TAINTED BLOOD
By: Karen B.
PART THREE
Author's note: I don't know guys…I really don't…Crazy is as crazy does -- I guess. Just a hint this is not a death fic…Thanks for reading along. Sunshine always to you, Karen.
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Dean moaned, his head felt like a gutted pumpkin, and his mouth tasted like shoe leather. Damn he hated hangovers. He licked his lips, scowling and trying to focus on a single thought.
"Dean." A hand came to his chest and shook gently. "Dean" A voice buzzed in his ear.
Dean cracked open one eye to see Castiel hovering over him, close enough that he could smell his breath.
"Are you injured?"
"No, just unconscious," Dean grumbled, wondering just exactly what did angel's eat.
"Do you require an emergency vehicle?" Castiel asked.
"I require that you give me a little breathing room."
"My apologies."
"Cas, help me up."
Castiel wordlessly pulled Dean up by the arms.
"Sam?" Dean frowned, shaking his head clear and glancing around the room. "Lilith. Son of a bitch!" Dean scrambled around the room, gathering up weapons and tossing them into his bag. "Cas, Lilith was here. Sam was…he was drinking her… he is… "
"Sanguivorous," Castiel injected.
"Dude!" Deam zipped the bag shut. "Your English sucks."
Castiel didn't say anything, his eyes fixed on Dean for so long, Dean thought the angel might be seeing straight through to his soul.
"I will rephrase." Castiel finally spoke "Sam, has been subsisting upon blood," he said, in a slow and expressionless tone. "To exist."
"You knew about this?" Dean slung the bag over his shoulder, circling Castiel like a rabid animal stalking its prey.
"For a short time, yes."
"Damn it Cas!" Dean came to stand in front of him, fist's clenched at his sides. "When did you plan on telling me my baby brother is a demon-blood junkie?" Dean's eyes flashed with anger. "I take it you also know why he is doing this?"
"Your brother made a deal. To become stronger, become one with whom he feeds from." Castiel nodded grimly. "Sam's hunger is great. He can not stop. Can not control himself. He is no longer human."
"No!" Dean bit his lip, raising a fist and squelching the urge to bust Castiel in the mouth.
"Dean." Castiel didn't flinch. "Sam, is convinced he can save the world. Overpower Lilith. He is confused. He has allowed himself to be overtaken. Do you understand?"
Dean didn't say a word, his body rigid and face like stone.
"Sam is immune to Lilith's powers, but not from her blood," Castiel continued. "Her blood awakens the disease flowing through him."
"What the hell are you saying?" Dean curled his lip in disgust. "No, forget it. I don't have time for this." He headed for the door. "That damn she-bitch is inside my brother!" Dean shivered, feeling bitter cold as if ice had replaced his blood. "I have to find them -- him."
"That is why I came. To caution you."
"Caution me?" Dean tensed, hand reaching for the door knob.
"Yes. Sam and Lilith -- the two shall combine, mutate into one all powerful beast. Half-demon, half-human. One hand, two souls, spilling their shared blood upon holy ground, and..." Castiel titled his head.
"And?" Dean glanced over his shoulder, the heat of horror piercing his heart.
"The spilling of this mutated blood by the creatures own hand upon holy ground, will break the last seal. The demonic powers of their combined sacrifice is strong, Dean." Castiel's voice was low. "Her blood posses power and strength. Binds Sam to darkness. He can not do without. He yearns for only this. He will not be able to stop."
"You're saying Sam is going to turn into some kind of Mutant Ninja turtle or demon transformer? Come on!" Dean spat.
"I do not understand." Castiel cocked his head.
"Neither do I! And I don't have time!" Dean yelled
"Dean, in one monster's sacrifice --another is released."
"Lucifer!" Dean turned to face Castiel. "I have to get to Sam," he said, in a strained voice, not knowing where to start looking.
"Unfortunately, I am not on time in my warning."
"You think?" Dean said sarcastically. "And you learned all this in demonology 101?"
"Many angel's died to obtain this information."
"You know where Sam and that bitch are don't you?"
"Yes."
"Take me. Now!
"Dean." Castiel's eyes were stern, but his voice calm. "Something you should know."
"Wasn't that enough?"
"This will not be easy," The angel sighed.
"What ever has been?" Dean snipped.
"The time has come. The time your father spoke to you of."
"Yahtzee," Dean rolled his eyes. "I have to save, Sammy."
"Dean. It is too late for that now."
"What! No!" Dean jerked. "No!"
"There is nothing to be gained unless the beast is destroyed by the hand of a righteous man. The man who…" Castiel prompted Dean with a nod of his head.
"The man who began this whole apocalyptic thing," Dean said sadly.
"Yes."
"Cas!" Dean began to shake. "That creature, that monster you're talking about is fifty percent Sam. I can't. I can't. We have to find another way."
"Dean." Castiel frowned. "This is a great conflict for you, but you know this to be true. You are the key to victory."
"I am no friggin' key! I can't. I won't" Dean gave Castile a harsh stare. "I'd rather die."
"That is your decision to make." Castiel stared harshly back. "Would you feel the same if the person I spoke of was not, Sam? If it was a total stranger? Would you not do the right thing? Could you kill the beast then?" Castiel stood watching, waiting. "Dean?"
"You know the answer." Dean trembled, he would -- without a second thought. "Sammy," Dean whispered, his heart splitting in two. "Find someone else."
"Dean, if I kill the beast, Lucifer walks free. If any other hunter, human, or demon kills the beast -- spills it's blood upon holy ground, the world as you now know it -- will still die.. Chaos would reign supreme. Worse than any weapon of mass destruction your kind has ever seen." Castiel took a step forward.
"By chaos you mean, hell, fire, and fury," Dean gathered.
"Hell on earth." Castiel placed a hand to Dean's shoulder. "You of all can understand what that means."
Dean was frozen in place, stung by the painful realization. Deep inside, he knew what Castiel was saying was true. There were a million reasons to go blindly forth into battle, but only one not to.
"Your love for your brother is admirable. I know you hurt. I know you are scared. Dean, I can not blame you for your feelings, but this must be done. One life over the lives of all. Not just one town, one city, one state." Castiel lifted his hand. "The lives of everyone existing in heaven and on earth, rest in your hands." He pointed a finger at Dean.
"No pressure there," Dean muttered.
"Can you do this?" Castiel arched a brow.
"I'm not giving up on my brother. I can reach, Sam. I can get him to listen. He's strong. I can make him hear me. Get him to stop. Fight that bitch off from the inside."
"Sam… is beyond help. His dependency is a raw need that throbs through his soul. Dean?" Castiel cocked his head, boyish confusion on his face. "Are you willing to risk all of man kind? The kingdom of God? For only one man?"
"Cas, I have to try. Sam will fight for me. I can make this right, again. Save Sam -- everyone."
"Dean, if he won't. If you can't…you know what you must to do."
"I won't jump ship."
"No, you will not." Castiel nodded, pressing his index finger firmly against Dean's forehead.
TBC….
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