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 26

Sam stared at Az in shock, 'what are you doing here?' he asked incredulously, 'why aren't you protecting Mickie?'

'I'm here to bring you back Sam.' Azuraus said with a tender look on her beatific face, 'it's not your time.'

'No more pain here Az, no more guilt Dean could go and raise his daughter and never have to worry about protecting me again.'

'Is that what you really want Sam?'

'It is what is best for Dean and Isabelle…Mickie.'

'Dean is not whole without you Sam, the two of you together complete each other, separate neither of you are whole.'

'That doesn't make a lot of sense Az.'

'Nothing in this realm does Sam, you're caught between your earth bound body and your soul, this is the Nether Realm and it is here you must decide.'

'Decide what?'

'Decide whether you wish to go back to your life as you know it or allow yourself to be … placed … for lack of a better word in a new one.'

'Why can't I just cross over?'

'Because it is not your time Samuel Winchester, you have a life ahead of you that no one else can have. If you don't want to choose, the life you have then you will have a new one, with new memories, new family but the same destiny. You cannot fight destiny Sam.'

'This new life means no Dean? No hunting? Nothing like that?'

'No Dean, you wouldn't remember Jessica or your father no one from your previous existence will be with you.'

'Would I still remember them?'

'No.'

'A life without Dean?' Sam muttered horrified at the thought, no Dean in his life, no memories…nothing it would be all gone.'

'What about Dean? Would he remember me?'

'He would bury his little brother, and then live with the guilt of beating him to death until it drives him to suicide and his daughter placed in the foster care system.' Az answered her voice completely neutral with no inflection what so ever.

'Suicide?'

'The guilt will overwhelm him and he will turn his own gun onto himself he will forever remain in the shadows.'

'I – I don't,' Sam shook his head, he had to admit to himself that a new beginning would be nice to be able to start fresh but with no Dean in his life, no memories of Jess nothing it was too much for him to think of. 'Take me back Az, please take me back.'

Rachel passed the baby to her husband before pulling Dean away from Sam's prone body, he didn't want to stop CPR but it had been too long. Sobbing uncontrollably Dean pulled away from Rachel's arms and went back to his brother, he had to bring him back. Just then Sam's fingers twitched slightly, thinking it was only a last muscle spasm Dean went to close Sam's eyes for the last time when a long rasping gasp for breath made him jump backwards. 'Sam?' Dean whispered 'Sammy?'

Gasping for each precious breath of oxygen Sam's fingers locked around Dean's wrist and held on drawing his own life's essence from his brother's strength. 'D-D-Dean please help…'

'I'm here little brother I'm here,' Dean wept ignoring his own tears as he cradled his baby brother to his chest, 'deep breathes Sam, just take long deep breathes.'

Mickie squirmed and screamed until she got her way and Danny lowered down to her father and uncle, the three of them sat huddled together, two brothers linked by a baby girl.

Az stood back and watched in amazement; a golden glow enveloped the small Winchester family, originating from Mickie, a healing warmth emanated from them touching all of those who stood around them.

Clearing her throat Az finally broke the moment by suggesting that they should get Sam inside and in bed to rest, even though he looked better he still had trouble catching his breath. Danny and Dean helped Sam up and between them, they were able to get him inside and lying down on the long sofa, Erin ran ahead and placed pillows down and held a blanket to cover Sam. She held her breath as she watched her dad and Dean bring him in, he was so cute even so banged up and sick looking.

'Dean?' Sam wheezed holding a shaking hand out to his brother, 'Dean please …'

'It's okay Sammy, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere.' Dean said keeping his gaze fixed firmly on Sam and away from his various injuries Dean still felt an incredible guilt hanging over him like a dead weight and he couldn't or better yet, wouldn't shake it off.

'No more guilt Dean please,' Sam ground out through each breath before his eyes fluttered a few times and he finally succumbed to sheer exhaustion and fell asleep.

Dean sat cuddling his sleeping daughter in the easy chair next to the couch where Sam slept, he refused to leave his brother's side for a second, instead he gave Mickie her bottle and a bowl of baby stew, changed her nappy and rocked her to sleep all while still sitting next to Sam.

The baby felt so comfortable and natural that for the first time in a long time he felt safe and relaxed. Az watched them intently, even asleep or half-asleep the bond between the three of them was so palatable that Az could actually feel it.

'Az? They okay aren't they?' Erin asked as she came to stand next to the sprite, 'what about Sam is he going to be okay?'

'Sure honey he's fine, you don't have to worry,' Az smiled knowingly at the teenager, 'he's getting better all of the time.'

'Oh okay, um do you think that they might like something to eat?' Erin fidgeted as she asked keeping her eyes on Sam.

'Maybe later Sweetie but for now, now they need their sleep,' Az reassured the girl.

'I'll umm just sit here for a while in case he…they need anything.'

'Dad, Dad, where's Dad?' Joey yelled running into the house, he banged the front door startling the sleeping brothers and waking Mickie, ignoring the sharp angry looks from Az and his mum Joey kept yelling for his dad.

'What's wrong Joey?' Rachel asked gripping her eldest son's shoulders and tried to get him to calm down.

'There's, there's a strange-looking woman and a man who looks just like Dean, they're coming up the drive way.'

'Where are they?' Dean asked his eyes darkening with anger.

'Coming up the drive about half way here,' Joey panted out looking up he saw his father coming in from the back of the house, 'strangers dad, one looks just like Dean.'

'Okay Joey go and move the impala into the garage and lock the door, Az take the baby upstairs and stay with her, lock the door. Dean can you help me get Sam upstairs?'

'No, no I'm not going anywhere,' Sam protested weakly trying to sit up without passing out, 'I'm staying with Dean.'

'Sammy, I …'

'No Dean we're not getting separated,' Sam insisted between sharp intakes of air, his face set with stubborn determination.

'Sam please listen to…'

'No, listen to me … that demon and Merci … they want us … separated … they can't …' Sam's breath hitched and he had to stop talking and concentrate on evening out each breath.

Dean turned and stared at him thoughtfully, 'damn it Sammy you're right, they can't fight us together, they keep trying to keep us apart, that's why …'

'Yeah so the demon can become you Dean, but if we stay together there's less chance of that happening.' Sam finished for his brother before he dropped back onto his pillows struggling to calm his erratic breathing once again.

Silently Erin held a glass of water in front of him and with a shy smile she helped him while he sipped from it, the cool liquid easing his burning throat, 'thanks Erin,' Sam whispered appreciatively.

Erin gave him a glittering smile and bolted to the kitchen hiding her blushing face. Danny and Rachel finished settling the children upstairs where Joey watched over them, coming back down they told Erin to get up there with them, refusing to listen to her arguments. She was not going to get hurt no matter what.

'Winchester we know you're in there, bring out my daughter and I'll let you live.' A voice sounding exactly like Dean's broke the silence, 'bring her out or Sammy will die at my … or rather your hands.'

'Get the fuck away from my family,' Dean growled feeling quite comfortable with his white rage.

'Dean no please that's what he wants,' Sam's voice came from behind him, calming his rage slightly, 'the angrier you get … the more you … fight … the stronger he becomes … he feeds off you.'

Dean turned around and stared in shock at his little brother, everything seemed to slide into place, down to Merci's role in all of this. Visibly shaking he forced the rage down and away from his mind, flooding his thoughts instead of happier images, Sam's first word as a baby, 'dea-dea,' and then as a chubby twelve year old, flitting to their first hunt together, finding Mickie in the car and buying her first Metallica T-shirt and jeans. Completely composed and seemingly relaxed Dean smiled down at Sam and then he glanced over at Rachel and Danny.

'Okay here's what we're going to do…' Dean smiled, his smile spread across his face slowly but his eyes remained as cold as ice.

TBC