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

Be ready for the announcement on Thursday that now, all things Supernatural are mine! Who would have thought that spell would work huh? Sighs Damn reality! So unfortunately no, still not mine!

Author's Note

Hoping you are still wanting me to continue .thanks to everyone who has reviewed, special mention to Katrine for reading through this despite her monster headache- what an absolute star - thanks!

So rabbit out the hat time methinks…hoping you like this one...

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Chapter 20

John watched in horror as his two children fought for their lives on the other side of the room. Sure they were adults now, strong and proficient hunters in their own right, but they were still his boys. The sounds of Sam's heart-wrenching screams had almost destroyed the eldest hunter – he never wanted to hear anything like that ever again from his sons. He fists clenched in anger and frustration as Dean's weeping head sank onto the top of his brother's head, murmuring softly. His eyes burned at the sight of his eldest son cradling his dying, pain filled brother - holding him tightly and slowly rocking back and forth. John tasted the unfamiliar tang of salt and realised that for the first time in many years he too was crying. His family was dying in front of him and there was nothing he could do. Without the warmth of Sam's sun, Dean, he knew, would fade. Each boy seemed to wilt without the others presence; and without his boys, just what the hell was he fighting for?

The whirling storm of energy had picked up in intensity and there was no way that John could re-enter the room – every time he tried, he was forced back by an unseen force. He watched helpless as his eldest son stiffened and the tempest within the room flared then lessened.

"Oh Dean honey," whispered Missouri, the psychic's face wet from her tears.

"What's happening Missouri?"

"He's gone after Sam."

"What do you mean - gone after Sam? They're both still there!"

"I'm not talking physically." She looked at her old friend and decided there were some things that John Winchester best not know. "The venom and magic'd leech stone – they provided a psychic link, a telepathic conduit between your boys. I managed to link Dean to it earlier to help find Sam. It's obviously still open and he is using it to get to Sam now."

"Will that work?"

"It depends on how powerful the demon is, and how strong your boys are honey." And whether it is too late.

"You're not telling me something Missouri. – I can always tell when someone is hiding something from me." He said bluntly.

She sighed. "I sensed a hint of a desperate plan – Sam's desperate plan. He's trapped the demon in his mind, but he's dying John, and the added strain of holding the demon is speeding the process. He knows he's dying and he is determined to take that monster with him."

John shook, his baby boy was dying? No, it couldn't happen, he wouldn't allow it. "And if Dean is still in there with him?" He asked, dreading the answer.

"Then he will die with him."

"No – I will not accept that - I will lot lose both my sons! There has to be something we can do. Think Missouri!" He almost barked.

His friend's eyes flashed for a moment at his tone but softened – she knew where this was coming from. She shook her head helplessly. "I just don't know John. We don't have enough time to look into this-" She stopped. "The leech-stone" She whispered looking at his two sons. It was still active, it shouldn't be but it was. "Sam used a binding spell from the journal. I can tell it's still active as the boys are still linked. If we could perhaps re-jig the incantation, rewrite it to bind the demon to the stone – it might buy us some time. Get the journal and meet me in the kitchen." She commanded – John smiled the first real smile she had seen on his face in a long time as hope was rekindled. She could see now jut where the boys got their devastating smiles.

"I've said it before, but I'll say it again Sam, you have such tremendous potential, a natural talent." Missouri shook her head when she read through the binding instructions and incantation. It was a potent one, but the leech stone is not meant to contain a spirit, Missouri fretted, tiredly looking out of the window, out at Elsie's snow covered garden. Elsie was gathering some of the fresh ingredients required for the ritual. She blinked - Lord, why did I not think of that earlier?

"John come quick, I have an idea."

Alder, she thought, alders can contain portals to the spirit realm, some legends saying that they were a tree frequented and inhabited by spirits. It was as close to a trap as they could come to.

They had managed to drag both boys out to the garden and up to the shelter of the alder tree at the bottom of the garden, near the burn. Its boughs heavily laden with soft, pure white snow; it bowed over the two young hunters as if willingly offering the protection that they so desperately needed. The night sky was lightening, the false dawn a warning to them to hurry before the sun rose. The clouds from the night before were clearing and the wind had dropped to a light breeze. The air was crisp and clear, the tone hushed as if even the night was holding its breath, waiting. Stars were gradually fading, leaving only the pale cold winter's moon to lighten the scene below.

Sam still moaned softly in pain, his cries and tremors had increased when they had briefly separated the two brothers to get them outside. Dean too had shuddered as he lost physical contact with his brother, twisting in place. However both calmed when John placed Sam next to Dean in the garden, both boys simultaneously reaching out to touch the other, as if to reassure themselves that they were still there. John had propped Dean up against the tree and laid Sam with his head against Dean's chest, placing Dean's arms around his brother to balance and support his brother. Sam had instantly grabbed hold of Dean's hand in his own. It reminded John of when they were both young, before the awkwardness of adolescence, when neither could bear to be separated from the other. At one point he could had sworn that some witch had grafted Sam's hand to Dean's. He snorted softly at the memories- your getting soft in your old age John. Missouri glanced over from the tree to see the father looking down, with obvious adoration at his two boys. She smiled; he needs to show that more often she grumbled to herself. – He needs to allow himself to feel.

John allowed himself a moment of weakness as he waited on Missouri, looking at his sons he smiled.

A memory tugged at him, drawing him back to the past. A recollection of the time when both John and Dean had been ill and the boys had been separated to make sure that an injured Sam did not get flu on top of his wounds. Sam had been staying at Pastor Jim's recovering - that had lasted a whole 2 nights. At around 3 o'clock in the morning during the second night John had received a frantic phone call from his friend. Sammy had run away, leaving a hastily scribbled note saying he was going home – Sammy speak for he was going to see his brother. Apparently his youngest and supposedly injured son, who two days earlier could barely walk after a fortnight in hospital, had managed to climb out of his window and had stolen Jim's car.

Dean had been so proud of him - obviously pleased that his kid brother had managed to evade an experienced hunter and still managed to steal his beloved mustang, John remembered with a smile. Well after he had bawled him out for leaving Jim's and travelling alone in the middle of the night. He remembered how the phone call had meant he was perfectly positioned to catch Dean as he was sneaking out of the house himself, his mouth a comical 'o' as he was caught quietly opening the front door. A tense couple of hours later and Sam had turned up safe and sound, though the same could not be said of Jim's car.

John and Dean had been looking out of the window and saw Sam approaching on foot, his coat pulled tightly around him to keep out the cold. They had listened as Sam had begun to pick the lock of the motel room. At this point, and John could only blame his and Dean's temperatures combined with relief. They both began to giggle. Sam was in the motel room within seconds and had just stood with a stunned and confused expression on his young pale face as their giggles turned into full out laughter, tears streaming down their faces. He probably thought we were possessed or something. A smile had tugged at Sam's face, blooming into that huge beautiful dimpled smile and he had literally flung himself at his father and brother, burrowing between the two. He was freezing. John went and grabbed some blankets, the lecture for once could wait till morning, and when he returned it was to find his two sons fast asleep on the sofa, Sam's head against Dean's chest, tightly holding his brothers hand in a pose poignantly like the one in front of John now.

"It's time John." Missouri spoke softly, bring John back from his reverie.

John had Sam's curved blade in his hand and bent over his two sons. "I'm sorry" He whispered, and cut deep gashes into both his sons' forearms. Neither had stirred since they had been put together under the tree and John was terrified that it was already too late.

Missouri anointed the tree with Sam and Dean's blood, reading the twice-modified incantation

Now altered to hopefully work on the demon's spirit inhabiting the brothers, and not the brothers themselves.

John stood, rock salt and herbs at the ready, awaiting Missouri's signal to put protective circles around his sons once Missouri had drawn out the demon.

Leech stone in hand the psychic had made a deep incision in the bark of the alder tree and firmly pushed the stone within and finished the incantation. The silence in the garden deepened.

"It's not going to work John" A voice mocked him. He turned to see Elsie standing behind him, her eyes a sickening amber. John's face twisted into a snarl and he stepped forward. "Relax; I'm not here as your enemy - at least not today."

"What do you want?"

"What I've always wanted John. Nothing's changed. Unfortunately the leech has interfered with my plans - plans I need to put back on track. So believe it or not Johnny, I am offering to save your sons."

"What? I don't believe you. It's a trick."

"Who do you think helped the Doctor get Dean to Sam? I've stopped the leech from taking Sam's soul once already. It does not suit my purpose for Sam and Dean to die – not yet anyway." Elsie's lips twisted, a foreign and chilling expression altering her face into one of unnatural cruelty.

"And just what is your purpose?"

"That would be telling John. And anyway I would hate to deprive you of your goal in life. Just wouldn't be fair. Searching for the truth-." Elsie's head shook in amusement. "How very X Files of you. Let's just say I have a prior claim."

"And just what is the price?"

"Price John? – You're too young to be so cynical. Let's just say you'll owe me and I will collect. To be more specific, you have a choice to make. The price of my saving your sons now will be that when it's time I want you to back off and leave Sam to me."

"You're out of your mind!"

"As I said Johnny, you have a choice. Lose both of your sons now or one of your son's later."

"I cannot make that choice – I won't!"

"Say goodbye to your boys for me John." The demon turned to walk away. During their conversation John had been drawing the Demon away from his sons and he and Elsie were now standing by the door of the house. He looked across at Missouri who was watching him intently from where she stood next to the trees, monitoring the stone. Her expression grim, her eyes a haunting combination of guilt and sorrow told John what he had been dreading – it isn't working.

"Wait!" The word was reluctantly torn from John – he only had one thing left to give. ""Take me instead." He said desperately.

"I hate to break this to you John but I could take you anytime I wanted. You are not offering me anything that I could not take for myself. Besides, it's been kind of fun to have you blundering around hunting me these last 23 years. Gives me a sense of achievement. Seriously John, it's been entertaining – and you an ex marine." It mocked – then suddenly changed tack.

"This loyalty to Sam - are you sure it's not misplaced?"

"He's my son," mine and Mary's baby.

"Face reality John, you know as well as I do that that Dean has always been the favourite – chip off the old block an all."

"I love both my sons equally."

"Kid yourself if you will John but both you and I know that you and Sam are like chalk and cheese. There has been a distance between the two of you virtually all of his life. And you know why." John remained silent, uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was taking. And if he was honest, part of him wanted to listen – needing answers to the questions that had been haunting him all these years.

"You've always suspected that Sam was the ultimate cuckoo in the nest. You believe you know the reason that I was attracted to your family? You've looked into other families I have graced, believe you have found a pattern and think you know what my plan is? You have no idea Winchester; you might as well accept that Sam is mine."

"Bullshit!"

"You really shouldn't speak to your elders that way. Your baby boy died when he was 6 months old - The night when everything changed, when Sam Winchester was marked for his destiny. His powers John- just where do you think they come from? You and I know where this is eventually going to end – why don't you at least try to spare Dean that? Don't let his brother drag him down with him. Just walk away John. - You have your son and heir, and I will have mine!"

"Over my dead body!"

"No John, it will be over Dean's. This is my last offer and I will walk away. Choose - both of your sons now or one of your son's later." The Demon's voice became more persuasive. "I'm not asking you to hand Sam over to me here and now. He's not ready. None of them are ready. So that gives you time to attempt to destroy me before I collect."

The Demonwatched the elder Winchester struggling with the conflict between heart and conscience. Sacrificing one son to save the other was abhorrent to any parent, but John was losing both now. It was already nearly too late as it was.

"Clock's ticking John."

John hesitated a moment before lowering his eyes in defeat and nodding his agreement to the Demon's terms. The Demon held out an athame – "Give me your hand John". John silently obeyed, every molecule in his body screaming at him to refuse, to fight this bastard that had destroyed his family – but that would not help his boys. The Demon made an incision in John's hand, the blood trickling into the grooves in the athame and the Demon held a hand under the blade. A band of shadow rose from his palm, wreathing the blade, and he muttered something quietly in Latin.

"This is a binding contract John, if you renege and break this agreement, both your son's will die and I will take their souls anyway."

John felt bile rising, horrified at his betrayal - he had done the unforgivable. He had made a deal with the creature that had killed Mary and countless others. A deal that could deliver his youngest to the very evil he had strove to protect his small fractured family from. The worse thing was that Sam would probably back his plan to the hilt. Dean on the other hand…Dean would never forgive him – just as John would never forgive himself. But the Demon was right. He had time, time enough to kill the Demon before he got anywhere near his boys. I swear on my life, on Mary's memory, on my very soul that I will tear the world apart and hunt every damn Demon down before I lose my sons – either of them.

"Just keep your end of the deal and save my sons – now." John growled.

"As you wish John," the Demon gave him a mocking smile and bowed. As Elsie straightened the amber from her eyes faded and they returned to her piercing blue.

"John, what's going on?"

"A long story Elsie," and John pushed passed her and headed for his sons.

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A/N – so guys, what do you think? It's not too weak I hope! Was unsure on the memory flashback – hope you liked it. And see, not really a cliffhanger…

Fretted about how to go about this chapter - wanted to make it believeable but also show that it was not an easy decision for John to come to - hope I got it right - please let me know!

Don't worry – the boys are back in the next chapter…

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"Citizens of Gotham"…Robin leans over and mutters in Batman's ear, "ahem, Citizens of Fanfiction. We have captured Evil Fangirl before she could carry out her nefarious plan and before she could complete her trademark diabolical cliff hanger."

Cheers, yey! Waving of flags…(just where do they get the flags from…?) Batman ponders and shrugs.

"But Batman – we have yet to find out what has happened with Sam and Dean."

"Never fear Robin, I have a plan."

"But Holy Hard Decison Batman!"

"I know Robin, we have much to do!"

Batman and Robin run down alleyway, mist swirling

"Holy wrong direction Batman- the Batmobile's that way!"

"Hush Robin– Evil Fangirl is watching!" The Intrepid Duo turn and run back up the alleyway….

Evil Fangirl collapses in laughter, amateurs as she picks the lock of the handcuffs with the paperclip she took from Dean, hotwires the Batmobile and floors it…ahahahahahaaaa

dunna nunna nunna nunna Batman!

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