(Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the following story)

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Return of the Dragon Slayer.

Chapter Fifteen

Finn held tight to Raja as he rocketed high into the sky; they were joined by a small fleet of dragons that boxed them in, hiding them from the view of anyone underneath. They raced across Larten Vola and into the 'Barren Lands' towards the land of the dragons.

Time is short, Griffin.

"I know, Raja"

They sailed over the mountains that surrounded the dragons land and some of the dragons fell away, their escort now reduced to two, flying either side of her. They raced over the fields and she saw more dragons than she'd seen last time she was here. She couldn't begin to number them.

They are preparing for the battle, word has spread quickly of the rescue mission.

"No shit" she could feel the tension in the air, the rumblings of the dragons echoing over the land and it sent chills through her; she hadn't fought a major battle, one of this size for over a thousand years and the adrenalin was already starting to kick in.

She saw Fafnir's mountain in the distance and Raja pulled his wings close to his body and speared towards it, the dragons keeping pace with them, letting out a roar as they neared.

The griffin pulled up gently and settled easily on the ledge outside the main entrance. Finn slipped off him "I'll be back soon" and she jogged inside, weaving her way towards Fafnir's cavern.

She got to the entrance and lowered her head as she entered, she was hit with the dragons' power again, it was an energy all of its own and it was humbling being this close to it.

Griffin…

She raised her head "We've had some trouble" she started.

Show me the poison.

She walked towards Fafnir and removed the buckshot from her vest, holding it carefully in the t-shirt for the dragon to see "It was festering inside the wound. The blood was boiling around it and it looked like it was travelling up the leg. Peluda's been hit as well and he's looking really bad. I think…actually, I'm pretty sure they're coating the pellets with what's called 'Merihim' . We have no cure for it"

That is what you call it, it is known here by another name.

"Do you have an antidote? We don't have a lot of time" she looked at her watch "Two hours before it kills them …and Peluda took the brunt of the hit"

The Little Slayer was retrieved from the city.

Finn nodded "That's …Dean and Peluda went to rescue him and Sam…Dean's brother; Caleb is back, Sam's not"

The Phoenix is where he should be. You must tell the Slayer he is to remain within the walls, his destiny is held there. He must understand this.

"Okay"

The griffin will take you to a field not far from here; there you will find a small waterfall, collect two handfuls only from the pond, no more. Take it to the Little Slayer, he will know what to do.

She nodded "Thank you. I …ahhh…"

Behind you

She turned and saw a leather pouch hanging on the wall and removed it, tucking it into her pants "Two handfuls" the dragon nodded "Okay, thanks Fafnir" she turned

Griffin…

She turned back "Yes?"

This war…it was foretold, you are now aware of that she nodded You understand that not everyone survives conflict.

She cocked her head "Yeah…what do you mean?"

Just that, remember that there are always casualties of war. Explain it to the Slayer.

"Explain what exactly?" she asked again.

You must leave now. Collect what you need from the pond and return to your home. You acted wisely in not bringing the other with you. You have shown us and our land the proper respect, it will be returned in kind.

She watched as the dragon closed his eyes, the conversation was over. She turned and ran out of the cavern, heading quickly back the way she'd come. Raja was waiting and she mounted him quickly; he took flight as she settled herself into position and they were again escorted to another part of the dragons land and hopefully towards something that would save Dean.

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Sam stared at the dragon "Excuse me?"

You do not understand?

Sam stared wide-eyed "Aaah, no. I don't. I mean I understand what dying means…but…"

I don't believe you do understand...yet.

"Is that right?" asked Sam as he started to anger "I know a damn sight more about dying that you think!"

"Easy, Sam" said Gideon "He's just trying to explain it to you"

Sam turned to him "Do you know what's supposed to happen?"

Gideon shook his head "No, I'm only told what I need to know" he grinned "It sucks but that's the way the dragons are"

"And you're okay with that?" asked Sam incredulously.

"Aaah, no. I just said it sucks but I've been around a while, I've come to accept it" he smiled "Sam, the last time I saw you…you and Dean were battling 'Wrong One's'…protecting your realm from them and from Baba Yaga. This is your realm now too, you need to do the same. I know that's a lot to ask, you don't have all your memories back yet and when you do get them, it's not going to be easy to accept but you listen to me. What happened in the past is often best left there. A time will come, later…where we can discuss it properly but for now…" he took Sam to the middle of the cell "Sit"

Sam sat, a nervousness starting to run through him "Will this hurt?"

"Physically? No. But I'm not going to lie to you, Sam. Some of the images will be …disturbing, very disturbing but you can't shy away from them. These are your memories and while Finn had no right to take them, she and Dean thought they were doing the right thing by you"

Sam turned to him "Dean?" he shook his head "No, this was Finn"

Gideon shook his head "Not all of it. Dean agreed to the removal of some of the memories, you'll know which ones. Finn took it upon herself to remove the rest, without yours or Dean's permission. I didn't agree with it, but before I could get her to fix it…things kinda went to shit" he sat behind Sam "Now close your eyes and relax. Remember, face all the memories, no matter how…awful"

Sam nodded "Just…shit, just do it" he closed his eyes and waited, the butterflies like a whirlwind in his stomach. It wasn't just what Gideon and Azhi had told him that had him worried about what he was going to see, he'd felt the phoenix on him move and it stirred something in his mind and he was overwhelmed by a feeling of dread. But these were his memories and he wanted them back…regardless of what they were, I mean…how bad could they be?

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It took them half an hour to reach the waterfall; they'd sailed over countless fields, soared over multi-coloured lakes and rivers, each place seemingly more beautiful than the next. She'd seen the outline of distant mountains and they'd headed towards them, Finn urging Raja on;, time seemed to be racing forward and it felt like they were moving backwards. They'd risen over the bright blue mountains and into a field of silver and pink grasses that were littered with startlingly purple flowers. Raja headed east, slowing as they came to a small clearing surrounded by bright yellow trees, the trunks a dark shade of purple.

As Raja landed, she slipped from his shoulders, she could hear the soft sounds of running water to her left and ran towards it. She rounded a thicket and stopped in her tracks; the place was beautiful. The grass here was a pale green, flecked with bronze and it surrounded a small pond, the waterfall running down the chocolate coloured outcropping changing from a dark golden colour to a bright gold that almost hurt to look at. Different coloured flowers surrounded the pond and she watched as they swayed in the breeze and she smiled as she saw them change colour.

She snapped herself out of it and walked over quickly, crouching at the pond as she removed the pouch from her pants. Two handfuls only. Shit, was that two scooped hands together or one scooped hand twice. Shit, shit, shit…she should have asked …

"It's two scooped hands together" She turned and he smiled at her "Two scooped hands together, Finn"

"Eli…"

"Hi, baby" She stood and threw her arms around him and he hugged her tight, laughing softly "Hey, easy now, you'll break something" he pushed her gently away "You look good"

"Eli…what…how…?"

"You don't have a lot of time, Finn. You need to get the water and get it back to Caleb" he smiled "He's a cool kid, I like him" he grinned "He's very much like his father" he took the pouch from her and crouched "Two scooped handfuls"

She crouched next to him and reached into the water, it was thick, like syrup and surprisingly warm. She scooped the first handful into the pouch "Eli, you know about Gabe?"

He nodded "Found out after…you know. I couldn't tell you and you were summoning me too often, Finn" he smiled at her "I'm glad you haven't for a while"

"I'm sorry" she scooped the next handful into the pouch and Eli closed it tight and handed it to her as they stood.

He smiled "Don't be sorry, it's good that you haven't. You need to move on, Finn. You have Caleb now…" he smiled "And Dean"

"Yeah, well that's kinda…sorta..." she sighed "I don't know what the hell that is and besides…with the battle coming…" she shrugged "Best just to…"

"For Gods sake, Finn. For once in your life be happy! Stop worrying about what could be and just be." He smiled at her "Dean's a good guy…a little unorthodox, but then so are you. He loves Caleb and he loves you"

She shook her head "No, he doesn't. We just…" she shrugged "I don't know…it's complicated"

"It's not, you two just make it that way. Stop listening to what he says and start listening to how he says it" he kissed her softly "It's time to go"

She nodded "I won't see you again will I?" she said as tears welled in her eyes.

He shook his head "No. And you shouldn't Finn. We had our time together, you need to start your time with someone else" he kissed her again "I love you, always have. Now go, I'll be watching out for you"

She hugged him tight "Be happy, Eli"

He smiled "I am, baby" he kissed her one last time "Now go and listen to Caleb, he knows more than he realises, he has the answers you all need" he gave her a gentle push "Don't look back" she nodded, put her hand to his face and turned "You fight for our home, Finn. You fight for your place here; yours, Caleb's and Dean's"

She nodded, not turning around, she knew he was gone. She walked quickly back to Raja, holding tight to the pouch. She jumped up and he took to the skies "The fastest route, Raja" the griffin screamed as he turned, his wings beating soundlessly as they raced back to Loch Forest.

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Sam waited and finally felt a tingle run through his mind, it increased to an almost electric sensation; it wasn't painful, more …uncomfortable than anything else. He saw an image rise in his minds-eyes and he …watched …a slide-show of sorts. He saw he and Dean travelling towards New York, felt the urgency in himself, the need to get there.

He was shown all the dreams, the ones of Baba Yaga and of Finn and he saw himself with the pills, the sleeping pills he'd become addicted to when the dreams had stopped and thought it was the only way to get them back.

He saw them meeting Finn for the first time, her and Dean butting-heads and he and Mickey laughing at them. He saw Finn yelling at him when she found out about the pills then yelling at Dean, the both of them fighting then going upstairs, leaving him and Mickey in the bar. Pretty mundane really, he thought. But he thought too soon.

He frowned when he heard the whispering start up in his mind, saw himself stir and that's when he saw the memories Dean and Finn had warned him about. He watched himself kill the six hunters that were in the bar…not just kill them, torture them…defile them. Rip them to pieces before leaving them on the bar and hanging from the rafters for anyone to find. He saw him kill a homeless man outside the bar, literally tear him to pieces. And that was just the beginning of his killing spree. He watched himself kill man and woman, a seemingly unending stream of them; each murder worse than the next, he saw the joy on his face as he did it as well and dragging Mickey along for the ride.

He saw him beat Mickey relentlessly and then saw Mickey place a protection over him…The Phoenix…something that was supposed to protect him from the 'Wrong One' that had taken hold of him and to warn him of Baba Yaga. But he hadn't listened …he'd allowed her to trick him, use him to get to Dean and Finn. He saw himself bang her….a lot and then take her to Finn.

He watched as he fought his brother, wanting to kill him, wanting to destroy him so that he could be with Baba Yaga…or Hannah as she had convinced him she was. He saw Dean help him raise the Ancient in him and the Phoenix rise behind him and all of Baba Yaga's magic that had taken hold of him be destroyed.

He saw Finn kill the witch as he, Dean, Gideon and a heap of Ancients fight 'Wrong One's' that Baba Yaga had summoned and he saw them win that battle. His memories were returned, all of them and when Gideon finally removed his hands, Sam put his face in his own hands and cried.

He was the monster he swore he would never become.

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Finn and Raja sailed into the clearing in Loch Forest and she jumped off the griffin before he landed, she looked at her watch, she had just over half an hour before the poison killed Dean. She ran into the tent and saw Caleb sitting next to Dean, holding his hand as Eve washed Dean's brow.

"Mamma…you got it?" Caleb asked as he stood.

"Yep. You know what to do?" she asked.

He nodded and she passed him the pouch "No, you help me. Wait here" he ran out of the tent and she went to Dean. He was pale, sweating and shaking uncontrollably.

"Hey, Dean. I'm back, gonna get you all fixed up now" she looked at Eve.

"He's bad" she whispered "I've removed all the pellets from his leg but …"

Finn nodded "Peluda?"

"Won't let anyone near him. Gabe said he's waiting for you"

The tent opened and Caleb and Gabe came in. Caleb had some plants in his hand and Gabe had a mortar and pestle in his.

"We make this for Daddy to drink and put on his 'ouch' then we fix Peluda" he looked at Dean "We have to hurry" he bought the plants over and told her what to do. She mixed up enough for Dean to drink and then a thicker mixture to place on his wound. "He drinks first Mamma"

She took the liquid and raised his head, he moaned as she rested it in her lap "Dean, its Finn, you have to drink this, it'll make you better. Nod if you understand me" he nodded slightly and she put the cup to his lips and he drank a little.

"He has to drink all of it, Mamma"

She nodded "Come on, Dean. All of it" and she tipped the cup and he drank, slowly at first and then gulped the rest of it down. He sighed and his head lolled to the side. She put it down gently and went to his leg, unwrapped it and smeared the mixture into the wound, re-wrapped it and covered him with a blanket. "Come on, Caleb"

"No, I stay with Daddy. You go do same with Peluda" she kissed his forehead and ran out of the tent.

Caleb sat next to Dean's head "You be alright now, Daddy. Me and Mamma fix you, you be alright soon then we go get the bad guys"

Eve smiled at the boy "You love your Daddy"

He nodded "I always love my Daddy" he smiled "He love me now too"

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Gideon crouched in front of Sam, a hand resting gently on his shoulder "Sam, Sam…look at me"

Sam shook his head, how could he look at anyone after that? He was a murderer, a serial killer; he'd killed without mercy and he'd enjoyed it.

You took no pleasure in it, Phoenix.

Sam slowly raised his head and looked over at Azhi "I saw…"

Yes, but did you listen

Sam looked at him quizzically "Listen?"

Yes, listen. Did you hear the screams? Not the ones of the doomed, the other ones.

Sam thought back on it…he closed his eyes, trying to block out the images of the killings. Concentrate he heard the dragon say in his mind and he did and slowly, slowly he heard the screaming, the begging, the raging at himself, to stop this, to try and put an end to the killings.

That is you, Phoenix. You did not wish to cause those people harm, you fought against the evil that was inside you. They were your hands, yes, but it was not you that performed the acts. What you did not see were the ones that you did manage to free. You saved many more than the evil killed. You must let this go now.

"That's easy for you to say" said Sam softly.

That may well be, but you must prepare yourself for the next part of your journey.

"I'm going somewhere?" he asked.

"We both are Sam" said Gideon "Jonas is coming for us"

"Is he the one that fucked you over?"

Gideon laughed "He's one of them, yeah" he helped Sam to his feet and led him over to the dragon.

Azhi rose from his position and moved over to the bars, putting his head against them. Sam looked into the dragons eyes and watched as a tear fell from each one.

"Take it" said Gideon.

"What?" asked Sam.

"The tear, take it. You're gonna need it" said Gideon.

Sam watched as Gideon reached through the bars and let one of the tears fall into his hand, he put it to his lips and drank it. Sam hesitated then did the same. He didn't know what to expect but it was warm and had a sweet taste, similar to honey and he felt it rush through his blood, spreading throughout his body. He felt ...exhilerated, alive.

"Why did we need to do that?" he asked, unable to stop the smile on his face.

Gideon was smiling as well "Because Sam, we're about to be made an example of"

Sam felt his stomach fall "Could you be a little more specific?"

"Jonas is going to send Finn and Dean a message…and we're it"

To be continued…