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 27

Sam blinked and tried to focus on what Dean was saying but he felt himself starting to float. Words buzzed in and around him but he couldn't hear what they were saying, frustrated his frown deepening he closed his eyes and tried to relax.

Vertigo hit him hard and he felt like he was falling although he was sitting propped up on the couch, what was wrong with him?

A light touch on his arm made him jerk and pull away; he wanted to be left alone to sleep. Sleep an endless sleep would be so good right about now.

'Sam, Dude wake up you can't go back to sleep now.' Dean tried to coax his brother out of his seemingly innocent slumber. Suddenly, Sam's body became rigid, his eyes flickered behind his closed eyes as though he couldn't wake no matter what he did.

'Sammy, time to wake up now.' Dean ordered shaking him a little harder this time.

Sam heard the voice coming from a distance calling him but it was too far away, turning he focused on the shadows falling in front of him, one seemed familiar but in a dangerous way.

'Who are you?' he rasped his swollen throat making it difficult to talk properly.

'Welcome to my world Samuel, I hope you find everything to your liking.'

'Liking? There's nothing here.' Sam scoffed, 'what do you want?'

'What I have always wanted Samuel.'

'Ah sorry but I'm not for sale.' Sam turned his back on the shadow and started limping towards the direction he heard the comforting voice coming from.

'You can't walk away from me Samuel.' The voice came at him from all sides mocking him.

'Cornase? Right? Well Cornase I don't take well to someone invading my head like this.'

'So what are you going to do about it?'

'Ignore you for a start.' Sam said deciding to sit down he stretched his aching and inflamed knee out, humming one of those annoying Metallica songs Dean loves so much.

'Acting like a petulant child does not become you,' Cornase snarled, the blow coming from behind blindsided Sam and he winced as the dull pain registered. Then he started to hum again this time concentrating on the cord on his hoodie.

'This does not have to be like this Samuel, all you have to do is to bring the infant to me and the three of us can rule both realms.'

'Oh I see and what am I going to be?'

'Ah I am sure I can think of some suitable position for you.' Cornase said with a lecherous sneer.

'Oh funny, I am so laughing.' Sam muttered starting to hum another Metallica song the beat firmly ingrained on his psyche.

This time the blow sent him hurtling towards an invisible wall, smashing him hard against the solid air.

Dean watched his brother's body jerk violently and then crash hard against the sofa, bubbles of blood forming on Sam's lips as he coughed and tried to catch his breath.

'Fuck what is going on? Danny what's Cornase doing?'

'He's just standing there, his eyes closed and a smile on his face.' Danny spat the last words out as though they carried a foul taste with them.

'What about Merci?'

'Can't see her.'

'Fuck okay Rachel get Az and the baby down her now, stay away from all windows and doors and come straight down here to the living room, Danny do you have a basement?'

'Yeah we have it's the kids rumpus room.'

'Perfect, go round up the troops we need to get all of them into the basement and then can you help me get Sam down there.'

Danny stared at Dean for a moment and then went to hurry upstairs for some reason he didn't mind following Dean's orders, any other time or anyone else then there would be hell to pay but with Dean, he knew what he was doing. More like John than he actually realises I think. The thought made Danny smile, the admiration he held for John Winchester no one else knew of, including Rachel, now his sons are here and trusting him with their safety and the safety of Dean's daughter.

Just as Danny and Dean tried to pick Sam up the younger Winchester flailed his arms connecting Danny solidly on the jaw, struggling Sam tried to fight his way out.

Sam swayed but remained standing, his damaged knee wobbled under him but he stayed upright, watching for the next shadowy attack. Cornase had made a mistake bringing Sam into the shadowed realms and leaving Dean free to fight him. Out of the two of them Sam knew deep down that Dean, is the better fighter and strategist although Sam would never admit that to his cocky big brother.

'Is that all you got?' Sam called out belligerently, 'I'm here Cornase whatsa matter can't you multi-task?'

'Shut up, I need to concentrate, they've moved the infant.' Cornase snarled Sam's head snapped back as an invisible fist connected with his nose. 'Now sit down and behave yourself.'

'Go to hell jerk,' Sam spat out holding his nose to try and stop the bleeding, 'that was so uncool you know that.'

'What was?'

'All of this shadow fighting, I mean come on can't you win in a fair fight? You have to resort to shadow boxing?'

'Effective though.'

'Not really,' Sam spat out a blood clot and felt nauseous, 'just annoying.'

'Will you shut up for just two seconds so I can concentrate?'

'Nope if you wanted the strong silent type you should have brought Dean here not me, I prefer to talk things through, over and over and over again.'

'Merci get here now.' Cornase screeched, the horrific sound sliced through Sam's ear drums making his ears bleed.

'What the fuck?' Sam muttered, a continuously high pitched squeal filled his head, making the pain throb harder until his skull felt like it was bursting.

Sam's body convulsed as blood spurted from his nose and ears, tears forced their way out of his tightly closed eyes and mingled with the crimson stains. 'Dean something's wrong.' Erin called out from her perch next to Sam's prone body.

'What happened Erin?'

'Look!' she pointed her face paling rapidly, 'eww blood.'

Dean cursed under his breath as he took in the new injuries covering Sam's face, but the steady stream of blood from Sam's ears had the elder Winchester panicking. The blood had mucous mingled with it, 'damn it Sammy I hope you know what you're doing.'

'Dean I can hear movement upstairs.' Danny whispered.

'Okay kids now remember like we discussed I need you to be very quiet and very still for me,' Dean said looking at the children he sighed and ran his hand through his short spiked hair, 'Erin can you watch Sam for me again? I need you to let me know if he shows any signs of waking or if he gets hurt anymore ... can you do that for me?'

'Sure thing Dean,' Erin smiled passed her initial horror at the blood covering Sam's face and neck.

'Great, okay Az it's show time can you pop in and see what is exactly happening to Sammy?'

'Already there Dean ... you gonna be okay?' Az asked staring up into his clouded eyes, 'you don't look so good.'

'Just bring Sammy back to me please.' Dean whispered just loud enough for Az to here, 'I ... I ... Just bring him back.'

'I will.' Az nodded thoughtfully watching Dean move away, his movements jerky, and stiff, he was hiding something, and it was something serious. Az sighed and went to sit by Sam's prone form, she glanced at Erin and winked before she closed her eyes and settled her shoulders, placing both of her hands on either side of his face she concentrated on the sliver of a thread that connected them.

'Az is that you?' Sam whispered feeling her presence, 'how did you?'

'I came to bring you back Sam, Dean needs you to wake up.'

'I – I can't Az, Cornase has done something to me, I can't...'

'Do you know what?' Az frowned and touched Sam's face with a transparent hand, her fingers came away sticky and coated in red. 'What has he done to you?'

'He spilled my blood here; I can't find my way out of here.' Sam said winced as the pain in his head intensified. 'My, my ears burst I can't hear any sounds anymore.'

'Sam I – something is wrong with Dean I have to get you back before Cornase can finish what he started.'

'He's trapped me here to get at Dean?' Sam muttered he turned to follow Az when he started to choke, his breath unable to force its way passed his swollen throat. 'I – I can't breath Az.'

'Sam listen to me, listen to my voice there is nothing else, no one else only you and I,' Az said taking his hand in hers, 'we have a link and I need you to follow it, do you understand.'

Sam nodded and took a deep breath, he closed his eyes and concentrated on Az picturing her in his thoughts, slowly he could make out the tiny sliver of silver thread connecting them. 'That's it Sam just follow me and don't let go.'

Sam stumbled after Az, he wanted to look back to make sure that they weren't being followed but he couldn't he had to stay focused on Az in case he lost her too.

Cornase howled in protest when he saw the meddlesome sprite with Sam, leading him back to his body. Merci was no where to be found and he had to leave the realm if he wanted to get to Dean and the infant. Screaming in impotent rage Cornase sent all of the shadows after Sam and Az to try to slow their escape. She had to lead him back and re-instate him into his body. Sam's spilled blood ensured the fact that Cornase could bring Sam back anytime he wanted, so for now he let him leave, relatively alive there would time enough later to finish this particular little game.

He was tired of the kid's mouth anyway, 'geeze for a shy kid he could really talk – a lot.'

Sam stumbled and fell crashing down on his already damaged knee, gasping for air he pulled away from Az, not wanting her to feel the amount pain he was in.

'Sam we have to go ... no Sam not here, get up the shadows are coming get up.'

The tall young man rose wearily to his feet and lurched towards the spirit his breath now came in short; sharp bursts and he could feel himself floating again.

'Dean, Dean quick it's Sam.' Erin cried out. Dean span around, stared at the girl for a moment before visibly shaking himself, and raced to his brother's side.

'Sammy?' he whispered not game to raise his voice as he watched the internal struggle as Sam fought his way back to Dean. A hand shot out and gripped Dean's wrist tightly, eliciting a tight hiss of air from Dean wincing with the tightness. 'Dude seriously a little less tight please.'

'Dean?' Sam whispered between each wheeze, 'Dean ... where?'

'I'm here Sammy that's it keep coming back to me.'

'I – I can't ... can't hear ... can't hear you.' Sam's voice hitched as he started to choke once again, his throat swelling even more if that was possible.

'Shit Sammy, hold on.' Dean stared around wildly, 'Danny you got a first aid kit?'

'Yeah Dean Rachel is a paramedic she can help.' Danny added quickly.

Rachel came over quickly depositing Mickie on Erin's knee, the baby sat staring solemnly at her uncle as though she understood his internal struggle.

Rachel quickly checked Sam's chest and airways a frown marring her pretty features, 'his throat has closed up, he's effectively choking...'

'Have you done a tracheotomy before?' Dean asked his steady gaze boring into hers.

'Yes, a few now please Dean I need to help your brother.'

'With as many kids as we have coming through or staying it's handy to have a paramedic in the family,' Danny grinned at Dean, 'saves lots of medical expenses.

'I bet,' Dean agreed, he found himself liking these people more and more.

While they spoke Rachel had prepared Sam's throat and made the incision, inserting the small tube she breathed into it until she could hear his breathing, she watched the rise and fall of his chest and heaved a sigh of relief.

'Rachel?'

'It's done Dean,' she smiled, 'looks like someone's waking up.'

'Sammy?' Dean's voice sounded rough with pent up emotion.

'Dean ... my ... my ... ears.' Sam panted out, confusion and pain merged together on his blood stained face. 'hurts.'

'Rachel can you?'

'Okay Sam I need you to sit still.' Rachel said making him focus on her face for a moment. Sam blinked and then returned his anxious stare back to Dean's face.

After she finished examining his ears Rachel sat back and looked at the two brothers, 'he'll have to see a doctor but from what I can see, Sam will get his hearing back, his drums weren't perforated.'

'That's something at least.' Dean said with a grin.

'At least I can't hear you bitchin' at me.' Sam said struggling with not hearing his own voice.

'Dad, Dad quick,' Joey called out frantically.

'Now what?' Dean thundered, patting Sam on the arm he went to stand up but dizziness assailed him and he sank back down on his seat again. Instinctively Mickie reached out and clambered over to her father's knee.

'Dean we got a major problem.' Danny said his gaze flicking between the two brothers.

'What now?'

'The house is on fire.' Danny said, 'the bastards set fire to my house.'

TBC