Sam stood on the porch. Stared at the phone in his hand.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled up the list of contacts. Found the one he was looking for.

He had barely pressed SEND before it was answered.

"Dean?" The gruff voice answered worriedly. "Dammit, kid. I've been tryin' you for weeks. You okay? You hurt?"

"Hey, Bobby." Sam said quietly.

A pause. "Sam? That you?"

"Yeah."

"Huh." Bobby said after a beat. "Didn't expect that one. You with Dean?"

"Yeah, he's here."

"You boys, okay?"

"No," Sam replied. "No. Not really." He sank down onto the top step. Filled Bobby in about the events of the past couple weeks. The Rawhead. Dean appearing in his apartment. The trip to Nebraska.

The Reaper.

"Look Bobby. I know it's a long way...It's a lot to ask but I'm outta options here, and Dean…I don't think he has much time..."

"You still at school? At Stanford?"

"Yeah, Palo Alto."

"Might not be as long a way as you think. I'm workin' a job… a favor for a friend in San Francisco. Can be there within the hour."

Sam let out a breath. "Thanks man. And Bobby?"

"Mmm?"

"Hurry."

Sam paced.

"Dude," Dean said. He was lying down, left arm draped over his eyes. "You tryin' to wear a hole in the floor?"

Sam rolled his eyes. Plopped down in the chair anyway.

He glanced at his watch again.

A knock at the front door had both brothers turning toward the sound.

"Speak of the devil," Dean said, dropping his arm.

Sam practically ran to the door. Threw it open. Sighed in relief at the figure on his porch.

"Bobby. Thanks for coming." he said, clapping the older man on the back.

Dean heard the murmur of voices. The sound of the door closing. Felt the presence of someone standing near him.

"How ya doin' kid?"

Dean broke into a grin as he recognized the gruff voice. "Been better. I'd say it's good to see ya, man, but…well…you know." He waved towards his eyes.

"Well, at least you haven't lost that crappy sense of humor o' yours."

"Nah, that's still going strong. Can't really say as much for the rest of me, though." He smiled ruefully.

Bobby glanced at Sam. "Yeah. Well, your brother and I… we're gonna fix that right up. You just sit tight."

"Don't think that'll be an issue."

With a nod toward the kitchen, Bobby pulled Sam away.

"How long's he been like this?"

"Said he's been feeling off since Nebraska. Since he was healed by Legrange. His eyes… 'bout an hour ago. Right before I called you," Sam shook his head. "Why is this happening, Bobby?"

"You said the Reaper actually laid a hand on him?"

"He said it touched his face."

Bobby rubbed his chin. Looked up at Sam. "Then we got a serious problem."

He returned to the living room, Sam close behind. Stopped at the couch.

"Dean."

The blonde head swiveled toward Bobby's voice, though his eyes stared straight past the elder hunter.

"I need to know exactly what happened in Nebraska. What happened with the Reaper."

Dean lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Not much to tell... We went back to the tents. Sam found this alter. It had my picture on it...Sue Ann had sent the Reaper after me. I was outside, felt it behind me. When I turned, it came at me. Put its hands on my head and I felt it…"

"What?"

"Draining me. Felt like it was...sucking me dry or something."

" Sounds 'bout right." Bobby said, adjusting his hat. "See reapers… there's myths and legends in almost all religions but most texts say they're sort of an escort. A link. Between this life and the next."

"Uh, Bobby, not that I'm complainin' or anything," Dean said, "but if that thing…claimed me or whatever, why haven't I seen it again?"

"You've been touched by Death, Dean. Literally. That kind of thing leaves a mark. It doesn't need to come after you now. You come to it."

"Come to it how?" Sam asked.

Bobby looked uncomfortable. Gestured with his hand.

"Bobby, not really in the mood for charades, here, man," Sam said tiredly, nodding his head towards Dean. "Just tell us."

"You waste away. Piece by piece. Till the time comes…" Bobby shook his head. "There's just no pieces left."

"Super." Dean muttered

"Dean," Sam warned. "Bobby, you said piece by piece…so that's why his sight's gone..."

"That's sorta my guess."

"These other…pieces," Sam said. "How long before…"

Bobby shook his head. "I've read about this happening, but never really come across it before. No telling how long the process could take. Could be months. Could be days." He paused. "Could be hours."

"Fine, so we know why it's happening," Sam said. "Now how do we stop it?"

"Sam...if a Reaper's marked him, not much we can do," Bobby replied. "Hunting's got a lotta tricks, but some things can't be messed with and Death's one of 'em. This isn't some spirit you boys got caught up with. It's natural order.

"No." Sam shook his head. "There has to be a way around it. Hell, there's nothing natural about this. Sue Ann was controlling that reaper. She was going against nature."

"Maybe not," Dean said quietly.

"What?"

"Well, I mean think about it Sam. I was dying. The tazer...my heart. That should have been it. Roy might have healed me but…Hell, I saw Final Destination, dude. Death doesn't just give up. Maybe it's just my time to go."

"No. Not after all we just went through. I thought we understood each other, Dean. I thought you understood that I'm not just going to let you go. I won't let you go. Bobby, there has to be something."

"Not many ways to stop a reaper," Bobby said slowly. "And the surefire one I don't think you're gonna like very much."

"What is it?" Sam asked quickly. "Whatever it is, we'll do it."

"Black magic."

"Hell, no." Dean said flatly.

"Dean…"

"Forget it, Sam. You saw what happened in Nebraska. You saw what that thing did to innocent people. We don't mess with that stuff. No exceptions."

"Dean, we don't have a lot of other options here."

Bobby glanced at his satchel, propped up on the floor near the couch. He rifled through it, pulled out a book. He frowned as he flipped through the pages. "Actually…there might be one."

He ran his finger down the page, scanning the text. "Not really sure you're gonna like this one much either, but…seems there is a way to break a connection with a reaper."

"Likin' it so far," Dean said. "What exactly do we have to do?"

Bobby focused his attention on the page. Avoided Sam's gaze.

"We have to kill you."

-tbc

Sorry for the cliffie guys. I've been trying to keep the updates coming pretty regularly but gonna be gone all weekend so probably won't have something new until early next week...