ok, i wanted to have this up yesterday, but this site was being difficult. thank you all for the wonderful reviews and i hope you enjoy the next chapter. as always, let me know.

TWILIGHT

Chapter 12

Dean ran as fast as he could across the muddy fields, his heart pounding against his chest. Sam and Kerri were both missing, and he had somehow slept through it all. What kind of a hunter would do that, what kind of a hunter would lose the two people he had sworn to protect? And his father, oh god, he couldn't even imagine what his father would say, what would happen to him when he and Tom returned.

Not only had he managed to lose his brother, but he had also failed Mr. Harrison. Kerri was missing and Evelyn was growing sicker and sicker by the minute and he knew that, if he couldn't fix this, there would be no way he could ever face either hunter again. No, he had to find them, had to bring them home, had to keep them safe, no matter what the cost to himself.

And, all at once, the incident with the Striga filled his mind. But it wasn't just the creature's attack on Sam that weighed heavily on his soul, it was his father's subsequent reaction. He had once seen such trust in those dark eyes, such pride, but now that gaze just passed right through him like he wasn't even there. He was supposed to protect Sammy and he didn't, end of story, and he knew that there was nothing he could do to regain that trust. But maybe, just maybe if he never screwed up again, he wouldn't lose any more of it.

The trek up to the forest was longer and more tiring than Dean had thought possible, the young boy heaving as he finally made it past the first row of trees. He nearly fell to his knees when the winds suddenly stopped, the calm of the dark forest both welcomed and terrifying. They were in there somewhere, he just knew it, and he would get them back if it was the last thing he did.

He followed the only path he could find, gripping the shotgun tighter and tighter as he wound his way into the heart of the dark and lonely forest. He kept sweeping his light from side to side, sure that there was something there, something watching him. He couldn't see who or what it was, but he could feel it, and it shook him. But, above all else, above the watching and the darkness, was the silence. There weren't even birds.

"Sammy? Kerri?" Dean called out into the gloom, knowing that whatever was there knew that he was there, too. There was no need to be quiet when your cover was already blown.

"Sammy? Kerri? Answer me!" He couldn't help the tremble in his voice, his body shaking with both cold and fear. He had lost them, right in their own backyard.

"Sammy, Kerri? Please."

But no sound met his ears.

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Kerri wandered through the forest, the cold air freezing her already soaked body. The ringing in her ears had finally begun to subside, but the pain was still there, and growing stronger. She just wanted to find Sam and then get back to her nice, warm, safe home. And, at that moment, she wished that her father and John had not gone on the hunt. But then, this thing seemed to have been watching them for a long, long time and there was no way of knowing when it would have attacked again. And, as selfish as it was, she was glad that Sam and Dean were there, because she didn't think she would have made it this far if it were only her and Evelyn.

She spun on the spot when the winds began to grow, her flashlight barely piercing the heavy darkness the surrounded her. If she didn't know any better she would have sworn that she was in another world, not a mere quarter of a mile from the home she had known for so long. She had been all around her property with her father on many occasions, even into the forest. But there had been an adult with her then, a hunter, and, whatever was in there obviously didn't want him to know. But now, now it was just the children, and it was clear that the thing in the forest wanted them to be gone by the time their fathers returned.

Kerri's mind wandered as she made her way down the trail, searching the shadows for any sign of Sam. As she walked the same thought raced through her mind over and over again. What would her father and John do if they came home to find all four children gone? What would happen to the two men when the only things they had left in their lives were beyond their reach forever?

She could remember what it was like before her mother was killed, could remember how often her father would smile, and laugh. But, the day her mother was taken from them, the night the fire destroyed her first home, all that changed. It was almost like her father was never happy again. Sure, he was a great dad, and he laughed along with his two small children, but it wasn't the same laugh, wasn't the same smile. It was almost like he could still picture her, playing with her girls, laughing with them, and so those happy moments broke his heart even more.

And John, oh god, what would happen to John if Sam and Dean were gone? Truth be told, she had actually been afraid of him the first time she saw him. He was a formidable man, like her father, but there was a darkness in his eyes that was unnerving to the small child. He was a man on a mission, a man hell bent on revenge, and he was a man that would never let anything stand in his way.

Every breath he took was for both vengeance and love, his mind focused on nothing but destroying every bit of darkness before it reached his boys. And Kerri knew, beyond a doubt that Dean and Sam were more precious to John than anything else on this earth, and she was terrified at what losing them would turn him into. No, the only thing that kept him together, the only thing that kept him from falling over the edge, was his children, and she had known that from the very instant they all stepped through the door. She unconsciously quickened her pace when she thought of the two hunters, thought of what could really be lost in the twilight.

It wasn't just her life, and it wasn't just Sam's, the future was at stake, and she was afraid that she was running out of time. Because she knew, without a doubt, that without their children, Tom and John would cease to exist as she knew them. And the alternative was terrifying. Losing their wives had set them on this path of vengeance, and she shuttered to think was losing their children would do.

She shook away the thought, focusing on the night around her, her eyes searching the darkness for something, anything to end her nightmare. She almost cried out in relief when her light finally found the small figure that was Sam. He was standing about thirty meters ahead of her on a small outcropping of rock, a murky lake a few meters below him. She called out to him, but the little boy stood stock still, his eyes staring off into the distance, lips moving, but Kerri could not hear any sound. And then, just moments before she reached him, he pitched forward, disappearing with a splash into the icy waters.

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Sam couldn't help the tears that were streaming down his face, his short legs carrying him as fast as they could along the path. He could see his brother there ahead of him, running in the opposite direction, running further and further into the forest. He tried to call out to him, tried to make him stop, but Dean just kept running, kept ignoring him. And Sam didn't know why.

He was scared and alone and his brother was ignoring him. He wanted to go back to the house, wanted to get back inside where it was safe and warm, but he knew he couldn't leave his big brother, knew that he had to save him.

"Dean! Please stop! Dean!" Sam yelled again, his eyes blurred from tears. He was so scared, and so cold, and he just wanted to go home. "Dean! Dean, please stop ignoring me! Please stop running, Dean!"

Sam cried again and again, his breathing labored, face shinning with sweat despite the cold temperatures. He was sure that he couldn't run anymore, his big brother was so much taller and so much faster, and Sam was growing so tired of running. However, as if reading his mind, Dean stopped, moments before Sam would have fallen over from exhaustion.

For a moment, Sam just stared at his brother, wondering why the older boy had stopped so suddenly. The seven year old was slowly closing the ten meter gap between him and Dean when his big brother pulled the number one most unexpected move of the century. He jumped off the path on which they were standing, falling a few feet into the dark and deep waters of a large lake.

Sam was on the rocks in seconds, scanning the dark water for any sign of his brother, any hint of his hero. He didn't know why Dean had jumped into the cold water, didn't know why he was out in the forest to begin with. Maybe the watcher had put some kind of spell on him, made him think that the only safe place was in the water. Sam shivered at the though, new tears running down his face. He could swim just fine, that wasn't the problem. But, if something was wrong with Dean, he knew that he wouldn't be strong enough to swim him back to shore.

"Hey, Sammy." Sam's eyes darted up at the sound, scanning every inch of the lake. His heart swelled when he saw Dean, treading water in the middle of the lake, a smile plastered on his face.

"Come on, dude, the water's warm."

"I think you should get out of there, Dean."

"Aw, Sammy, it's fun. I promise, nothing bad is gonna happen."

"But the thing at the window? The storms? It's cold, Dean."

"Would I ever lie to you?"

"No."

"I promise, Sam. The water's warm, you'll have fun."

"But--."

"Stop being such a baby and just jump in!"

"I don't want to."

"Wuss. Hey, how long do you think I can hold my breath?"

"What--?"

"How long?"

"I don't know, a couple minutes?"

"Well then, that's how long you have to get your scared butt in here, because I'm not coming up till you tag me."

"Dean, I don't wanna play."

"Your call, but dad's gonna wanna know why you let me drown."

"Dean--."

"Two minutes, Sammy." And with that Dean disappeared beneath the water.

Sam stood on the rock, his heart racing, mind running a mile a minute. He didn't want to play and he didn't know why Dean was making him. He didn't think that Dean would hold his breath till he drowned, but then he had never seen his brother back down from a dare before, no matter how dangerous. With one last look around the dark and lonely forest, Sam took as deep a breath as he could and stepped off the rocks, the icy water paralyzing him as he broke the surface.

And, as the small child sank below the murky waters, the spirit looked on, smiling.