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 18

Sam stared at the space Azuraus had just occupied sighing he ran his hands through his hair and grinned down at Issy, 'so honey looks like Az has left us too.' He said trying to mask his laughter in his voice.

Azuraus appeared with an indignant look on her face and her arms folded, standing directly in front of Sam she pouted and stuck her tongue out.

'You know Az if the wind changes your face will stay like that.' Sam laughed, 'sorry but you are gonna have to stop pulling that disappearing act on me.'

'Sorry Sammmmy, but it's just...I get so scared of the demon and knowing that Merci is truly bad too...' Az started to fade away again when she stopped herself and glittered back, 'sorry.'

'Let's get two things straight around here Az,' Sam said trying to sound stern, 'first no more apologising okay, just try to stay as focused as possible, and second the name is Sam not Sammy and definitely not Sammmmy.'

'Yessir.' Az said meekly staring down at her feet, she started to fade again.

'Az.' Sam snapped starting to get irritated with the spirit guide, he went over to Issy and lifted her high into his arms, enjoying the feeling of love radiating from her tiny body, every time he held her or had her close he felt a little better, both physically and emotionally. Yet, it was crazy he wasn't her Dad Dean is. Then the thought dawned on him, Dean swore to be Sam's protector when they were young and he has taken that oath to the extreme at times, Issy is Dean's daughter, with Sam's psychic abilities and Dean's over-protectiveness, 'so I have two of you now do I?' he grinned down at his niece, 'two versions of Dean huh?'

Isabelle gurgled and reached up to touch Sam's cheek with a chubby finger, and then Sam just knew that she understood everything he had just said to her. 'You know Issy you are one very special baby.'

'She sure is, and very protected and loved.' Az chimed in, after calming her own fluttering emotions down, 'she is made up of the Winchester genes more than anything or anyone else's.'

'I so wish she could just have a normal childhood with Dean and a Mum to love her.' Sam said a wistful tone to his voice, 'a normal little girl in a normal world where her Uncle Sam could come and visit and not ever having to worry bout demons or other nasties again.'

'Maybe one day Sam.' Offered Azuraus.

'No, no I know it's not gonna happen it's just nice to...' Sam gave Az a sad and soft smile, 'but right now someone needs a nappy change and then we have to work out how to get her daddy back.'

'Sam?' Az asked breaking the sudden silence; she sat on an invisible cushion hovering just above the bed while Sam changed Issy and dressed her in clean jeans and a new T-shirt, finishing it off with the bandana that Dean loved on her.

'Yeah Az what is it?'

'When this is all over...Dean's not going to be able to keep Issy with him is he?'

Sam glanced up at the spirit with a look of surprise on his face, 'you mean to tell me that ...that you knew all along that this wasn't permanent didn't you.'

'No, yes, oh I guess kind of.'

'Kind of? Come on Az be a little more specific please.'

'Okkies, I guess I worked it out when I really saw Merci for who she is. It doesn't matter if you guys vanquish this one and Merci, there'll be more coming at you guys and wanting Issy won't they? Always coming for you guys and for her.'

'Yeah, though I guess I'm not the one to really talk to about this.'

'Why?'

'I thought that you knew everything about us.' Sam smirked as he finished making Issy a bottle and started to feed her, 'I have never really enjoyed this aspect of our lives.'

'Oh I know all about,' Az waved her fingers dismissively at Sam, 'all about your fight with your Dad and your leaving of college, I understand that. But, I guess I always that, that once you guys kill the demon and save Issy and maybe even Merci in the process that maybe you could have stayed together.'

'Not gonna happen anytime soon Az, though between you and me ...' Sam shook his head and smiled down at his niece as she suckled thirstily at her bottle, 'I ah I'm going to have a shower can you finish up with Isabelle please?'

'Yeah sure Sam,' Az replied confused, 'want me to take her now?'

'Yeah please, we have to get going as soon as we can I have a feeling Dean's life depends on us today Az. Especially today.' Sam finished cryptically before relinquishing the baby over to her spirit guide, 'take care of her Az.'

'You know you don't have to ask it's a given,' Az frowned at Sam, with Isabelle in her arms she had to control her impulse to fade out, and it dawned on her that Sam realised it too. 'what are you doing Sam?' she asked but only received the sound of a door closing as an answer.

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Dean paced his small cell, hurting, angry and tired his throat dry and sore after an hour long tirade against Merci and her so-called Master. His worry for his little brother and his own child boiled through him, to the point of obsession. 'Get a grip Winchester you're a father now.' He ground out aloud, startled by that statement, 'I am a father now, a daddy, I have a kid ... I have another one to be responsible for and to protect at all costs.' A bitter giggle erupted from his throat, 'to protect at all costs when I can't even help myself.'

'You know they say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.' Merci taunted Dean as she unlocked the door and stepped into the room with a very careful and measured pace. Awkwardly she put a tray of food down, splashing the mug of water, a small hiss escaped from her lips, pursing them she managed to stand and move back to the door.

'What's wrong with you Merci?' Dean asked unable to help himself, she did look like shit.

'Master wanted to remind me what happens when I disobey him,' Merci answered unable to look up at Dean, 'I'm not supposed to talk to you.'

'Merci I ...' Dean stopped himself as he fixed her with a deathly stare; she was the one responsible for everything that has happened recently, including Sam's brain injury.

'I am sorry Dean.' She muttered, but then her body straightened, shoulders snapped back and head held high. Flicking back her hair Merci stared at Dean with eyes of obsidian black. 'Eat, you are going to need your strength the Master will be requiring your presence soon.'

'Merci?'

'Enough eat or you will be forced.' Merci snarled as she strode out of the room.

'I guess then our date is off then.' Dean yelled after her, 'shame about that guess I'll have to cancel the reservations.'

Half an hour later two demonoids-humans came into the small room, the stench of sulphur and decayed flesh made Dean gag and cough as he inhaled the acrid smells.

Silently they grabbed him and started dragging Dean out of the room and down the hallway, 'you know guys you just had to ask,' Dean quipped, 'I mean there's plenty of me to go around.'

The only response he elicited was the tightening of their grips on his arms, until they actually cut off the circulation in his biceps. 'Hey guys I dunno about you but I'm not really into bondage especially group bondage, so if you don't mind I'll just go back to my room and catch some zzz's.'

After one of his guards unlocked a door they threw Dean roughly into the room and shut the door behind him, locking it they effectively trapped him once again, just in a different room. 'So Dean this is a great mess you got yourself into.' He muttered as he let his gaze roam around the room.

At least this one is furnished, albeit sparingly, sighing he slowly picked himself up off the floor and stumbled over to what could be loosely termed as a bed. In fact was only an old wooden frame with a straw mattress on it, but it was better than nothing.

Stretching his aching body out Dean lied down carefully before sitting up again sneezing repeatedly. 'Just freaking great.' He sniffled standing up he went over to the chair and thoughtfully regarded it for two seconds before opting to sitting on the floor his back against the wall and directly in front of the door.

The sneezing fit eased but still the straw tickled his nose and irritated his throat, 'water would be nice' he huffed to himself, the door opening pulled him out of his maudlin thoughts.

'I see that you did not touch your food,' the demon said as he strode into the room, this time in the body of a tall, well dressed and groomed man in his mid-fifties. 'Merci did warn you what would happen if you didn't eat and drink.'

'Yeah well, sorry but I kinda already ate, oh what days ago and still full,' Dean quipped as he eyed the new apparition before him, 'so what happened to the last meat-suit? Did it get a bit ripe for ya?'

'As they say a change is as good as a holiday.' The demon preened himself in front of his prisoner, 'I think this one becomes me much more don't you think.'

'Whatever.'

'Oh dear, Dean what is wrong? Not up to your usual standard of sarcastic comebacks.'

'Sorry darlin' not in the mood.' Dean drawled as he rested his head back on the wall and closed his eyes, 'maybe later.'

'Take him,' the demon ordered ignoring Dean's apparent lazy posture, 'up against the wall.'

'Hey now, don't we get to talk about his first?' Dean asked as the two silent demonoids picked him up and roughly pushed him against the wall, holding him in iron-like grips.

'Merci here now.' Her Master ordered no longer giving Dean his attention, 'bring the tray.'

Merci shuffled in looking tired and dishevelled, 'here it is Master.' She whispered bowing and leaving without a glimmer of recognition towards Dean.

'What did you do to her?' Dean demanded, if anything she was still Issy's mum.

'Nothing that should concern you,' the demon smiled coldly as he moved closer to Dean, 'oh by the way you can either call me Master, My Lord or Lord Cornase and you will be bowing before me before this day is out.'

'Why? And Cornase? Please how corny a name can you get?'

'Why? I want the chosen child, your daughter. And my name? How is any worse than Dean?'

'At least Dean is a masculine sounding name.' Dean snapped back unable to help himself, 'why do you want my daughter?'

'She is a very unique human child, she needs to be trained,' Cornase turned and covered the small distance between himself and his prisoner, 'we have discussed this before are you doing this just to annoy me? Or are you just that stupid?'

'Oh have I hit a nerve have I?'

'Silence.' Cornase gripped Dean's chin and forced his head back against the wall viciously he pushed his fingernails into Dean's face squeezing until he forced his mouth open. 'Perhaps you will be more cooperative after you have had something to drink.'

A flask of fluid appeared in his hand seeing it Dean's eyes widened and he tried to push away but the demon Master and his cohorts had him pinned to tightly. 'Swallow and you won't be punished, spit it out and you will experience pain like you never have before.'

Dean glared at the possessed man for a second before shifting his gaze to the flask that appeared at his mouth. Horror filled him, as Cornase tipped the contents into his mouth, with his face trapped in the large hand Dean had no choice but to let the fluid slosh down until he had enough to spit it directly into the face of his tormentor.

Cornase hissed and tightened his grip on Dean's jaw, 'you will be punished for that,' he snarled as he poured more into Dean's mouth. This time he dropped the flask and with his free hand pushed Dean's chin upwards effectively closing his mouth and then to completely make sure Dean swallowed he covered the younger man's nose blocking his airways.

Choking and gagging Dean finally swallowed the bitter and syrup thick fluid, gasping for each burning breath he dropped his head exhausted suddenly. A black fog filled his mind poisoning each aspect of Dean – and who he is.

'Take him to the chair and tie him down, I know he has had the serum but I don't want any further problems.' Cornase ordered, 'no need to blindfold him though, just gag him with this.' He tossed one of the guards a ball gag, a vicious looking instrument that had a metal ball encased in leather with two leather thongs either side, they forced the ball deep into Dean's mouth before tying the strips as tightly as they could, cutting into the corners of his lips.

Then they used a length of rope around Dean's chest and upper arms, two thin strips of wire for his wrists and ankles finished the job. Drugged and bound Dean couldn't do a thing.

Blinking furiously and trying to keep his attention, focused Dean watched each of his tormentors closely. Cornase smiled at this and came over to crouch down in front of him. 'So, you are a little tied up now aren't you,' the demonic creature giggled running a fingernail down the side of Dean's face, 'trussed up and nothing to talk about.'

He turned his head and looked up at the guard, 'knife,' he ordered.

A curved and ornately decorated knife appeared in his hand; lovingly he stroked the edge and held it just in front of Dean's eyes. 'So Dean, do you really think that you can disobey me and get away with it?'

Dean kept his eyes fixed on the blade and tried to think through the syrupy mess of his mind, unsure of what was being said or why he just kept watching the blade move back and forth in front of him.

'I told you not to spit out the serum,' Cornase snapped grasping Dean's hair he forced his prisoner to look up at him, 'time to take your punishment.'

TBC