Disclaimer: The Supernatural boys and characters are, regretfully, not mine.

The creature paused mid-feast, raising its head to the night-sky, eyes closed as it sharply inhaled. The moonlight glinted off its ragged fangs, the smell of fresh blood permeating its clothes. As the familiar scent got stronger, the thing moved away from the mangled corpse that was formerly known as Richard Smithy, and investment banker in his mid-forties.

It could smell them, the two humans who had murdered so many of its kin...although the scent of one was somehow different

The creature shrugged what may have been its shoulders, before stepping into the shadows. There it stood, writhing in silent agony as its skin peeled away.

The creature, now resembling a handsome man in his early twenties, stepped out of the shadows. It adjusted its clothes, flashing a smile riddled with contempt and disgust at the bubbling pile of goo that was all that remained of its former skin.

With a spring in his step, Sam Winchester set off in the direction of the hospital.

---

Dean sidled casually (as casually as you can look while sidling somewhere...it's a pretty conspicuous method of walking) along the hospital corridor, hands in pockets, even going so far as to whistle a few notes innocently.

Dean Winchester knew that the worst thing you could do while trying to blend in was to act overly casual; it brings too much attention to you. However, he wasn't exactly in the right state of mind to be thinking straight.

He stopped at a motivational painting, situated a few doors down from Sam's room. He paused, wondering if sprinting into the room, grabbing Sammy and then getting the hell out of there was really the best course of action.

Dean had been staring at the picture but not actually seeing it. Suddenly, a word caught his eye, and he had a closer look. In large bold lettering, the poster read;

"I've got my faults, but living in the past isn't one of them. There's no future in it."

Underneath, in a smaller, less eye-catching font, was something else.

"Live like Sparky Anderson; in the present!"

Dean snorted, shaking his head in derision. Was that poster actually meant to be inspiring? But deep down, he felt uneasy. Dean wasn't one to admit his faults...actually, he probably wouldn't tell you them, even if you tortured him with burning hot pliers and 'Friends' reruns. However, as godly as he liked to act, Dean did have some not-so-admirable qualities; a weakness for pie, and focussing on the past were just some of them. After all, if he'd been satisfied with his life, Sammy obviously wouldn't be running around as a kid right now.

Dean shook his head, forcing himself to concentrate.

C'mon Dean, this is Sammy we're talking about. I'm not leaving this building without him!

Dean took a step closer to Sam's room, a pit of doom growing in his stomach. He glared at it as his stomach growled noisily, punching it hastily to make it shut up (something he'd read on the internet once). However, all it really did was give him a sharp pain that promised a nasty bruise was going to form by the time he woke up the next day.

Suddenly a group of nurses ran passed, heading in the opposite direction to him. Dean jumped out of the way so as not to get flattened, which is why he was suddenly in the direct path of a hysterically sobbing woman.

"Why?!" she cried, clasping her hands to the heavens. "Oh, if only I hadn't been so fixated on the past, maybe Jimmy wouldn't have gotten run over, three times in a row! Why?!"

Still sobbing, she ran passed Dean, heading after the rushing nurses. Dean glanced towards the ceiling, but unlike the woman, he wasn't begging for enlightenment. He was just plain pissed off.

See, Dean didn't really believe in a god. His logic was that, if god existed, why had He let the Winchesters suffer so much? And it seemed a bit ridiculous that when John Winchester had wanted to save his sons' lives, he'd had to turn to a demon to do it, the irony of which was not wasted on Dean. Nevertheless, he felt like some higher being was trying to send him a message.

"Alright, the minute Sam and I get outta here, we're gonna hunt that fairy down and make her wish she hadn't messed with the wrong freakin' family," Dean growled, jogging slowly towards Sam's room. He stopped at the door, looking both ways before going in.

"Sammy, we gotta get outta here-"

Dean paused in confusion as his gaze swept the hospital room, which was empty of any occupants, excepting him.

"Excuse me sir, but-hey, aren't you meant to be in questioning?"

Dean whirled around to grin beguilingly at the young nurse, who melted under his gaze.

"No, they let me go, 'cause I'm innocent. Look, do you know where my brother went?"

The nurse suddenly frowned, peering around Dean.

"He was here a minute ago; I was only gone for a few minutes to get him some colouring things..."

Dean felt his insides twist as he realised his brother was missing. Then he noticed the nurse, who seemed a bit slow on the uptake, hadn't quite figured things out yet.

Better think of something before she alerts the whole hospital that Sammy's running wild...and before she finds out I'm not actually meant to be here...

"Oh, you know what, I actually saw him going around the corridor with another nurse. I think I'll just go catch up with them," Dean said suavely, shooting her one last smile before he disappeared out the door.

Dammit, Sammy...I don't know where you are, but you better get your psychic butt down here before I start maiming people...

---

Okay...down this corridor, then turn left, then left again, then right, then straight...
Sam stopped in the middle of the hallway. According to the instructions that old lady had given him, he should be by the entrance right now.

Instead he was...

Sam looked up, craning his neck to see the large sign above the double doors.

"The Children's Ward," he said aloud, squinting slightly. Sighing, he turned around...then realised he'd forgotten the way he had come.

Sam sat down on the ground, legs crossed, eyes squeezed shut, as he massaged his temples, trying to remember the way. He actually couldn't believe he'd forgotten; he, Sam Winchester, who was practically OCD about things like this...he had actually gotten lost!

"Oh my god...how did you get out here?"

Sam opened his eyes to see a nurse peering down at him, her face annoyed. He was about to open his mouth and deny everything, then realised that 1) he had done nothing wrong and 2) he was a kid, so whatever he said probably wouldn't be taken seriously.

He realised too late that the nurse was reaching for him, and before he knew it he was being lifted up and carried into the Children's Ward.

"Hey, what are you doing? No, put me down! I only want directions," he protested, squirming against her firm grip, but she ignored him, her pace quickening if anything.

"Nancy, we have an escapee," she informed another nurse, this one in her early twenties, who seemed new to the job. She had an eager to please attitude, accompanied by an air of nervousness.

"I didn't escape," Sam informed her as he was passed into her hands, deciding to take the polite tactic. "I'm just looking for the way out. If you could be so kind as to oblige, I need directions on how to get to the main entrance. My brother is waiting for me there, and he's pretty impatient."

Nancy gaped at Sam, then turned to the first nurse, who looked slightly bored.

"Did you hear that? I don't think my eleven-year-old nephew speaks that eloquently!" she said in surprise. The nurse shot her an annoyed, 'why are you bothering me with this?' look, and turned away.

Sam felt sorry for Nancy, who looked quite hurt as she carried him over to one of the many beds that lined the ward.

"Is she always like that?" he asked curiously, peering around Nancy's shoulder. She laughed in surprise, and they both watched as the nurse knocked a stack of clean linen over, and somehow managed to blame it on another nurse three feet away.

"Unfortunately, yes. Now, what are we going to do about you? Where were you staying?"

Sam knew Nancy was just thinking out loud, but he answered anyway.

"Actually, I'm not meant to be here. I need to find my brother and get him out of here before he dies."

Nancy chuckled as she set Sam down on a bed.

"Actually, you'll find that people come here for the opposite reason. They're often dying when they come in, and fine when they come out."

Sam stared at her earnestly from beneath his too-long fringe.

"Everyone I love has died, even Dean," he said matter-of-factly, figuring the only way to make this nurse realise he was being serious was by being completely honest. It was up to her to believe him or not. "But if I can get to him, he might not die again. Please, this is important."

Nancy sat down next to him, her face concerned.

"Honey, you shouldn't say things like that! I'm sure not everyone you love dies. The way to get through crises is by thinking positively. Blamign things on yourself does more harm than good."

Sam gaped at her, then promptly shut his mouth.

"I'm glad you think so, really I do," he said quietly. "And usually I wouldn't be as cynical or dramatic as this. But Jessica, Mum, Dad? Yeah, they all died. The only person I have left is Dean. If I don't get him out of here by midnight, he's gonna die. And no amount of positive thinking is gonna change that."

With one last regretful look in Nancy's direction, Sam leapt off the bed, darting in between people's legs in his haste to get away.

He was lost from sight before Nancy realised he had gone.

---

"Here, Sammy Sammy Sammy," Dean called quietly into the darkness. "C'mon Sammy, c'mere...here Sammy Sammy Samm-"

"There are no animals allowed in this hospital, you know, so your dog won't come," came a voice from the doorway. Dean froze, not believing his ears.

"Sammy?"

The figure stepped into the light and Dean walked over to him as fast as he could, without actually running.

"Sammy!" he grabbed his younger brother and pulled him into a tight hug, before pushing him away roughly. "God, Sammy, how'd you do it? How'd you turn back?"

Sam seemed to pause, as if he were mulling things over in his head. Dean rolled his eyes, but was secretly glad to have his brother back; the guy who would pause for two minutes to consider every question fully.

"Never mind. Let's just go find that stupid fairy and kick her ass, okay? And then we'll go get some pie. I'm hungry," Dean added thoughtfully.

Sam grinned menacingly, the expression making Dean shudder. He just hoped Sam had survived his ordeal as a kid without any kind of physical or mental scarring.

Sam followed Dean silently out of the room, his mind whirring. Stage one was complete; he was now trusted. All that was left to do was his favourite part.

Crushing his prey's spirit.

"Hey Sammy, do you need an invitation or something?"

"Coming," Sam called, jogging after his brother.

Suddenly Dean stopped, and Sam's heart skipped a beat, but to his relief Dean turned around with a smile on his face.

"Hey Sam, you know what this means, right? My dog might not have come when I called...but my bitch did!"

Sam rolled his eyes as Dean chuckled.

"Gee, Dean, how long did it take you to come up with that?"

---

"Okay, I'm Dean. I'm in a hospital. Where would I go?"

Sam turned around in circles, enjoying the dizzy feeling it gave him. It was definitely preferable to the feeling of hopelessness that was threatening to take over.

"Well...I'm pretty sure the cafeteria doesn't sell pie, and he probably wouldn't have the time to find a hot nurse..."

Sam spotted a doctor coming his way and ducked into a janitor's closet. He burrowed deep between a mop and a broom, wrapping the blanket of darkness around him.

He had never felt so vulnerable and scared in his life.

C'mon Sam, you know Dean is doing everything in his power to find you. So make it easier for him and stop hiding!

Feeling slightly braver, Sam got up and took a determined step forward...then ran screaming from the closet as something ran over his foot.

He leaned against the opposite wall, clutching his chest, as an equally terrified mouse stared back at him, frozen.

As Sam stared at the mouse, something that had terrified him so much when it was an unknown creature in the dark, he felt a strange feeling welling up inside of him. Now, in the light of the corridor, the roles were reversed. He had the upper hand, and now the mouse didn't look half threatening.

As a wave of bravery washed over him, Sam knew what he had to do, and that was to...

Well, first of all, it was to pee.

As Sam sprinted towards the toilets he went over his next plan in his head, grinning in anticipation.

This was gonna be fun...

---

"Dean, what are we doing?"

When the shape shifter had taken on Sam's form, he'd taken on his memories, too. All the way up to when Sam had run from the first nurse, when Dean was still being questioned.

Now, however, when he was trying to put everything together, he still didn't get how what they were doing had anything to do with...well, anything.

"Sammy, this is all part of the plan, you'll see." Dean said, stretching his arms above his head, his tongue sticking out as he concentrated. He lowered his arms, holding his hands close together, bringing his head down to eye-level with the object of attention. It was vital that he didn't make a single wrong movement here, or everything would come crashing down.

"Yes, but what is the plan?" Sam persisted, accidentally knocking the table. Dean groaned in frustration as his card-pyramid collapsed in a flurry of flying cards.

"Aw, c'mon Sammy, you coulda tried to be a little more careful! God, you were probably less clumsy when you were seven," Dean muttered.

"Oh yeah? Well maybe if you hadn't said that stupid wish, we wouldn't be in this position in the first place," Sam taunted, a blossom of satisfaction blooming inside of him as Dean froze, his face a mask of anger.

"Look, Sammy, I told you I was sorry. It was an accident, okay? I'm not apologising again, and if you don't accept that, it's your problem!"

Sam laughed tauntingly, the sound chilling Dean to the core.

"Oh yeah, Dean? What are you gonna do? Turn me into a kid or something? You have to admit it, I have the upper hand here. After all, your ultimate wish was that I need you. Which means I mean a whole lot to you, don't I? So you'd do whatever I said."

Dean glared at Sam, then his face slowly softened as he visibly restrained himself.

"Look, Sam, I'm sorry, okay? Can we just...move on, please? The plan is to just stay put. Soon enough the fairy will come looking for us, seeing as the wish has been reversed. She'll wanna know what's going on. Then, when she gets here...we waste her." Dean's face lit up with an eager expectancy, but Sam could tell that under all that bravado, he'd gotten to him.

Dean Winchester was slowly breaking.

---

Sam hid under the blanket of the trolley, still not quite believing that this was actually happening.

He'd seen it happen in movies, but he hadn't thought people were stupid enough to fall for it in real life.

Still, he wasn't exactly complaining.

Sam grinned as he recalled how easy it had been to slip under the trolley's blanket, the one he had heard was headed passed the hospital's basement. After that, it was just an easy ride between him and his destination.

It had taken him a while to figure it out, but he guessed that if Dean were still in the hospital, he'd go to the basement. After all, the staff hardly ever ventured there, and...Sam felt a pang of regret as he thought of the other reason.

In a hospital basement, John had made a deal with a demon. If there were to be a supernatural showdown of some kind, it would be there.

Sam listened intently, lifting the corner of the blanket occasionally to see where he was.

A few minutes later, he spied a sign on a heavy metal door reading 'Basement'. As he rolled off, the only person who would notice anything would be the nurse, who would smile happily as she felt the trolley grow seemingly lighter.

Sam leant against the heavy door, wondering if it would be a problem, then suddenly realised something, a vital part of the operation.

He tried opening the door again, this time pulling down on the handle as he pushed. The door swung open, slamming shut behind him with a heavy clang.

Sam peered into the darkness that seemed so absolute, at first feeling afraid then remembering the ordeal in the janitor's closet. He grinned to himself, then took off toward the boiler room.

---

Dean sat on the floor under the shady light of the boiler room's only bulb, squinting in his brother's direction.

There was something not quite right about his brother, Dean had decided. There was a certain...charm, an innocent demeanour, an air of trust that automatically made you feel as though you'd known the young man for years. Instead there was a cold feeling of calculation, and Dean didn't like it. His instincts told him there was something wrong, and it wasn't often that Dean chose his heart over his gut.

"So," he said slowly, moving his gaze to a spot to the far right of Sam, which allowed him to see the only door to the room and his younger brother at the same time. "How did you say you changed back again? I can't remember what you said."

"That's because I didn't tell you," Sam answered, rolling his eyes. He could smell the distrust rolling off Dean in waves, but it didn't bother him. he knew Dean would never hurt his brother, even if he did think there was something wrong. All in all, choosing Sam's form had been the best move this creature had made in a long time.

"Well, could you tell me now?" Dean asked irritatedly, angry that he'd had to ask twice.

"You really wanna know, Deano?" Sam threw back. Dean sighed heavily at the nickname, determined to not let his brother get to him.

"Yeah, I wanna know, Sammy," he retorted, but before Sam could answer, there was a puff of smoke...

And there before them stood the fairy.

"Why, hello boys," she cooed. "So nice to see you again."

A/N: The end of another chapter. Or should I just leave the chapter there? Let you guys decide what you want to happen for yourselves? Actually, I'd never be able to do that, I hate not finishing a story...lucky for you! Or unluckily, depending on how much you like this...In case you didn't notice, the quote was said by Sparky Anderson. Yes...took me a while to find that, so I hope you appreciate it. kidding! Okay, well, I better go start the new chapter...! Hope you liked this one, and thankyou to everyone who reviewed, your support is what keeps me going. sob Again, kidding. But seirously, thanks! xxsurexx