A/N: Thank you as always for reading and reviewing!

Lachrimae

Chapter Three

Never May My Woes Be Relieved

The lights were bright on the highway, carving swaths of color across the hood of the car as it sped down the road. The blood-red taillights of a semi appeared in front of them and then the huge truck was behind them. The few streetlights marking the exits flashed by so quickly the effect was almost like a strobe light. Sam glanced down at the speedometer.Fast, is it fast enough? It has to be fast enough. We have to make it. We have to. Now that we are so close, please. He looked over at his brother, unmoving, in the passenger seat.

Dean seemed to sense his eyes on him. "Wreck the car, Sammy, and I'll kill you."

"I know," Sam said with a forced laugh. "How do you feel?"

"Didn't you just ask me that like five seconds ago?"

"It was half an hour," Sam snapped.

"Fine, whatever. I'm doing just great," his brother said, shifting a little in the seat. "How far?"

"Not long now," Sam said, watching the exit sign approaching. "Five miles."

"Good," Dean said, the little volume in his voice suddenly gone.

"Dean?"

"Still here, Sam."

Sam looked over at Dean. His brother was slumped against the door, curled up in the ratty blanket. You're still there? Hang on just a little longer.He turned his eyes back to the dark highway, watching the signs flash by. The flickering of the light was almost hypnotic as he drove. Memories started clawing their way to the surface.

The kitchen smelled of coffee, the sun was streaming in, warming Sam's back as he leaned against the sink. "How long will he be out?" he asked her.

She smiled gently. "I don't know, each case is different, each spell runs its own course."

"I guess I was kind of hoping he'd be awake this morning," Sam said, sipping his coffee. "When you treated Jess…"

"Sometimes things work that fast, not always though."

"Yeah," he said, biting back the disappointment. He took a breath to go on when a scream shattered the tranquil kitchen. "Dean!" He ran for the bedroom. Dean was still screaming when he got there. Sam put his hands on his brother's shoulders, holding him down as a spasm ran through his body. "What's happening?" he demanded.

"Sam…" He looked at her, the expression on her face was profoundly sad.

"No…" Dean moaned, writhing under his hands. "No, please no, make it stop, Sammy."

Sam took a deep breath, trying to bring his focus back onto the road in front of him. His hands were shaking, he held on a little tighter. Dean wants to go back, but he doesn't realize, doesn't know what happened. I probably should have told him more. He realized he had gripped the steering wheel in a hold so tight his knuckles were white. Should I tell him? What can I tell him, I know I told him a little, but sometimes I think he doesn't believe me. Do you know what going back there means to me, Dean? Do you?

The exit he was looking for appeared, he pulled off, the small town rushing by. Please no speed traps, please no speed traps. Bright lights suddenly appeared behind him, he eased the car off the road. The cop walked up to the window. No, no, this will take too long., I have to get to her house and soon. If he dies only minutes from there, what would I do? After all this, after bringing him all this way and then he dies because of a cop. He took a deep breath. Please, please let something go right, just a little something.

"Going a little fast weren't you?" he said, shining his flashlight in the car. He frowned when the light touched on Dean. "What's going on?"

Sam swallowed. Truth or not? "My brother's sick, I was tying to get him to…"

"Bryn?" The cop finished for him. Sam nodded. "Ok, slow down a little, no need to kill yourselves before you get to her. Tell her Hank said hello." He patted the edge of the window and walked back to his car.

Relief flooded through Sam. Finally, something went right. He pulled the car back onto the road, heading out the other end of town. Something caught his eye. He glanced in the rearview mirror again. What was that?Something, just for an instant, had flickered in the mirror. A sudden tension sprung to life in his back. It can't be. How could it be here? He made the turn up the driveway, the tension becoming something more urgent. It's getting close. No. We have to make it. The tires sped over a ring of stones buried in the ground, Sam stopped at the first gate and threw it open, running back to the car he was inside the fence and had the gate closed before whatever was behind them could catch up. He saw the shape hit the ring of stones, stopping as abruptly as if it had hit a wall. It screamed in fury.

Sam pulled the car to the second, inner, fence. The intricate iron gate swung open as he approached. As he parked the car, he heard the gate clang back into place. "We're here, Dean," he said, reaching across the car to his brother. Dean didn't move. "Dean?" No, no.

The passenger door opened, a blast of cold air flowing into the car. "Can you get him into the house?" Bryn said, laying a gentle hand on Dean's chest and looking over at Sam.

"Yeah," he said.Easier said than done. He managed to get Dean out of the car. His brother mumbled something as he was pulled out of the seat. "We just need to get you inside," Sam said, keeping his voice calm. He followed Bryn into the house and gently lowered Dean onto the bed in the ground floor bedroom. Her room, she must know it is bad to bring him here.

Bryn left the room and reappeared with a small vial in her hand. "Can you hold his head?" Sam nodded. "Dean? You need to swallow this for me." Dean mumbled something again. She laughed gently and then put her hand on Dean's chest. "Just breathe easily if you can, Dean, just relax," she said.

Sam watched as his brother's body slowly lost the tension caused by pain. Dean's head dropped to one side and his breathing evened off, becoming a little deeper, a little less forced. Dean sighed and shifted a tiny bit under her hand and then, to Sam's surprise, started snoring softly.

"I guess he's asleep," Bryn said with a little laugh. She took her hand off of Dean and walked to Sam, pulling him into a tight hug. A warmth flooded his body as she held him. He relaxed a little, the stress of the last few days draining out of him, replaced by exhaustion. "Your bed is ready, Sam, go up and get some sleep," she said, releasing him and giving him a gentle shove out the door. "I'll keep an eye on Dean."

Sam stumbled down the hallway, his feet remembering the way. He walked up the steep staircase and into the tiny bedroom that had been his the last time they had stayed with Bryn. A pair of sweats and a t-shirt were lying on the bed. He picked them up and looked at them for a moment before changing. She was expecting us. He slid into the bed, his feet coming to rest against something warm at the foot of the bed. He sifted his feet around the warm object. A hot water bottle? Still nice and hot? She was expecting us tonight. He sighed, pulled the blankets up over his shoulder and was asleep before another thought could form.

XXX

I hope this is a nightmare.

The creature moved slowly up Dean's body. Never a good thing, I hope this is a nightmare.

The creature's weight crept up the length of his legs, moving across his back and coming to rest at the base of his neck. He held perfectly still, not even breathing. It prodded him with a claw and then something cold and wet was shoved against his face. Dean opened one eye, his gaze was returned by a pair of bright green eyes. "Stupid cat," he said, rolling over. The cat hopped off him with a little growl, then stood on the bed looking at him. "Hello." The cat walked to him and rubbed its head under his hand, he absently petted it while he looked around the room.

We made it. I thought it was a dream, but we made it. The sunlight streaming through the windows was warm. The bed was soft under him and the rich, homely smell of coffee and baking bread filled the room around him. He pushed himself into a sitting position. That worked, let's try for standing. Swinging his legs off the mattress, he grabbed the chair by the bed and pulled himself up. The cat watched him as he swayed a little, satisfied he wasn't going to fall, the cat hopped off the bed and walked to the door, looking back at him. "I'm coming." He followed the cat down the hall and into the kitchen.

Bryn was standing at the window in the bright kitchen. She looked over and smiled as Dean walked into the room. "Good morning," she said, pouring coffee into a cup and handing it to him. "How do you feel?"

He smiled at her. I always wonder if she knows and is just being polite or if she really wants an answer. "Better than I did," he said, sitting down at the table. "Where's Sam?"

"Still asleep," she said, smiling at him.

"Feels familiar." He laughed. "He seems to sleep better here." Of course he does, I do too. Even before Sam actually knew, part of him realized we were safe here, completely safe. It changes the way you sleep, knowing you are safe. He sighed. Safe. "Cinnamon rolls?" he said, sniffing the rich scent, a smile slowly growing on his face.Safe, cinnamon rolls, even the stupid cat. Feels good.

"Yes, can you manage a shower?" Bryn said, coming over and laying a hand on his shoulder. Warmth moved out from the touch, the cold black spot in his chest shrinking a tiny bit.

He smiled up at her. "I think so." He stood. The cat jumped off the counter and walked to stand beside him. "I think I can shower without your help. Cats don't like water, remember?" The cat looked up at him. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Whatever, you can come." Dean looked over at Bryn with a smile "I suppose our clothes are all already washed and folded?"

"And I laid a clean set out in the bathroom," Bryn said with a laugh.

"Thanks," he said, walking out of the kitchen. The cat preceded him into the bathroom and hopped onto the sink. "Stupid cat." He turned the shower on and stepped in, letting the hot water flow over his body, relaxing muscles knotted by pain. He sighed. Now that he was alone he let his guard down completely. We're safe here, but this is bad. So much worse than last time. I wonder if Sam realizes that yet? And if he doesn't should I keep it from him? Bryn won't let him know unless I ask her. Dean let his head hang and looked inside, testing the boundaries of the black spot, now awake in his chest, fully awake, slowly pulling his life away. Just great. So much for a year. Maybe she can help, if not, I wonder. I need to ask her, but not when Sam's around.

He didn't know how long he had been in the shower, but the water had started to cool. A black paw pushed aside the curtain. He looked down at the cat. "I'm ok. I'll be right out." Great, already talking to the cat. That didn't take long. He stepped out of the shower and toweled off, as he opened the door her heard Sam's voice in the kitchen, a little urgent, a little angry, and Bryn's calm response. Give her a minute, Sammy.

"Morning, Sam," he said, coming into the kitchen. The shower and the walk down the hall had tired him more than he thought it would. He sank down in a chair. Bryn put another cup of coffee in front of him. "Thanks." Dean looked at his brother, Sam still had shadows under his eyes. Not looking good, Sammy. Relax, everything is ok here. "I'm feeling better," he said, knowing what Sam might need to hear.

Sam looked at him closely, a little frown on his face. "You are," he said with a sigh of relief. He dropped down into the chair across from Dean. "What did you do?" he said to Bryn.

"Nothing yet, nothing but what you saw last night," she said, putting the coffeepot and a plate of fresh cinnamon rolls on the table. "What happened?" She looked at Dean and then over at Sam.

She's assuming Sam knows this time. Damn, I was hoping to avoid part of this. "It started about three weeks ago," Dean said, watching his brother.

"What?" Sam looked at him with a frown.

"The scar started, I don't know, bugging me, it kind of changed character. Then a few days ago the after effects of the spell started getting worse, like it was fighting something big. It actually felt a lot like when I first started doing it." Dean was still watching Sam, his brother was staring into his coffee cup.

"You should have called me," Bryn said gently.

"I planned to, actually, then we started this hunt. A witch's ghost, I guess." He grinned at her and shrugged. "Not a Glinda."

"Most aren't," she said, laughing.

"Something was following us, I'm not sure what it was, but it attacked me." And left me bleeding against a wall and waited until Sam found me before it left, like it didn't want me to die. Weird. Hadn't thought of that before. "It took my charm."

"And?" Bryn said with a frown on her face.

"It stabbed me. Later, in the car, it rammed a hand into the wound, it felt like it was forcing it open further."

"Jesus, Dean, why didn't you say anything," Sam nearly shouted.

So you could panic? Or drag me back into the hospital? Nope. "I didn't want to worry you," Dean said, looking at his brother. Sam took a deep breath, Dean raised his eyebrows. "Sammy?"

"What?" Sam looked a little agitated. Well actually a lot agitated, he has that I-want-to-hit-you-Dean look on his face.

"It's ok, we're here now, Bryn will figure it out. Right?"

She smiled at him and then at Sam. "I'll do my best, as always. If you don't mind I'd like to get a better look at the wound."

"You're the witch doctor," Dean said, smirking a little.

"Thanks, better than freaked out New Age whack job, I guess. Maybe I'll get that on my business cards, Bryn Elswyth, Ph.D., W.D. What do you think?"

"Sounds great, I bet Sammy could run it up on his computer while you take a look at me," Dean said, standing. "Where do you want me?" He tried to keep his voice calm as a wave of dizziness washed over him. He closed his eyes, trying to regain his balance.

"Dean!" Sam's hand was on his arm, steadying him.

"Thanks," he said, leaning against his brother.

"Get him to the bedroom." Bryn's voice sounded far away.

Sam put an arm firmly around his waist and took his weight. He was half carried down the hall. Dean kept his eyes closed. That way the world doesn't spin so much. Nice. At least I got coffee and half a roll. He was lowered onto the bed.

"Pain?" Bryn said.

Dean nodded. "A little," he said, swallowing.

"Don't lie to the witch doctor," Bryn said. "I'll be right back and then we'll take a look at that wound."

Dean nodded again. "I'm ok, Sammy." I am, really, Sam. Believe me. It hurts, sure, but it's ok. We're safe here, we have time here. It's ok. And the sun is warm, too. Please believe me. I think I am more ok now than I have been in awhile.

"Sure you are, Dean," Sam said. Dean felt his brother's weight settle on the edge of the bed. The cat jumped on the bed. Bryn must be back. "I'll give it to him," Sam snapped. Dean felt a glass held to his lips, he drank what was there.

"Slime, you're giving me slime again."

"I put mint in it to make it taste better," Bryn said with a laugh.

"You always say that. I think you're lying to me."

"Can I look at the wound?" she said.

"Sure." He pulled his shirt up without opening his eyes. He heard Sam suck in a painful breath. "Sammy?"

"It's ok, Dean."

"Yeah, right." Dean opened his eyes. Sam's face was white. He looked down at his chest.Wow, it's still visible, last time I felt it, but you couldn't see it. I don't think that's good.

Bryn's hands hovered over the wound. "May I?" she said softly. Dean nodded. She placed a hand on the edge of the black spot. Pain lanced out from the touch. Dean ground his teeth together. "Sorry," she said, sliding her hand around the edge of the wound and then, taking a deep breath, she laid her palm on the spot itself. The pain was nearly unbearable. Dean cried out involuntarily at the touch. It felt like she had plunged her hand into his chest.

"Stop," Sam said, his voice hard. Dean felt Bryn's hand pulled away from his chest. He opened his eyes. Hey, when did I close them? God I hope that wet stuff on my face is sweat and not tears. Sam was holding Bryn's arm in a tight grip, Dean could see red marks already forming on her arm. The cat had his back arched, tail fuzzed out to nearly twice its normal size. It was hissing at Sam, fangs bared.

"Sam." Dean said quietly. "You too, cat."

His brother looked down at him, Sam's eyes were a little wild. "Dean…"

"I'm ok. It just stung a bit," Dean said, trying to struggle up into a sitting position. He looked at Bryn, her eyes were bleak. I hope Sam misses that look, at least for awhile. "Well?"

"I'm going to go get something else for you to take, I'll be right back." She walked away. The cat took a swing at Sam and then followed her out of the room.

"Sammy?" Dean said.

His brother deflated, dropping onto the edge of the bed again. "The cat hates me."

"You said that when we were here before."

"Yeah," Sam said, smiling a little. "Why didn't you tell me about the scar getting bad again?"

Dean shrugged. "I thought it would go away, Sam." Ok, truth time, Sammy, and sorry I didn't mention this too you before, but…"It had before you know."

"Before? What exactly does that mean?" Sam said, his voice dangerously calm.

Storm's about to break, look out. "It's acted up once or twice, but it's gone away after a week or so."

"Dean?"

"You're turning a little red, there, Sammy."

Sam swallowed and opened his mouth. He took a deep breath and stood, looking out the window. Dean noticed Sam grow still. His brother's hands clenched and unclenched. What, Sam? What do you see? "I think I see our friend out there on the fence line," Sam said, almost as if he had heard Dean's thought.

"He can't get in here, nothing can. You know that." Dean sighed. Safe, see, Sam, we are safe here. Nothing can get to us here, nothing.

Sam turned back to him with a funny look on his face. "Dean?" His brother shook his head and sat back down on the bed. "I…I want to talk to you about…"

"Here," Bryn said, coming back into the room. "This will help a little until I can figure out what we need to do." Dean looked at her, the bleak look was still there, and a tightness at the sides of her mouth. She held the cup out to Dean.

Sam grabbed it, sniffed it and looked at her. "What is it?" he said, his voice harsh, nearly a bark. What's wrong with you, Sam?

Bryn gave Sam an intense look. Ok, something is going on between those two, but what? Does it have to do with those angry words I heard this morning and the fact Sam has just turned into a mother bear defending her young? And would he love that image? Dean chuckled a little at the thought, they both turned to him. Ha, made you look.

"It's a mixture of herbs—red clover, vervain, hyssop, valerian, betony, yarrow, elder and some others."

"Poison?" Sam snapped.

"In the wrong hands, yes."

"Oh?"

"Sam?" Dean said.What is going on, would you relax?

"I just want to know what she wants you to take, Dean."

"I trust her."

"It's ok, Dean," she said gently. "I understand."

"What will it do?" Sam said. You are like a bulldog about this, Sam. We're going to have to talk about it.

"It should break the cycle of the wound a little until I can better solve what's going on." Her eyes met Dean's. She might be lying to Sam a little.He nodded to her that he understood.

Sam looked into the glass again and then held it out to Dean. He reached for it, but his hands were shaking too badly to grab it. Oh, fun, that's starting early. Sam held it so he could drink. Dean leaned back as a gentle warmth flooded through his body. He was floating a little.

"Sleepy," he said after drifting on a warm cloud for a minute or two.

"It will put you to sleep."

"Will I wake up?" he said.

"This time, yes," she said her voice soft.

This time? Does that mean I might not wake up next time? Hmm, I wonder what Sam will think of that statement.

He was aware of his brother as he dropped off to sleep. Sam had pulled the quilt over him and was sitting on the bed. Dean felt his brother's hand close over his. Better let go before I wake up, Sam.

I will wake up, won't I? This time, she said. I wonder what that means? I didn't get a chance to ask, yet. But she said I'll wake up. I'll ask before…

I have to know.

It could change everything.

To Be Continued

A/N: For those of you waiting for the promised flashback to the missing five days from Waxing and Waning, your wait is nearly over.