Blast From The Past

Disclaimer: Even after all of this time, I still only get to play with the boys then have to send them home, sigh.

Author's Note: For Fandrea, sorry it has taken so long honey but I hope that you enjoy it.

Author's Note 2: Rated for language and violence, hurt and comfort with hurt! Sam and protective! Dean.

S—D

Chapter Eleven: A Sick Angel makes a cranky Angel.

Then:

A soft whoosh of wings heralded the arrival of Castiel, the look on his face and pallor of his flesh made Dean cringe and feel immediate guilt for calling him; although why he felt the guilt he had no idea, 'Castiel man what happened to you?'

'Wh-what do you mean Dean?' Castiel frowned as he tried to focus on his human friend, he had never experienced illness before and it terrified the angel. An angel who until recently had never felt terror.

'What's wrong with you Castiel and where's Sam?'

'Dean you were supposed to be rescuing your brother … I somehow contracted the … blood disease infecting … Sam.' Castiel said as his eyes rolled up and backwards and he crumpled to the ground unconscious.

Now:

'What the?' Dean stared down at the unconscious angel and then at his former partner in hunting Bart, 'what the hell just happened?'

'I have no idea, I didn't even know angels existed until now.' Bart smirked as he sat back and let his gaze roam over both Cas and Dean.

A loud clap of thunder drowned out Dean's choice comeback, a flash of white light filled the sky and then another this time there was a deep purple mixed in with the white. Checking his glock for bullets Dean moved to the windows and peered out cautiously, in the middle of the field next to the cabin stood a hulking great figure, shrouded in mist and fog as they swirled around his feet. If it wasn't for the hunched appearance of his shoulders and the stiff way he held himself he could easily pass for a statue of marble; modelled after the Greek Gods.

'Sam?' Dean whispered as he hurried towards the door.

'Dammit Dean think … it could be a trap.' Bart caught the other man's arm and tried to restrain him, 'look if it's Sam I'll be there with ya but we have to be smart about this.'

'The only reason you want to be smart about this is coz you're terrified of what might happen to ya if the zombie Goony squad turn up.' Dean said as he yanked his arm free from Bart's grip, 'anyway we still have to get some sort of antidote for Cas our sleeping angel over there.'

'Yeah alright but please think first…'

'That's rich … you telling me to think first.' Dean shook his head in mock disgust, 'I seem to remember a certain spook in St Louis who had taken an unhealthy interest in you Bartholomew.'

'How come you can remember that bit and not the rest?' Bart mused, 'if it wasn't for me…'

'Nah you were the one who was peeing in his pants when she sat on your lap.' Dean grinned for a split second before sobering again. 'It's Sam … I know it Bart I know it in here.' Dean touched his chest just above his heart, 'and in here.' He finished speaking and indicated what he thought by tapping his own temple. 'I'm going out, now you can stay here and pee in ya diaper or you can come with me and find out what the fuck is going on.'

'Thought you'd never ask,' Bart said with a smirk as he helped lift Cas onto the old and ratty looking sofa before they double checked their weaponry and headed out to where they saw Sam standing.

S—D

Sam's body shook with the sheer effort of remaining upright and on his feet; he had very little memory of why he was there now, the shreds of his sanity fluttered eerily in his mind catching only the tiniest of snatches of reality.

He felt the power surge in his body but had no idea where it was coming from or why, stiffly he turned his head and looked down at his fingers. Slowly he flexed each one working his left hand and then his right; once he was satisfied he continued to work and to wake the muscles that had been dormant for so long. Finally he stretched his neck cracking the joints and ligaments as he went. With hooded eyes he slowly scanned the area, he felt the heartbeats of two humans and one carrier, of what he was not sure but it was an otherworldly entity.

Snarling softly he turned after he heard the sound of dragged feet behind him; reaching out with a misshapen hand, Sam pulled the creature from the long dead host, and watched dispassionately as the body dropped to the ground, already falling apart with decomposition. Limping heavily he started to move, away from the lump of decayed flesh and bone and towards the heartbeats he had felt before. Drawn to them like a moth to a flame he moved as fast as his broken body would allow him to. His left foot dragging fractionally behind the other, he stumbled over rocks and small clumps of grass as he moved single-mindedly towards the cabin when he felt movement coming towards him. Tilting his head to one side, Sam stopped moving and watched as the two walking heartbeats came closer to him, he knew that he should know them at least one of them but the memories were buried too deep, hidden from prying tentacles trying to access his mind. The fake memories or visitations of his dead parents became the catalysts for him to shut down and to function on instinct alone. Stopping suddenly he looks down at his feet and stares at the small plant he just tripped on, he regarded it carefully before stepping on the fragile leaves and crushing them under his oversized boot.

S—D

'Sammy?' Dean said as he came to a stop barely an arm's length from his baby brother, all he wanted to do was take Sam in his arms and hug the life outta him. 'Sam?'

Sam tilted his head to the side again and stared at the place where he could feel the heartbeats coming from. With a shaking hand he reached out and tentatively laid a hand on Dean's chest, 'safe,' the word slipped from his lips but had barely any sound attached to it. 'Safe … not safe,' he added as he lifted his free hand and pointed at Bart, 'not safe.'

'Gee thanks Sammy,' Bart shook his head and made sure that it no one was watching them before stepping closer to the larger and taller young man, 'you're not so safe either ya know that.'

'Quit it Bart,' Dean hissed at Bart before turning his attention back to his wayward brother. 'Come on Sammy, we've got to get you to somewhere a little less open, think it'd be the best if we get back to the cabin where Cas is.'

'Cas?' Sam stopped and seemingly pushed his heels into the ground, 'Cas? Okay?'

'Yeah dude Cas Okay.' Dean answered as he coaxed his brother into walking again. The sounds of gunfire and of pounding feet made the trio of hunters move faster; the only shelter in sight was the cabin. But, just as they got to the door, Sam stopped and turned to face their immediate problem, three large non-humans of whatever evil abomination created lumbered towards them; one wore the face of Walt.

S—D

Dean twisted his fingers into the collar of Sam's ripped shirt and pulled him backwards into the interior of the cabin, 'geeze Sammy give a bit will ya.'

'I don't … bad evil.' Sam said turning haunted eyes to his older brother, with a shaking hand he once again reached out to rest his hand just above Dean's heart. 'Home.' He muttered softly.

'Geeze Sammy what did they do to you?' Dean breathed, reaching up he cupped his brother's face in his hands and forced him to look down and meet his steady gaze. 'It's gonna be alright Sam, I'm gonna make sure of it.'

'Bad … not safe.' Sam pointed towards Bart once more, his green eyes though dulled still held a shimmer of emotion deep within their depths giving them a swirling effect. 'Not home.'

'Sammy, Sam it's okay dude Bart's with us.' Dean tried to get Sam to focus on him again but Sam started to move towards Bart, with a stilted lurching movement dragging his left foot Sam started to growl deep within his throat. 'Sam!' Dean yelled his brother's name as loudly as he dared and moved to intercept his traumatised sibling. 'Stand down Sam.' He ordered channelling their dead father as much as he could.

Sam stopped and cocked his head slightly, lowering his gaze he contemplated Dean's face and the tone of voice he heard, 'Dad-Dean?'

'It's me Sammy, it's Dean,' Dean grabbed hold of Sam's so-called good hand and placed it on his chest holding it firmly in place, 'feel that Sammy? That's my heartbeat, it's me, it's Deanie.'

'D-Dad?' Sam ground out confused, 'not dad? De-Deanie?'

'Yeah dude it's me,' Dean sighed with relief when he finally saw a flicker of recognition in Sam's eyes, suddenly he found himself smothered by his sasquatch of a brother as Sam wrapped his long arms around in a crushing embrace.

'Look I hate to break up this Brady Bunch reunion but we got nasties ready to attack us and a sick angel lying over there, we hafta get with the program here guys.' Bart interjected as he watched the brothers finally reunite; really reunite in more than just a fleeting moment, since this entire debacle started.

'Hurts,' Sam whimpered in Dean's ear, 'hurts me.'

'Sammy we have to …'

'heard you … in there,' Sam continued to speak seemingly unaware of what Dean was trying to say, 'the thump-thump-thump.' He laid his less injured hand on Dean's chest and closed his eyes as he revelled in the constant and dependable heartbeat he used to fall asleep listening to.

'Sammy dude what did they do to you?' Dean whispered stepping back he took in the battered appearance of his brother, if his external injuries were anything to go by Dean shuddered to think what his internal ones were like. 'We have to get you to a hospital.'

'No … no not big … no big … don't want … takes me way from Dean … no, no, no.' Sam shook his head violently as he backed away from Dean and crashed against the wall of the cabin. Large tears fell down his face as he tugged at his tangled and dirty hair, lost in the horrors of his own mind.

'Sam?' Dean crouched down awkwardly in front of his brother and placed a gentle hand on his knee, he could feel the tension thrumming through Sam's fragile body.

'Dean we aint got time for this,' Bart said as he watched out the broken window, 'they're coming in fast.'

'Shut up Bart for two seconds just fucking shut up and let me think.' Dean snapped, he scrubbed his face with his free hand trying to wipe away the fatigue and invisible cobwebs covering his rugged features.

Sam lifted his head and sniffed loudly; he stared at the misty face hovering directly behind his brother and then nodded imperceptibly, 'okay.' He said as he blinked a few times as though he was trying to clear the blurriness of his sight. 'Dean … home.'

Slowly Sam pushed himself up against the wall until he was standing; Dean stared up at his brother amazed by his tenacity, his willingness to continue fighting for his life. Listing slightly to the side Sam closed his eyes for a few seconds and then as he opened them he straightened his back and snapped his shoulders back.

'Sam?' Dean asked as he stood up and faced his brother unsure of what was going through Sam's mind, 'what is it?'

'Dean we have to act now.' Bart yelled just as a thundering crash sounded and wood splinters flew like tiny daggers into the cabin, 'move it.'

'Fuck.' Dean cussed as he turned; pulling his gun out within the one movement he placed himself between their attackers and his brother. 'This ends now.'

D—S

Bobby put the truck into gear and headed towards … God only knows where … he was still unclear on what he was doing and why but the thought or the order pushed its way through in his mind and within minutes he had his wheelchair stashed behind him and his newly converted truck started ready for the road trip. All he had in mind was a cabin in a clearing and that was it, no real directions and no surety about anything except that he was compelled to head in that direction.

'Don't give up on the boys Bobby,' a familiar voice sounded in his head, making him swerve off the road slightly, fighting to right the heavy vehicle, he swore repeatedly and tried to keep his own sanity on track as well.

'What the fuck is going on?' Bobby said when he was driving once again in a relatively straight direction.

'The boys need you Bobby so stop yer whining and get to them.' The voice spoke again; although this time he pushed on his modified brake and pulled off the road, kicking up dirt, stones and debris in his wake.

'Who the … what the … who are you?' He demanded staring around at the empty seat next to him.

'Drive dammit Bobby you don't have time to waste,' this time the voice came from a very familiar but non-corporeal face and body.

'John? Johnny fucking Winchester?' Bobby felt sure he was going to have a stroke or heart failure as he turned enough to face the spirit of his long dead friend.

'We can reminisce later old man but you have to get to the boys they need your help.' John said as he took up residence in the shot gun position. 'Drive Singer.'

'Bossy much?' Bobby grumbled as he once again started the truck and screeched the tyres as he took off as fast as the vehicle could go.

D—S

Dean stared at his baby brother in stunned awe; Sam was standing in the middle of the cabin, bodies lay scattered around him where they fell after he pulled the demons out of them, other creatures lay in charred lumps of remains with barely discernable features. Bart lay unconscious on the floor by Dean's feet and Castiel's bed.

'Sammy?' Dean said softly not wanting to startle his brother, 'Sam look at me.'

Slowly, ever so slowly Sam turned to the direction he heard Dean's voice come from, his sight was gone replaced by a blood red veil, he could only hear heartbeats and one voice. He opened his mouth to call out to the owner of that one voice but no sound came out, instead he began to gag and to cough, hawking up large solid globules of blood, swaying dizzily he took a step towards Dean before his knees buckled and Sam collapsed. Bloody tears tracked down his face and mingled with the remnants of the clotted blood on his chin.

Dean pulled himself out of his momentary stupor and hurried as quickly as his battered body allowed him to, dropping unceremoniously to the floor he gently and carefully lifted Sam's upper body and cradled him against his chest.

'What happened here Bart?' Dean asked his voice thick with his overflowing emotions, 'just tell me what the fuck happened here?'

Bart opened his mouth several times mimicking a fish out of water before he sighed and made his way to the only intact chair left in the cabin. 'I guess it's time to tell you everything Dean.'

'Ya think Bart?'

'This was not supposed to have gone this far …' Bart said as he stared at Sam's bruised and beaten face, 'it wasn't supposed to be so demonically controlled.'

'Yeah well why don'tcha just tell me what it was supposed to have been like.' Dean spat out, lowering his voice slightly when he felt Sam flinch and heard a soft whimper come from him. 'Why the hell did they do this to Sam?'

'Initially, we were recruited to subdue Sam and to bring him in to answer questions about his blood addiction, his working with demons and going evil with Lucifer.'

'What the hell?'

'Please Dean just let me get this out before I …The rumour mill was working overtime where your brother was concerned. A lot of it was because of Gordon Walker, he started it way back before … anyway a group of hunters got together and decided that Sam was to dangerous to be allowed to continue out on his own, that he needed to be contained and …'

'and what Bartholomew?'

'and to be used against the demons and monsters as a weapon,' Bart admitted he dropped his gaze and suddenly found a small hole in his jeans leg very interesting, 'the idea was to get Sam hooked on the blood and to have him fight under controlled conditions.'

'Go on,' Dean almost purred his rage now pulsating through him lowered his blood pressure and modulated his voice to the more deadly tone he now used. He was no longer angry; his anger was replaced by a clear, white rage.

'I was recruited to help distract you while they got to Sam, after our little parting of the ways I thought it would be a great way to get back at you, through your blessed and sainted little brother.' Bart hazarded a quick glance at Dean, took a deep breath and dropped his gaze again unable to look at the other man's eyes, 'I was aware of what was happening when they originally took Sam, but I didn't know that they mixed the blood up and that it was tainted blood, I didn't know that they were going to torture him so extensively as they did.'

'You sure didn't know a lot did you Bart? Surely even you could … should have realised what a set up it was?' Dean asked, 'hell even Sammy here was a wake up to you guys.'

'Yeah well Dean you weren't either,' Bart shot back.

'Just keep talking, did you know that it was Lucifer calling the shots?'

'No, no I knew that it was supposed to be a high level demon but no I didn't know it was him.'

'What else Bart? Why the hell do I feel like you're still lying through your teeth?'

'What else can I tell you Dean? The guy calling the shots was the one who wanted Sam addicted but not smashed like he was, I dunno who rode me when they snatched Sam back and I dunno who was helping Lucifer back at the cabin before we got Sam back. I have no idea who helped Sam …'

'Always thought that you were clueless but this takes it to an all-time level of cluelessness.' Dean said shaking his head in disgust, 'if you can't help then get outta here Bart, this is your get out of jail free card I suggest you use it.'

'Dean … look I get it, I helped manipulate you and helped them do bad things to Sam but … but hung me out to dry dude you left me to die.'

'If I remember rightly and yeah I do, you were murdering innocent people to get what you wanted Bart, you didn't even want to know if they were possessed, infected or what as long as you got them outta your way. I couldn't … I wouldn't stand by and watch you do that Bart. You were no better than the monsters we were hunting.'

'Gee thanks.'

'You still can't see it can ya? Bart you were going to murder a child, a small eight year old girl.'

'I thought that she was a witch …'

'You went in all gung-ho and not cared one little bit for the innocent people in that room. Hell you even suggested to lock it and torch it with em all still inside.'

'It would've gotten rid of the bastards.'

'But at what cost Bart? She was eight years old.' Dean shook his head and took a deep calming breath, 'that's all past now except for the fact that you were willing to hang Sam out to dry as well. No questions, no research just pure bloodthirsty …' Dean's voice trailed off when he heard a soft pain-filled moan, turning Dean effectively dismissed the man and turned all of his attention to Castiel.

'Cas? So you with us yet?' Dean whispered as he tried to encourage the angelic being back to "life".

D—S

Bobby drove on through the night, still trying to workout how he was travelling with the spirit of his old friend and heading to a destination he had no idea of. 'So ya mind filling in the blanks for me Winchester? Where are we heading first up?'

'The boys, they need you … I can't.'

'Yeah well we know about that, so what aren't ya telling me?'

'Sam is worse than ever before,' John's spirit turned in the seat until he was facing Bobby, 'I don't understand a lot of this myself, dunno who is pulling the strings but I don't care. They're my boys Bobby and they're in all kinds of trouble.'

'Who took Sam?'

'Lucifer is running out of time, his vessel is … wearing out and he needs Sam to say yes. By getting him hooked on the blood again he thinks that he'll be able to manipulate Sammy into agreeing to be his new ride.'

'Dammit, what about that damned fool with the boys that Bart?'

'Harmless but don't trust him Bobby,' John's form flickered and started to fade out.

'Dammit John Winchester git yer worthless ass back here afore I git my shotgun and fill ya full of rock salt.' Bobby yelled to the now empty seat.

A minute or so later John reappeared but as they grew closer to the cabin, his strength waned to the point where he was once again a bodiless voice. 'Save my boys Bobby, please save Sam.' Was the last words Bobby heard John utter.

D—S

Awkwardly he pulled his wheelchair out from behind the seats and with a flick of his practiced wrist had the chair waiting to lower himself into. Taking a brief moment to catch is breath Bobby started the arduous task of wheeling himself across the dirt, rocks and scrubs to the small cabin or rather the smouldering remains of the small cabin just in front of him. 'Dean? Sam? Bart?' he bellowed repeatedly as he made his way to them, 'dang fucking blast it boys answer me, Dean!'

'Bobby?' Bobby heard Dean's reply and the pain and exhaustion echoing in that one word made Bobby wheel himself faster than he ever thought possible.

'Hang in there son, I'm nearly there.' Bobby called as he manoeuvred his wheelchair around what was left of the cabin to find easier access, the scene he found himself staring at nearly stopped his heart beating forever.

D—S

'Dean?' Castiel blinked a few times and then slowly tried to sit up, failing miserably he settled for letting his gaze roam around the room while he tried to workout what happened to him and where he was and the big question how did he get there?

'What do you remember Cas?' Dean asked passing a cup of water to the angel.

Sipping it gratefully Castiel glanced over at the other bed where Sam lay unmoving, 'how is Sam?'

'Not sure he won't wake up.' Dean admitted his voice cracking slightly.

'I can … help.'

'Castiel you … your vessel it nearly … you nearly died.' Dean floundered for the right explanation without understanding the correct angelic protocol.

'I am well again.' Castiel said slowly as he managed to sit up, gradually he stretched his arms and legs before standing up. Swaying slightly and paling even more it took a few seconds of tense time before Castiel felt confident and well. 'I am not sure what happened or why but I do not care for it.'

'You were sick dude, you were infected by whatever they poisoned Sam with actually that's probably what saved yours and his lives.' Dean said with a small smile, 'well at least that's Bobby's theory.'

'It sounds most plausible.' Castiel nodded, 'thank him for me but I must return to heaven.'

'Cas what about Sam?'

'I cannot answer with what I do not know,' Castiel said in response but then paused before continuing, choosing his words with great care, 'Sam will awaken but I do not know if it will be the Sam you know.' He finished and then he vanished leaving Dean alone to ponder his words.

D—S

Two days later Sam lay in the same bed he spent a great deal of his childhood in, it was the bed where he had suffered with measles and the mumps, where he was confined at the age of twelve after breaking his wrist falling off the old bike he had found with Dean. Where they were both injured during hunts and sought out the only comfort they knew as adults … Bobby's place and the gruff salvage-man-hunter who treated them like his own sons. Sam stared out the window next to their beds and watched the leaves moving in the breeze, he lay without moving, without blinking if anyone had passed by the room they could swear that he wasn't even breathing he was that still.

The stillness unnerved Dean when he first discovered Sam staring out the window like that, now two days later it still did to a point but he managed to ignore it … most of the time.

'Hey Sammy you feel like getting up and going outside for a while?' Dean asked as he came into the room and found a spot to sit on the bed next to Sam's legs. Reaching over he patted his brother's knee and watched, waiting for a reaction, any reaction. 'Earth to Major Sam … come in Major Sam.'

'Dean?' Sam blinked slowly turning his head in his brother's direction.

'Yep it's me the one and only most awesome big brother you will ever have.' Dean preened after hearing his name finally fall from Sam's lips.

'Dean?' Sam asked again frowning slightly he reached out trying to find his brother's hand. 'Dean?'

'Sam what is it?' Dean's smile fell when he realised that Sam hadn't even seen him, had he been able to see anything? What was he watching then when he was staring out the window? The thoughts careened through his mind leaving Dean feeling dizzy and light-headed.

'Dean? Don't leave me.' Sam whispered his fingers falling just shy of Dean's leg.

'Sammy I'm right here,' Dean said as he picked up Sam's hand and held it in both of his, 'can you feel this?'

'What's wrong with me Dean?' Sam wept openly, 'why can't I find you? Where are you Dean? Please I'm sorry.'

'Sammy do you feel this?' Dean asked again as he squeezed Sam's hand slightly harder but Sam stared apparently unseeingly in his brother's direction.

'Please come and find me Dean, I'm sorry I promise I'll be good.' Sam wept brokenly.

Horrified Dean stared at his brother; Sam couldn't hear or see him, or even feel him and now he was crying tears stained with blood.

TBC