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 19

Dean grunted as he felt a fist connect with his stomach, but due to the restraining rope, he was unable to move or defend himself. Cornase stepped to one side allowing his pets some fun with their new prey.

Satisfied with the punishment being dealt to Dean Cornase sidled out of the room and went into the next one where he could enjoy the beating through a window fixed into a fake wall while he and Merci continued to discuss the matter.

He found her draped over a couch, her long shapely legs out before her, and a small tub of popcorn resting on the cushion next to her. Dressed in a short soft leather tunic and black laced stockings, her garters tantalisingly visible at the men of the tunic.

'You're missing the best bits, Cornie,' she pouted prettily, 'did you have to drug him first though, he can scream when he wants to.'

'Now, now Merci my Love, we want him to survive don't we?'

'Of course, he is the only one who can bring my daughter back to me,' Merci said snuggling into the curve of Cornase's side, 'I still can't believe that imp when she first took my baby away from us.'

'All in good time my Dear, we will have her back sooner than you think,' Cornase said nuzzling her neck with tiny kisses and nips, 'you do taste good do you know that.'

'I think you have mentioned it a few times,' Merci giggled, 'this is getting boring Cornie, we need some spice.'

'What would you like then?'

'Hmm oh I know ...' Merci laughed with delight, rolling over she lifted herself up to straddle Cornase's hips, 'I have the perfect idea Lover.' She leaned over him, her semi-restrained breasts scraping over his lips, reaching up she finally found a small box with her fingertips and retrieved it.

'Get them to administer this to him.' She dangled the box in front of Cornase's eyes, a malicious look on her pretty face.

'You are a sadistic little bitch aren't you?' Cornase grinned taking the box of small vials from her, pushing himself up he glanced back down at Merci, 'now don't move I want to see you in that pose when I return.'

'I aint going anywhere Lover.' Merci gave him a seductive little pout and readjusted her legs, 'I'll be right here when you get back.'

Merci watched the proceedings with glee; this will teach that self-righteous bastard Dean Winchester that he just can't screw every woman he meets and not accept responsibility for his actions. Whether they are forced on him or beyond his control, it doesn't matter; he hurt her feelings and took her baby away from the child's destiny.

Cornase strode in and stared down at the beaten young man slumped in the chair, blood dripped from cuts and splits on his face and hairline, bruises smudged his eyes and temples already. His bare chest a mass of bruised flesh, soft, multi-hued, swollen lumps of torn muscles and tendons, ripped from the bone in the frenzied attack. His breath rattled through his chest indicating a serious injury to his lungs. Cornase frowned he wanted him beaten yes, but not killed. He shouldn't have let Merci distract him for as long as she did. He fingered the box of vials in his pocket a moment longer and then decided against using it. Instead, he ordered the prisoner to be cut down, cleaned up, and returned to his original holding cell.

Striding out of the room the demon decided instead that he would extract his enjoyment from the little witch instead.

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Sam rested his aching head against the cool tiles letting the water sluice over his long body. Each of his leg and arm muscles twitched uncontrollably as he fought to regain control of his body. He had to stay strong for Dean and even more so for Isabelle.

Even though he had healed, he was still no where near well-enough to be facing demons of any kind, but especially the one that has Dean.

With the image of Dean suffering under the will of that creature, encroaching his train of thought Sam gasped for breath and hunched his shoulders, as bright lights exploded in front of his eyes.

Blindly he felt for the taps and managed to turn them off before his knees buckled and he fell to the floor, trying to brace himself to reduce the impact on the slippery tiles Sam ended up on a huddled pile pressed against the wall. His fingers found the pressure points on the bridge of his nose but it was useless.

A flash of light made him wince and squeeze his eyes closed; a tiny baby in a crib crying and reaching out, another flash of light, Dean pinned to a ceiling above a sleeping Sam. The vision changed and then Sam saw Dean below him, beaten and broken lying in a bloodied mess, snapping the vision back Sam saw Isabelle sitting between Merci and the demon, with her father's still body lying at their feet.

Gasping for air Sam let out a shuddering sob and hauled himself up stumbling from the shower he collapsed to his knees in front of the toilet gagging until he started to retch and vomit.

The image of Dean's broken body still foremost in his mind; it was as if he was actually feeling Dean's agony resonating throughout his own body.

'Sam are you okay in there?' Azuraus called for the third time, Isabelle fidgeting in her grip trying to get to her uncle, 'hey Sam anytime now would be good or I'm coming in there.'

After nothing but silence Azuraus glanced down at Isabelle as she made her mind up, 'we'll just keep our eyes shut kitten okay?'

Faster than a blink Azuraus appeared next to Sam's prone form in front of the toilet, 'oh Gods Sam?' she breathed when she took in the pallor of his skin, the mess from his vomit and the blood dripping from his nose. Isabelle screamed and tried to climb out of Azuraus' grip down to her fallen uncle.

Gently she sat the baby next to the young man and then covered his nakedness with a thick towel before she cleaned up the toilet and his face, as she tenderly washed the blood away Sam's eyes flickered open and briefly met the spirit guide's sparkling eyes with an even stare.

'You okay Sam?' she asked nervously bitting down on her lower lip, she so wanted to blink out of there, but she had to stay strong for her two charges, Sam and Isabelle, the chosen children.

'Az?' Sam blinked at her, his brow wrinkling in confusion as the fragments of the vision slowly returned to him. 'Ah I'm still in the bathroom?'

'Yep, we found you passed out over the toilet,' Az said politely looking at Isabelle and avoiding Sam's gaze, 'I um covered you with the towel but I promise I didn't peek.'

'Oh sh...umm okay could you take Isabelle out while I get dressed?' Sam asked feeling his face redden even more.

Isabelle pouted when Az picked her up and she immediately put her hands out to her uncle, 'in a minny Issy okay uncle Sam just has to get dressed first,' he said tenderly trying to pacify the infant. When she heard his voice, her lips stopped quivering and she gave him the brightest smile he had ever seen.

Ten minutes later Sam fully dressed busied himself with packing the baby's things into the car before he came back for Isabelle, 'you sure that we can trust them Az?' he asked for the third time, clicking the last restraint in place he brushed a kiss on the baby's silken cheek and winked at her. Straightening his back Sam cracked his shoulders and neck easing the remaining kinks out of them, 'I don't like the idea of being separated from Isabelle for too long, it could be dangerous for her.'

'Yep they're great people and they know all about the nasty stuff Sam, and, and I can stay with her if you like until you come back. If you need help all you have to do is holler like you did the other day.'

'Azuraus you know what Dean will be like if something happens to Isabelle...maybe she should come with me.'

'Sam you're going to confront the demon and rescue your brother, somehow I don't think that will leave you time to change nappies or give bottles do you?'

'How come you're suddenly making a lot of sense?' Sam smiled wearily at the animal spirit.

'Must be the company I'm keeping,' Azuraus grinned, 'so I'll go ahead and make sure everything's fine at The Angels.'

'Ah The Angels?'

'Yeah well actually it's called, The Seven Angels Home for Children but it's easier just to call it The Angels, you see it's perfect no one will think of looking for Isabelle in a children's home.'

'What else is there Az you're not telling me everything are you.'

'Well it's kind of a special home.' Az said averting her gaze from Sam's enquiring one.

'Well? Go on...'

'It's a home for special children, kids affected by the supernatural world. Some have lost parents to the nasties, others are...have umm, abilities and others are in danger.'

'And no one knows of this place?'

'Nope, it's kinda like a real-life X-men school for mutants!' Az giggled, 'hey that's what they call it,' she defended herself when she saw the look forming on Sam's face.

'Who is they Az?' Sam asked pinching the bridge of his nose, he could feel a headache coming on suddenly, and he knew that he was staring down at the cause of it.

'Danny and Rachel are great people Sam, honestly and they love the kids to death, Isabelle will be fine there and I will stay with her I won't let her out of my sight.'

Sam sighed as he started the impala and nodded to the fading imp, 'don't get into any trouble Azuraus you hear me.'

'Yes sir!' she grinned as she disappeared in a shimmer of silver sparkles.

Sam looked into the rear view mirror and watched Isabelle smiling back at him, 'well it's just you and me kid for now. I'm gonna go find your daddy and bring him home to you Isabelle, I promise I will bring him back.'

TBC