided not to question it right now.

"Once I get him out of here, he will be." Dean answered, and handed her Cass' clothes. "Grab those for me, and let's go. Can you get Sam?"

Amber nodded and helped Sam stand.

"I feel a little better, Dean, I think I can walk."

"Good. Then let's go." Dean led the way back into the corridor. Castiel whimpered in his arms, and Dean felt him burning with fever. The angel snuggled closer to Dean, holding on to him as tightly as he could manage. "It's okay. I got you." Dean whispered soothingly in Cass' ear and the angel gave a small moan.

A loud voice suddenly rang through the corridors. "Where do you think you're going?" It sounded as if it were on an intercom.

Dean's heart sank, and he looked behind him, expecting to see Pestilence, but the corridor was empty. Amber was struggling to support Sam, her face red from the effort.

"You can't get away, you know." Pestilences voice sounded again through the intercom. "I'll find you."

Castiel began coughing in Dean's arms, blood coating his lips.

"Dean," he said weakly. "He's coming."

"No, no, no. Cass, it's gonna be okay." Dean held Castiel tighter. Sam and Amber came up beside Dean, both looking terrified.

"We have to get out of here." Dean said, trying to fight the panic that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Is Cass okay?" Sam glanced worriedly at the blood and mucous that spotted the front of Dean's jacket from Castiel's coughing.

"I don't know."

"Can he zap us out?" Sam said, hoping for a positive answer. Amber kept quiet, although she looked thoroughly confused.

Dean glanced down at the angel. "Cass, can you?"

"I might be able to take two of you out, but I will not be strong enough to come back." Cass whispered.

Dean made up his mind quickly. "You take Sam and the girl then, and I'll get out by myself."

"Dean, I can't leave you." Castiel protested weakly but Dean hushed him.

"You have to." Dean bent and carefully placed Cass down. "Just go somewhere safe, and we can meet up later."

Sam shook his head. "Dean, we can't leave you with Pestilence."

"I swear to God, Sam, don't argue with me!" Dean snapped. "Go now."

Sam nodded at the tone of Dean's voice, knowing that it would do no good to argue with him, and motioned for Amber to bend down with him next to the angel.

Cass reached up so he could pull Dean down and give him a firm kiss. "I love you. Do not die and leave me."

"I won't." Dean ran a hand briefly through Cass' hair and then brushed his stomach lightly. "Go now."

Within an instant, Cass grabbed Sam's arm and Amber's hand, and they disappeared with a swish. Dean nodded to himself, satisfied that they were safe. He got to his feet, swayed a bit, and then started running down the corridor, his journey much easier now that he was no longer carrying a pregnant angel. He ran through corridor after corridor, finding himself hopelessly lost; everything looked the same. How big could this frigging place be?

Pestilence's mocking tone filled his ears as he ran. "I'll find you. You can't get away."

Dean stopped, leaning against a wall and feeling sick again. It got worse as the seconds dragged by, and Dean soon found out why. He looked up as a shadow came over him; Pestilence was standing in front of him. A grin contorted his features. "Where are you going, Dean?"

Dean glared at him, using the wall for support as his head gave a nasty throb. "I'm getting the hell out of here."

Pestilence chuckled. "When you're as sick as you are?" he touched the ring on his finger, and Dean fell, vomiting on the tile floor. Pestilence reached out to touch the hunter. "Let's see how you like this one." His fingertips glowed, but before he could lay them on Dean, the hunter grabbed Pestilence's wrist to stop him.

"Do you really think that will stop me?" Pestilence grinned and Dean shook his head slowly. "No, but this will." He pulled the sharp scalpel from his pocket and quickly drew it down, slicing off Pestilence's whole hand cleanly at the wrist. The Horseman screamed as his hand twitched on the ground, oozing blood. Dean grabbed the ring from the twitching hand and shoved it in his pocket in triumph.

Pestilence held his bleeding stump and glared at the hunter. "It doesn't matter. You may have the ring, but you haven't won. You won't beat Lucifer. You can try, but you won't succeed."

Before Dean could argue, Pestilence was gone, and Dean felt instantly better. He got to his feet no longer swaying and breathed a sigh of relief. They had the first ring. What disturbed him was that Pestilence knew what they were doing. Would he spread the word to his brothers so they would keep out of sight?