Hey guys! Sorry this has taken so long to write and post, but I've finally sat down and done it. :) I hope you enjoy it and PLEASE review! Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! :)
As he approached the warehouse, Sam fingered his gun nervously, trying to push away the fear he couldn't help but feel.
We can do this. He reminded himself once more.
He paused for an instant as he reached the door, spying the large vent to the side, an idea sparking in his mind. I wonder...
Climbing inside it, he followed the tunnels in the basic direction he believed the demon was in, hoping he wasn't too far behind Dean.
The sudden sound of voices alerted him to the fact that he had found the demon and the demon had found his brother.
"Do you honestly think I wouldn't have methods of keeping an eye on the boy that I failed to kill all those years ago? The supposed 'threat' to us?" The demon was laughing mockingly. "Samuel is no more than a child, sent to do a man's job. A mortal doing the work of a god. Special abilities or not, Samuel is not and will never be a threat."
Excuse me? Sam couldn't help but feel slightly offended by that. Not a threat? Clearly, this demon hasn't been paying very close attention. Ironic that I'm standing above him, preparing to kill him and he pronounces me 'not a threat'.
Blocking the conversation from his mind, Sam climbed silently out of the vent, realizing that he had come out up in the higher section of the room, on a bridge that crossed from one side of the room to the other, boxes piled every so often, the dust on the walkway and boxes testifying to the years that had passed since it had been used.
Moving forward steathily, Sam paused when he was standing above Dean, peering down and tuning back into the conversation as three shots were fired quickly and with perfect aim.
"Over my dead body." Dean snarled, rage dripping from every syllable he spoke.
"As you wish."
Sam held back a gasp as the demon produced two knives out of nowhere, throwing one at him, which Dean avoided, then throwing the other.
It took Sam mere seconds to realize that Dean had nowhere to move, no way to avoid the second knife and was moving before he was completely aware of what he was doing.
Crap. Dean is going to kill me. Was Sam's last thought as he dropped over the edge.
...
"NO! SAMMY!"
Dean dropped to his knees beside his prone brother, his hands roving aimlessly above his brother's body, looking for someplace to hold, someplace to begin trying to stem the blood that was already soaking Sam's shirt and the ground beneath them, the demon forgotten nearby in the wake of the overwhelming panic that filled Dean's mind, motivated his actions.
No. No, no, no. NO! Please Sam. Don't...don't leave me. Please kiddo. Not after everything. Please, Sammy. Gosh, please.
Yet some viscous part of Dean had to be honest. Without a miracle, the wound was definitely fatal. The nearest hospital was too many miles away to be of assistance- Miracle. Castiel!
"CASTIEL!" Dean screamed, hoping the angel was paying attention, would arrive in time. "CASTIEL! PLEASE CASTIEL!"
Dean held his breath for a moment, some vague part of his mind registering the sudden absense of the demon. Hope blossomed in his chest. If the demon left, maybe Castiel is on his way... Hurry, Cas. Please hurry.
Dean gathered Sam in his arms, hoping, praying that it wouldn't be too late, that Castiel would arrive soon. He promised. He PROMISED, dang it!
"Sammy. Hey, Sam, kiddo. Open your eyes. Stay with me, okay. I'll take care of you. You'll be okay. Don't give up on me now, kiddo. I was totally looking forward to watching you act like Jean Grey, dude." Dean was fighting tears now, the fight getting harder with every second that passed with no Castiel popping out to save the day.
Sam's chest was heaving now, his breathing forced and uneven. His glazed eyes opened a crack to look up at Dean. "Dean." he gasped, painfully. His body seized, stiffening for a moment as his breathing became ragged, then finally went limp, his eyes drooping and closing with a finality that brought tears to Dean's eyes. His body stilled, one final breath expelling from his lips and in the following moment of silence, Dean knew. No. SAM! No, no. Please. No, no, no, nonononononononono...
A sob tore from Dean as he buried his face in Sam's hair, his fingers clenching in Sam's shirt, stained with his baby brother's blood. He tried to speak Sam's name, as a final pleading to not leave him, to return to him, but it came out as a choked sob, a pained cry that would have torn at the heart of even the cruelest, hardest soldier.
"Sammy. Sammy, please." he finally managed to choke out.
Dean wasn't sure how long he sat there, sobbing into Sam's hair, soaking in Sam's blood, before the soft voice reached his ears.
"Dean. Dean."
Dean finally looked up, eyes widening slightly as he saw Castiel crouching down across from him, on the other side of Sam.
In the dark hole that had suddenly become his heart, Dean somehow still find enough emotion to be more ticked at Castiel than he had ever been at anyone before, even the demon. He finally understood the meaning of the phrase "I was so angry, I saw red".
"Where were you? You said you would be here if we called and you didn't come and now he's-"
Just like that, the emotion drained away. He buried his face back in Sam's hair, ignoring the angel that had shown up too late.
"Dean, if we hurry, I can save him. But you must loosen your grip on him a little."
Dean was moving a second later, pulling back from Sam enough that Castiel could reach in and touch two fingers to Sam's forehead.
Closing his eyes in concentration, Castiel breathed deep, just as Sam suddenly took a breath.
The knife was gone, the wound suddenly healed. Sam's eyes were fluttering open, his gaze landing on Dean immediately.
"Dean." he croaked, weak fingers grabbing onto Dean's t-shirt.
"Sam!" Dean managed, unable to stop the tears from flowing, pulling Sam into a fierce hug, Castiel moving aside just in time.
A bit later, Dean finally found the strength to pull away from his suddenly breathing baby brother. "Crap, kiddo. Don't you ever do that to me again." He ordered, in an attempt to regain his dignity.
Sam chuckled. "Don't be so bossy, big brother. I'm not a kid anymore."
"You apparently have the mental capacity of one. Don't you know that jumping in front of a knife is a bad thing? It's like running with scizzors or playing with fire. You just don't do it!"
"Oh, but I really wanted to play with the knife, Dean."
"No more, Sam." Dean was suddenly serious. "You can't keep doing this kind of crap to me."
"I'll do my best, Dean."
Castiel suddenly jumped in. "I apologize for the delay, Dean, Sam. I was in the middle of something important and could not get away immediately."
Sam threw Castiel a smile. "Thank you for coming, Castiel."
Dean nodded, unable to speak the words, but hoping that the angel would understand his gratitude anyway. Sam was alive, perhaps he could forgive the angel for being late. This once.
"Castiel, the demon said he knew where we were, that he has 'methods' of knowing where we are. Do you have any idea what he was talking about?" Dean questioned a moment later.
Castiel raised an eyebrow. "That is the business I was taking care of. You have had a demon trailing you for an extended period of time. Perhaps for years."
Castiel suddenly stood, giving them a pointed look. "Be careful. Call again if you are in need of my assistance."
And just like that, he was gone.
...
"We shouldn't have rushed in there without backup." Dean finally broke the hour long silence that had persisted since Castiel disappeared.
Sam nodded, grimacing. "I know. That's what I was just thinking."
"We aren't amateurs, we shouldn't be doing crap like that anymore." Dean suddenly snarled.
"Live and learn I suppose."
Dean shot Sam a dirty look. "We need to train. Both of us. You need to learn how to use your funky mojo stuff and I just flat out need to practice."
Sam nodded again. "Okay. When do we start?"
"Immediately."