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 – Their mine, all mine,yey! Oh darn, was I dreaming? Oh well, at least the lawyers know not to sue me right…right?
Authors Note – A huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed - especially my Beta Sarah who has been a tremendous support . Thanks! Am dedicating the next two chapters to the faNily- you're fab guys, just thought I'd let you know…plus I think you might hate me fairly soon…guys…guys?
Warnings – I am afraid there may be some bad language in this chapter. But then again, I'd be swearing too…
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Chapter 18
At first Dean could see only darkness, a timeless, shapeless mass - his mind slowly drifting, directionless. A wave of vertigo washed over him and he felt an almost overwhelming need to withdraw, to return to the safety and familiarity of his own self.
"I don't like this" He thought to himself, but was over-ruled by a more urgent need, Sam, I need to find Sam.
The instant he thought of his younger brother he could sense a direction. The thread to Sam was still there, tenuous and fragile but still partially intact and not completely lost to him.
An image slowly formed in the elder hunter's mind - unfocused and blurred at first but becoming clearer by the moment. The more Dean concentrated on it, the sharper it came into view. It was the scene of Sam's vision earlier. Dean again watched in morbid fascination at the creature tearing out his throat and listened to the sound of his death throes.
"That was weird," he whispered. He would be lying if the sight had not chilled him. He was taken aback by the clarity of the scene, the vividness. He could smell the coppery taint of blood; hear the harsh sounds of his final gasping moments. He heard a muffled sob and saw his brother on the other side of the room, watching with horrified eyes, grief-stricken.
"Sam?" He whispered.
"I'm sorry Dean, I'm so sorry! – I thought I was saving you". The sight of his young brother trembling and broken tore into the elder hunter. Sam began to back away from the scene, shaking and weeping. A second too late Dean reached out to grab at his brother, but he was as ephemeral as mist and quickly vanished.
"Dammit!" He heard a laugh behind him. He spun around and saw the Other behind him. Or rather his Dad with those damn crimson eyes.
"You'll never get your brother back Dean. He's mine now."
"Over my dead body!"
"What like that one over there?" The Other pointed towards Dean's cooling corpse. "That can easily be arranged. I am quite impressed that you thought to come here, but it's too little, far too late."
Dean refused to believe that instead ignoring the demon, he turned to look out the window..."Where are you?" he murmured. Memories and images swept around him, seemingly random and jumbled as he mentally reached out again, searching for his brother.
Flash
"You're such a prick at times Sam. For someone so bright you can be a dumb-ass you know that?" Dean heard his own raised voice and turned.
"If Dad would only treat us like adults Dean, and not like toy soldiers."
"He's trying to protect us"
"He's trying to control us!"
"Grow up Sam!"
"Grow a spine Dean!"
A 21-year-old Dean suddenly had his 17-year-old brother pinned up against the wall. "One of these days, you questioning Dad and not following his orders will get someone killed. And it will probably be me trying to save your sorry, ungrateful ass yet again!"
"I never wanted to hunt"
"Don't lie kiddo – you used to beg Dad to come along"
"Dude that was when I was 10! I didn't know what could happen then. How close the calls were. You nearly died yesterday!"
Flash
"You're a selfish bastard, you know that? You just do whatever you want. Don't care what anybody thinks." Dean's voice snapped.
"That's what you really think?"
"Yes, it is."
He could see himself standing next to the Impala, watching his brother stalk away. This was obviously that argument in Indiana, with that fugly Scarecrow.
Flash
He could see Sam standing on a precipice, his back to the edge, a figure either side. One shadowy, fluidic and crimsoned eyed. The other a fiery form, a mixture of flame and shadow, amber eyes in a hooded face. Each bent towards his brother, whispering in either ear. The ledge was crumbling and Sam looked ready to fall. Dean's stomach flipped over when he looked down – below was just a blank void, a starless vacuum dragging at the eyes and soul, seemingly endless.
"Where is this?" He wondered.
Flash
He was in a bar. In front of him was Jess, in a nurse's outfit. Dean couldn't help but smile appreciatively at her. He saw Sam -his brother was smiling, relaxed and happy.
"What would I do without you?"
"Crash and burn"
Flash
Sam lying on his bed, eyes closed a small smile of contentment on his face. Blood dripped onto his forehead. Eyes opening becoming horrified, disbelieving. The sight of Jess pinned to the ceiling, bleeding and burning.
"No Jess" Sam's scream's, his anguish.
"Why Sam?" Jess's voice seemed to fill the room.
Flash
The argument is Elsie's house between John and Sam. The harsh words, "Do you think she would have wanted a selfish ungrateful coward for a son?" and the shock of the slap across Sam's face.
Flash
John was standing outside of Elsie's house, talking to Joshua on his cell.
"He thinks our family is cursed, you would think that a supposedly bright kid like that would realise that it was just him!"
This time he could see two Sam's. One hidden, obviously eavesdropping, the other standing openly next to John, tears falling as he listened to the lie's falling from his father's lips. Each word a drop of acid on his already battered and almost broken self worth. Weak, cursed.
"Sam, it's not Dad, it's a demon!" Dean shouted, determined for his brother to see the truth. But the youngest Winchester appeared oblivious. A new determination seemed to fill him, his face hardening with resolve and he took a step backwards and vanished.
"Shit!" Dean swore. How was he to reach his brother? He concentrated and again found himself watching Sam on the precipice. No longer looking down, his brother looked straight ahead – directly at Dean, and took a step back closer to the edge.
"No! Don't you fucking dare!" Dean screamed out. He subconsciously knew that should his brother go over the edge, he was never coming back. On a basic level he knew that the void was death.
Surprisingly both shadow and flame reached out to the youngest Winchester. Arms of shadow and mist trying to pull him back – Dean could hear the faint sound of their whispering.
"You don't want to die Samuel- how would you avenge Dean, Jessica, your mother? I can help you." Amber eyes looked at Sam intently.
"I can save your brother Sam, but you have to let me in", crimson eyes met Sam's soft brown ones.
Dean listened in dawning horror as he realised that these two were fighting for Sam's soul and he was being used as the bargaining chip. His brother looked confused, frightened and tired. "Dean, what should I do?" Sam whispered. He knew that he couldn't give in to these creatures. He could feel their evil; tainting, vile and poisonous. But if there was even the slightest chance of saving Dean…Sam moved almost imperceptibly towards the ledge, he needed space, time to think – he vanished.
Flash
He was in a hospital. Dean looked at himself – man I looked like crap, Dean thought. Still managed to hook up with some of the nurses later though, he thought with satisfaction. Sam was arguing, refusing to give up. Excerpts of the conversation swept before him.
"You're not gonna let me die in peace, are you?"
"I'm not gonna let you die period."
"Look Sammy, what can I say, man, it's a dangerous gig. I drew the short straw. That's it, end of story."
"Don't talk like that, all right? We still have options."
"What options? Get a burial or cremation?"
"I'm gonna die, Sam - and you can't stop it."
"Watch me! "
Flash
A cheap motel, snow was falling outside, the sound of TV and laughter coming from the next room.
Sam stood at the window, watching the swirl of the flakes, lost in thought.
"Sam, please" Dean was close to tears, frustration evident in his voice. Sam leant his forehead against the windowpane.
"Dean, I'm sorry"
""For what?"
"For being a lousy brother. For letting you down time and again. For being me"
Dean nearly missed the fact that his brother seemed to be actually replying to him.
"You can hear me?" He tried - he had to make sure.
"You're a figment of my imagination, why wouldn't I hear you?" His brother said wearily. Dean would have been glad to have something to hit at this point. Preferably something evil, but if Sam kept this up, his brother would do.
"No I'm not, I'm real, and I'm here!" His brother looked sceptical. "Sam you have to listen to me. The vision- it wasn't real. It was sent by a demon."
"A demon. You would think that I could draw up something a little more original than that. It's always a demon's fault. It took some time but I realised, the demon in this family is me."
"Stow the self pity party" Dean felt his anger building, was getting tired of this going round in circles, "Shut up and listen to me for once in your life!"
Sam looked surprised and amazed his brother by actually remaining quiet. "Will wonders never cease?" The elder brother muttered.
"It is a demon behind the creature attacking this town" Dean spoke quickly - were those shadows in the corner growing?
"It feeds on psychic energy – it possessed Dad."
"Dad?" Sam wanted to believe it. "Why?"
Damn Sam and that question.
He ignored it. "Dad never said those things to you - it wasn't him, it was the demon. It was trying to break you down - make you vulnerable. It did the same with me, twisting words and sentences, only letting you hear what it wanted to." Dean took a step forward, talking urgently. The shadows were spreading he was sure.
"Hurry Dean" a voice whispered in his mind, a woman's voice. "Missouri?" "Sam you have to believe me." Sam desperately wanted to. It sounded plausible, and he knew he wasn't alone here.
"How do you know what Dad said?" He asked. "And the vision? You weren't there. Doesn't that prove you are not real, just a trick or a product of my imagination?"
"The venom, it stimulates psychic channels – that's how I'm here."
"But I saved you. The leech stone should have removed all of that."
"It did but…" Sam was going to be pissed. "But I got the Doc to inject me with more so that I could get here"
"You idiot!" Sam shouted at him. "Why would you do that?"
Dean shrugged. "What, let you have all the fun? What did you expect me to do Sammy, just let you go?"
"Yes!"
"What?" Dean asked disbelieving.
"Look Dean, or whoever you are. Even if it wasn't Dad who said those things, what was said was true. I'm a curse to anyone unfortunate enough to get close to me. Mom, Dad, Jess, You. You would all have been better off if I had never been born"
"Don't say that Sam, don't ever say that!"
"It's true. Mom would still be alive, Dad would be happy, you would have a home and family, Jess would still be alive. You never said why Dad was possessed but I can tell you why. The demon feeds on psychic energy right? So it probably wants something to do with my 'gift'. All the terrible things that happen to our family, to you, are all my fault Dean. And I can't do this anymore." Sam deliberately turned towards Dean. "And I'm going to put it right. All of it!"
The hair on the back of Dean's neck rose at his brothers words.
"What are you thinking Sam?"
"Bye Dean" The young hunter vanished.
The elder brother's fist clenched- if he does that one more time, I swear I'll kill him myself! But this time he knew where his brother was headed. Again the scene changed.
Sam stood trembling close to the edge of the precipice. The cold of the void below seemed to reach out, stealing the last of his strength and warmth from him. He was so tired.
Dean could see him shaking as he quietly approached, terrified in case he startled his brother. "Sam? Sammy? Talk to me."
"You aren't real – I saw you die. I felt you die!" Sam backed a step closer to the void.
"No! Look Sam – I'll just talk to you from here" Sam just shrugged, his face taking on a distracted, faraway look.
"Do you remember that Christmas De? The one where it snowed and you decorated the motel?"
"You bought me my pendant."
Sam smiled sweetly, the sorrow briefly lifting. "It was one of the happiest days of my life De. Thanks to you. You always looked out for me and put me first. Every happy moment of my life, before Stanford and since Jess died, have been down to you. Did I ever thank you Dean?
"For what?"
"For being you."
"We are not saying our goodbyes here Sam so don't even start."
"I'm sorry De."
"Don't"
"I love you bro"
"Damn it Sammy, you are not leaving me like this – you hear me?"
"It's the best way" and his baby brother took a step closer to the edge.
"Like hell it is"
Sam tensed as he prepared to let go, closed his eyes, "Bye De" and started to fall back.
Dean didn't know how he covered those last 5 yards so fast. One second he was watching horrified as his little brother was telling him how much better off the world would be without him in it, the next he was toppling backwards, falling into the void.
"NO! SAMMY!" He screamed. His fingertips brushed his brother's jacket and somehow he managed to get a grip and yanked his brother back. Sam's eyes filled with anguish and he fell to his knees.
"Please Dean, let me go"
"Never". The elder brother knelt in front of Sam. The youngest Winchester's head was bowed, tears falling like rain on the ground below. Dean reached out a hand and gently tilted Sam's chin up so that he could see Sam's eyes. He had to get through to him.
"Sam. Sammy – look at me – you go over that edge, you'll be taking me with you. I need you Sam, stay with me."
"But"
"No buts Sam – that bastard was lying. Look at all the people you have saved, all the good we have achieved"
"I don't care. It doesn't matter -it means nothing if I lose you too Dean" Sam whispered, his breath hitching. " I love you Dean, I need you and I lost you!" The younger brother was shaking violently. "It had your necklace, I watched you die!" Suddenly Sam jerked back from Dean. "Who are you?" he hissed.
Dean stared, gob smacked. "I'm your freakishly handsome big brother moron."
"No, you're a trick, an illusion to stop me doing what I need to, so that they can get what they want"
Shadow and flame began to form into figures on either side of Sam. "Dammit" He had been so close.
"Hello Samuel" the crimson-eyed form started. "I see your brother's ghost found you."
"What? No Sam- It's lying!"
Amber eyes wreathed in flame, agreed. "Yes Sam, it is lying. That is your brother – but he is dying. I can save him."
"As can I Sam, but I have your father also. Both you father and brother will die unless you do as I say."
Sam wavered. His brief moment of joy, that his brother was still alive, shattered as he realised that this was only a temporary reprieve. But at least he still had time to do something about it.
"Name your best offer" Sam's voice was clearer, strong. Dean knew that tone of voice - it nearly always spelled trouble.
"Sam," he warned. His brother looked at the figures either side of him.
"I know you both now." He said quietly. "At the crimson eyed shadow, he said. "You are the leech; you hurt my brother and possessed my father." He turned to the figure wreathed in flames. "And you. You killed our Mom and Jess, you destroyed our family." Dean stood shocked, stunned, furious.
"Name your terms." His young brother stated simply.
"The usual - your loyalty, your life, your soul."
Dean couldn't believe it- he could read the decision in his brother's face. He's actually thinking about it. His heart began to pound. "Don't even consider it Sam. You are not going to trade yourself for Dad and me. That's an order" Dean realised the moment the words left his mouth that they were a mistake. The youngest Winchester never responded well to orders.
"Please Sam. How are me and Dad to go on knowing that you traded your life for ours?" Not to mention your soul.
. At least they would be alive to go on. Sam ignored his brother's pleas.
The darkness whirled around Sam – beckoning, promising, enticing, and the last of Sam Winchester's defences crumbled. For Dean, he thought – and surrendered…
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A/N
Dum, dum, dah dah…dah. Ducks
"Holy self sacrifice Batman, did he just do that?"
"Yes Robin"- punches fist in hand – "I believe he did"
Will Batman and Robin track down the Evil Fangirl down before she does anything else to our plucky heroes?
Not likely mwa ha haaaa!
And no by Batman fetish is not improving Sifi!
But Seriously - Hoping I didn't go on too much, I just didn't think that a "It's not your fault", "Oh OK then" type moment would really be right considering the guilt Sam has been carrying for so long.
So, please let me know what you think and thanks again for reviewing. Waits with bated breath
Guys, I'm starting to go blue here so please review and let me know if this is ok! LOL!
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