With The Coming of the Dawn

Summary

The hunters become the hunted when a creature stalks a remote community, and one of the brothers has a choice to make. Will both brothers survive the hunt and the decision of the other?

Disclaimer- I don't own Supernatural or any of the characters therein. So no change there unfortunately – as soon as they are mine though, you will be the first to know!

Author's Note – please R and R, it lets me know if I am going horribly wrong – as before, serious artistic license being used and some facts may be stretched to fit the story – what the heck, its fiction tee hee!

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Chapter 4

John continued to smile as he walked to the truck – this was all going far too easily, he thought to himself, soon, one Winchester would be dead, and the other destroyed completely. An easy target – nearly as easy as this one had been. John had been a torrent of emotion when he had arrived at this town. Tracking down his Demon for 22 years had taken it's toll and then when he had heard about his boys, well, that had brought the last of his defences down and had left him wide open. He had been taken by surprise and had thought they were simply facing Were-beasts of some description, dangerous and brutal but fairly straightforward. Even that had been a dangerous misapprehension on his side. Were-beasts indeed – oh well, they would soon find out their error, the other inside John thought - sooner than they think.

His cell rang and he was momentarily thrown – he pulled it out to look at the display – Missouri, he heard John sigh in his mind. No, she was a danger but as long as he didn't speak to her, he doubted she would suspect a thing. And lets face it Johnny boy, you're not exactly known for answering your phone, are you, the Other silently mocked the elder Winchester, still railing. Desperately trying to fight against him. "Forget…" the Other silently commanded…….

John shook himself as he approached his truck, he had blanked for a moment and thought to himself that he was over-tired – he smiled at a memory of Mary and the boys, "over-tired" was an over-excited Dean, wanting to spend more time playing ball or watching over his younger sibling. Even as a four year old, Dean had taken his responsibility as older brother seriously and hadn't liked it when John or Mary tried to get him to go to bed if Sammy wasn't happy. And Sammy was never happy unless Dean was there. Even as they grew up - Dean was always the centre of Sammy's world, his hero, confidant and best friend. The one person he would turn to.

John could have foreseen Sammy leaving if it was just him, but for Sam to have left Dean, that he still could not comprehend – and neither could his brother, John knew. The days following Sam's departure had shown a bewildered, hurt Dean, who could not understand why his young brother had abandoned him. From that day, a wall had been built around Dean, a wall that John could not breach. But he had seen cracks in that wall this evening, now that his sons were together again.

The boys bond was a danger as well as strength; they were a formidable team, almost twin-like in their understanding of each other during a hunt. They were never quite whole when they were apart, always sub-consciously seeking the other. If one were to lose the other, John knew deep down, he would end up losing them both, and that he could not allow.

John grabbed his pack and shot gun with a selection of ammo and returned back to the guesthouse – he would stay with the boys tonight and grab a second room in the morning. He heard his sons laughing as he approached the door and couldn't help smiling himself. Damn, he was getting soft. He schooled his features before entering the room. The laughter stopped as soon as he entered, Sam looked wary, Dean looked a bit like a kid caught slacking from his chores. John hardened his heart against the pain their expressions caused. I'm doing this for their own good, they cannot let their guard down, it is just too dangerous, he justified to himself.

"So, do you have a plan of action for tomorrow?" John queried, Sam bristled recognising the signs of his father taking over, but again said nothing. Dean glanced at his brother before speaking,

"Sam mentioned that Cat had told him of someone who had claimed to see a creature like this, years ago, an Elsie Baker, but everyone thought she was just distraught and imagining things after she had lost both her husband and son. Apparently no big cats have been seen in this region for years – so no-one took her seriously, most people blamed either a grizzly attack or that they had an accident out in the forest – they were both lumberjacks."

Dean was starting to feel hot and walked over to the window, opening it to let some fresh air in. He shivered – damn, was he coming down with something?

"Sam and I were going to go visit her tomorrow, get him to give her his patented puppy dog eyes and pump her for information"

"Dean-" his brother protested.

"What dude? You know the older chicks dig you. Bring out their mothering instinct or something, I on the other hand have a far different effect" Dean smirked.

"You're just jealous that Cat asked me to walk her to the bar – just admit it bro" Sam shot back. . He looked closer at Dean and noticed his over bright eyes and flushed face – "hey, are you feeling ok?" Dean shrugged, "must be getting that crappy cold you had last week – you always were generous"

"Well its time we all turned in," John broke in. "However change of plan for tomorrow. Sammy you go check out this lead in the morning, Dean and I need to visit the lumber yard and saw mill, and check out the forest perimeter. Something that size has got to leave tracks. And Dean, take something for the cold, I don't need it slowing us down- and remember to clean that graze"

Sam glared at his father unhappy that he was again taking over and issuing orders, it was almost like the intervening college years had never happened. Dean also wasn't too happy about them splitting up, sending Sam on his own to visit some possible buckets of crazy lady? Let's face it, if there was a hornet's nest, his Sammy would surely step in it – the kid was a magnet for trouble. However he trusted his fathers hunting instincts, besides, Sammy was always the better research geek and could worm his way into anyone's confidence – he had been doing it all his life. No matter where they went, Sam always won people over.

The woman would probably feel more comfortable if she wasn't being interrogated by both of them anyway. Their Dad was right, at least now they may have a trail they could follow, and he could keep Sam out of reach of those damned claws.

The next morning Dean woke early, feeling sick as a dog, shivery, nauseous, his joints were painful and small stabbing pains shot through his body. The cold had obviously taken no notice and was determined to hit him full strength, bastard.

He rose silently determined to have a nice hot shower to ease his muscles, and noticed that the chair John had went to sleep in was empty. Typical, his father was always up first. He glanced over at Sam and noticed his pain-pinched features and the way he twisted in his bed. Another nightmare, Dean sighed and reached across to wake his brother, but fell back startled when Sam screamed.

"NO! No Dean, oh God no" Sam was whimpering piteously in his sleep, and tears started to streak down him face. Dean had had enough, Sam was waking up now. He shook his brother harder and Sam woke with a gasp. "Dean?" "I'm here, Sammy" Dean sat on the edge of his bed, Sam scrubbed at his face and closed his eyes "Thank god," He whispered.

"I take it I did not do well" Dean asked, trying to rescue himself from a chick flick moment,

"Not funny, Dean" Sam replied, "Promise me you won't walk alone anywhere over the next few days will you, especially at night?"

"Dude you are seriously going to cramp my style, you do know that don't you?"

"Please, Dean" Sam asked pleadingly, his brown eyes sorrowful and beseeching, "I saw…" he swallowed and couldn't finish.

"Was it the same as last time?" Dean asked quietly, Sam nodded, "So we know what to expect – don't worry, I'll be with Dad today and we will be taking the truck so no walks alone. You just be careful when you visit Elsie Baker" Dean warned, still not entirely comfortable with Sam investigating on his own.

He rose to go the bathroom. "Dean" The voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear it

"Yeah, Sammy?" "Never mind" Sam whispered, knowing Deans reluctance to discuss all things emotional. "Are you feeling ok today?"

"Fine Sam, fine" Dean lied. He was not going to tell his brother just how ill he was really feeling. Sam would worry, and then nag worse than an old woman. Also there was no way he going to let their Dad hunt in the forest on his own.

The boys showered, and headed for the bar. This doubled as a diner during the day, and the boys breakfasted there every morning. As usual Cat was behind the counter taking orders.

"Sam, Dean!" She waved across at them, her eyes lingering a little on Sam. Dean huffed and muttered to himself something about her taking pity on his brother. As Sam turned to scan the bar for their father, Dean clutched at his stomach and closed his eyes briefly. Hell, but the pain was just getting worse. "Dean," Cat approached, "I have a message from your father, he asked me to let you know that he will meet you at the Saw Mill, apparently he wanted to quickly check out the tree line first? " Sounded right, damn his father for not waiting.

"Look Sam, will take the Impala and meet Dad out there. Not that hungry this morning anyway. Call me the minute you have finished speaking to Elsie Baker and let me know how it goes."

"Dean, you promised you wouldn't go anywhere alone" Sam started, feeling a growing unease in the pit of his stomach, "I don't like this"

"Come on Sam, I'm just going to meet Dad, I will be in the car and its daytime. Stop worrying – you'll give yourself an ulcer or something"

Sam watched his brother leave with mounting trepidation. Suddenly he was in no mood for breakfast either. Something was very wrong.

"Cat" he called, "which way does Elsie Baker live?" He followed her directions to Elsie's house, it had seen better days, and looked a bit on the ramshackle side, but as he got closer, he could see the garden was well tended and was surprised to see a very well kept herb garden. Though some of the plants he could see where not your usual cottage garden variety. He could pick out wormwood, rue, hawthorn, to name a few.

The door opened as he approached. "Well Samuel – you took your sweet time to getting round to visiting me……"