Dean stampeded to the ledge in hysteria. His breathing ceased momentarily, but returned when he observed Sam grasping the neon sign that had once provided illumination in the apartment below. Dean jutted out his arms and latched them around Sam's upper arms.
The stalwart man stood watching. His desire to escape had been replaced by jocularity.
Normally, Dean wouldn't have let anything stop a hunt, but Dean's cacoethes was to secure Sam. Thunder laced the sky and rain once again breached through. In moments, Dean and Sam were saturated causing the struggle to become harder. Refusing to loose any ground, Dean dug his boots into the drenched gravel. Frantically, Dean pulled at his brother's long arms. His face smashed with effort and his breath coming in grunts and burst. "Sam, Hold On! I've got ya, buddy. Get a foothold! I'm not going to let you fall."
Sam loosened one hand from the sign and allowed it to grasp his brother's extended arm. Dean's feet scooted in the gravel creating a deep grove, but still they refused to abdicate. Sam quickly loosed his other hand from the sign and gripped Dean's other arm tenaciously. "Dean…ahh.."
Sam tried to drive his gangly legs against the brick exterior to thrust energy to Dean's efforts. Whitening and straining from exhaustion, Dean's arms twitched. His grip was getting weaker, but he outlawed the idea of letting Sam fall the ten stories below. Sam kicked ferociously as his boots slithered off the wet bricks.
The emptiness of sound was now filled by the man's chortles, the boy's grunts of effort, the pouring rain, and the thunder rumbles, creating a strange cacophony of sounds.
Amusement played on the man's lips as he realized Dean would be a great source of enjoyment for him. This one would definitely not surrender as easily as the others. Wiggling his fingers in a spherical motion, a bantam heap of fine gold dust constituted into the man's palms. Slowly creeping closer, the man stalked towards Dean. Too distracted to protect himself, Dean was helpless to prevent the man from his sinister plan. The man inhaled deeply and blew the dust into Dean's face.
The power invaded Dean's eyes and nasal passages. Some mixed with the rain upon his face, which absorbed into his skin. An acidic taste filled Dean's mouth and proceeded to inflame his lungs with an intense feeling of formication. Dean eyes flutter precipitately and his airway tightened. His torso jerked causing his grip on Sammy to loosen.
Sam's slipped an exiguous amount of inches, but Dean' vigor swelled and he tightened his grasp once more. The prickling sensation remained, his head was hazy, and his breathe was asthmatic gasps
The man snickered, as Dean grunted with extreme effort.
Glibly the man said, "You have just met the harbinger of your destruction."
The man changed to vapor dust once more and floated down to the street below. Dean didn't even acknowledge or glance at the man's exit. His regard for his brother and the pounding in his head were more than enough to occupy him.
Dean continued tugging upon Sam. Finally found a sufficient foothold, Sam used his lanky legs to oomph himself up in a half collapse on Dean. Dean pushed Sam up until his brother's footing was secure upon the wet rocks below his feet.
"Whew...that was.." Sam started, but was stopped when he notice the ragged breaths coming from Dean.
Dean?...Sam sucked in air harshly as realization set in. Screeching in alarm, "He dusted you Dean!" Sam's arm reached to touch the dust that fell upon Dean's jacket shoulder.
Dean quickly swatted the hand away "Dude, get off me! Dean forced his breathe to even as best as he could but the sensation in his lungs, face and head had not subsided. Putting on a brave face he said, "I'm fine."
In a hushed quiet voice, Sam's concern grew more intense. "Dean? He dusted you. You know what that means. You're going to.."
Growing more agitated, "Ah... Sammy I swear..." Dean said defiantly looking his brother square in the eye, "Will you... JUST..just stow the sentimental bullshit crap. We have to find that sucker." Dean threw his arms in the air, turned abruptly, and then bolted to the roof access door.
Sam stood alone of the roof for a minute. His eyes were soft and lamenting. His lip flinched and shuttered causing his tongue to dart over his lower lip. Sam inhaled a quick sniffle as he mouthed a whisper to the now quiet air. "We're in trouble Dean." He allowed the rain to pour over his face for a moment before he followed Dean down the stairwell.