Two Hunters and a Baby.

Disclaimer: Sigh no matter how hard I try I just don't own anything to do with Supernatural or the characters of the show. Although anything that comes from my fevered imagination is ... kind of ... that's my excuse anyway!

CHAPTER 16

Dean sat with Isabelle soundly asleep on his knee her chubby fingers twisted in his shirt front, a sign she felt uneasy and needed the extra feel of safety. Sam slept in his bed, propped back on his side with extra pillows piled against his back to prevent him from rolling over again in his sleep.

The shunt, now gone was no longer a problem, it was is skin grafts; the latest problems caused them to start breaking down at a rapid pace, but Sam was too weak to undergo the procedure again. Dr Burnet the burns specialist decided instead to try to salvage what he could and use a synthetic skin instead.

The seizure left Sam spent of his remaining strength and will power, he completely folded in on himself and literally gave up his fight. Slowly he slitted his eyes and stared at Dean who had finally dozed off. Sam smiled slightly at the sight of father and daughter snuggled up together on the chair, sighing he settled back a little when he realised that stacked pillows prevented him from rolling onto his back.

'Well that sucks,' he whispered, as he desperately wanted to stretch his stiff and cramping limbs. His throat felt like sandpaper and itched interminably tentatively he reached over for his ice chips when he winced and pinched the bridge of his nose instead.

Merci stared at him with a mixture of contempt and fear, she cowered in the corner of a room from him, baring her teeth at him like a wild animal.

He put his hand out but she pushed away from him, opening her mouth an unholy scream came from deep within her. Her face twisted and scowled as she prepared herself to launch an attack at him. Suddenly she flickered and shot up the wall, pinned by an invisible force.

Her growls became screams of pain and terror as she continued to slither up the wall until she hit the ceiling where she seemingly flew across until she hit the centre. A crib appeared under her as a catchment for her blood.

He reached up to save her when he realised that he was chained to the wall, helpless to save her; the flames flared around the crib reaching its fiery fingers to his feet and legs.

Dean stared at Sam watching him carefully, his well-honed senses woken when Sam's vision first hit him, Isabelle still sleeping soundly didn't stir when he laid her down on the empty bed next to Sam's and had pillows piled around her. Freeing her father to monitor her uncle's premonitory vision carefully. Sam's eyes shot open and he instinctively reached out to Dean.

'Okay Sammy, concentrate on breathing and calm down,' Dean said deliberately using calm and soothing tones, rubbing circles on Sam's exposed shoulder, 'that's it, nice and easy kiddo.'

'Dean I saw Merci again,' Sam whispered clutching at Dean's arm tightly, 'she was in a corner and terrified of me, and then she was back on the ceiling a – a crib appeared below her and the flames...'

'Just like the other vision?'

'Yeah but this time I was chained to a wall and couldn't help her and then the fire...' Sam tried to sit up suddenly fighting Dean's grip, 'my legs they burnt...'

'It's okay Sammy, your legs are fine, there's no burns,' Dean tried to comfort him as he inspected Sam's legs, making sure he kept one hand linked with Sam's arm.

Sam let his head drop onto the pillows and squeezed his eyes shut he could still see Merci bleeding and burning above him, 'I can't do this anymore Dean, it hurts too much.'

'Dude listen to me, you're in pain, and been really sick, maybe these visions have been affected by that.'

'Issy? She's here?'

'Yeah asleep on the bed just behind you.'

'She's okay?'

'Dude she's more than okay,' Dean couldn't help himself and grinned proudly, 'she cut a tooth.'

'Can I ... can you bring her over so I can see her?'

'Sure dude, just relax and I'll go get her,' Dean said patting Sam's arm he disappeared behind Sam, but it didn't bother the younger Winchester as much because he could hear Dean cooing and chattering to his daughter.

Sam opened his eyes and blinked up at Dean, he wasn't aware of falling asleep but when he could focus properly, he glanced down and stared at the little girl lying on the crook of his arm.

'She wanted to be with her uncle,' Dean grinned, 'Dude you've been asleep for nearly two hours how you feeling?'

'Ah, okay I think,' Sam said softly, he traced one of his fingers around the small face and over her silky soft hair, 'she's so pretty,' he whispered.

'She's missed her uncle,' Dean admitted amazed at the difference in Sam since Dean laid Isabelle down next to him. Sam's cheeks now had a slight pinkish tinge instead of dull grey and his eyes looked clearer. If Dean didn't know, better he could've sworn Isabelle was doing more than just cuddling her uncle Sam.

'We're going to be okay aren't we Dean,' Sam said suddenly staring solemnly at his older brother.

'Yes Dude, we gonna be more than okay ... we're Winchesters after all.' Dean grinned he felt as though a weight disappeared from his back and he could sit up straighter. 'You are looking a helluva lot better.'

'Feeling it Dude, and ... damn hungry.' Sam grinned as Isabelle opened her eyes and smiled at him; taking a finger in her smaller hand, she immediately put the tip of it in her mouth and bit down.

'Ow, Dude that new tooth is sharp,' Sam laughed brushing a kiss on Isabelle's head, 'she did that deliberately!' He exclaimed seeing the cheeky look on her face.

'Ah Dude she's only six months old somehow I don't think...'

'Nope I tell you Dean she did it deliberately,' Sam grinned, resting his head back on the pillow Sam sighed happily and played with his baby niece.

'Dude will you be okay if I go and rustle up some food for you?'

'Go Dean, Issy and me will be fine,' Sam said without looking up.

Dean shook his head and smiled happily Sam was on his way back, 'won't be long.'

'Take your time.'

Four weeks later with Isabelle sitting up on his knee Sam relented to the wheelchair ride out of the hospital, Doctor Goodfellow walked alongside laughing and chatting to the brothers. 'Now listen you two if you need a place to crash here's my number, and Sam I want to see you back here in a week for your check up got that.'

'Yes Sir!' Sam grinned, 'thanks again Doc for everything.'

'Son you did all of the hard work I'm just glad I was along for the ride,' Doctor Goodfellow patted Sam's shoulder with a fatherly gesture before plucking the baby off his knee, 'just gotta give this little one a last hug.'

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Merci watched the little scene from the shadows of the main building, her eyes flaring red when she saw Dean laughing and playing with the baby as he placed her in her car seat before helping Sam into the passenger side.

This should have been such an easy job, trust Dean to show actual fatherly attributes, if she wanted that she would have seduced Sam instead. Her frown deepened when she saw the tall young man stand up and limp towards the car, his recovery was literally amazing and annoying. She wanted him to suffer more, that's why she implanted the false visions. The dream demon easily implanting the seeds when she gave him the first night terror.

Now, not only well enough to leave the hospital, his life-threatening injuries had healed on themselves or with the help of surgery. Whatever was the cause the effect was the same, Sam Winchester was no longer dying and easy to manipulate.

Stamping her foot, she had to rethink this, time was running out, and the baby had to be given over as soon as possible. With a flick of her wrist, she disappeared in a small cloud of black smoke, unseen and undetected by the Winchester brothers.

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Sam dropped onto his bed in their new motel room and yawned glancing up at his brother with a sheepish grin, 'don't look like that Dean, I'm actually tired that's all.'

'Yeah, yeah well get those freakish long legs of yours up on the bed and look after your niece for me.'

'And what are you going to do?' Sam asked holding his hands out to Isabelle, 'where are you going Dean?' Sam's tone changed slightly as he watched Dean don his leather jacket and pick the car keys up.

'I'll be right back, just need a few supplies for Issy and some food for us, dunno about you but I'm starving,' Dean grinned and then suddenly he sobered and stared down at his younger brother, 'you gonna be okay man? I mean I can stay and get the stuff delivered.'

'Go Dean, the sooner you go the sooner we can eat.' Sam smiled as Isabelle grabbed hold of his fingers once again, 'and oh Dean grab a teething ring for her while you're shopping will ya?' he yelped when Issy bit down on his finger.

'That's my girl!' Dean laughed as he left, locking the door behind him, determined not to let anyone near his family if he could help it.

As he went to shut his car door, a shadow passed over Dean and he glanced up at the two large creatures standing either side of Merci.

'Hey Dean.'

'Hey Merci, so what's with the welcoming committee?'

'We need to talk and well these guys are gonna make sure that we're not disturbed.'

'Sorry Merci but I got places to go and people to see, I tell ya what why don't I get my people to contact your people and we'll do lunch one day soon.'

'Still the glib one aren't you Dean.'

'What can I say it's my charm,' Dean gave her a careless smile and started the car, revving the motor, 'so if you don't mind...'

'Oh but I do lover I do mind very much!' Merci smiled leaning over she brushed a kiss on Dean's lips and pressed a needle into his neck.

'You bitch!' Dean ground out as he felt his body go numb in seconds.

'Sorry lover but I'm on a tight schedule here,' Merci bent down and kissed Dean's immobile lips enjoying the look of sheer fury in his eyes, 'oh I should tell you that the drug is an immobiliser. It renders you completely helpless, numbing your body but keeping you aware of everything around you.' Merci laughed and nodded to her companions, 'get him, we have some more collecting to do, oh don't worry Dean you are gonna be reunited with your family before you know it.' Merci laughed enjoying his mute rage immensely.

TBC