Road Less Travelled

Follow up to my story Two Hunters and a Baby, so if you haven't read that one it might pay to and then come back and revisit this one, coz it might get a little confusing.

Disclaimer: Sigh nope still nothing ... hmm what to do??? Okkies I promise I will send em home after I finish playing with my boys!!

Author's Note: Just wanted to say YAY to Channel 10 here in Australia, they are actually going to have Supernatural back before next year. Yep they are going to stream the eps and are only going to be 2 weeks behind, WOOHOO! Finally they have seen the light, and we're spreading the love.

CHAPTER TWO

Sam watched through slitted eyes, pretending to be unconscious, he was still tied spread-eagled to the bed, his body screamed for release from the pain and stiffness but he kept it down, pushing into the dark recesses of his mind. He had to find out what Cornase was up to; if he had to play possum and swallow the pain then that was what he was going to have to do.

'What is he doing?' Cornase spoke into a phone his back to Sam, but his voice was clear, 'who does he have with him?'

Sam managed to keep his face still and empty of emotion as he listened to the one-sided conversation.

'Fine and the package arrived without worry?' Cornase glanced over his shoulder at Sam for a second before smirking and then turned back to concentrate on what was being said to him, 'good and yes the deal breaker is almost ready ... Yes, yes I understand that ... no he will be pliable the drugs are working ... No ... Yes he will be addicted before the transaction will be completed.'

A cold chill filled Sam and he let out an involuntary gasp, Cornase hung the phone up and turned to face his victim, 'nice to see you back in the land of the living Sammy.'

'What ... what did you do to me?' Sam blinked and focused on Cornase's face, there was something so terribly off that it made Sam's skin crawl, 'where's Mickie?'

'Ah so many questions, you must learn patience dear boy.' Cornase grinned maliciously as he produced another syringe out of his pocket, 'hmm time for you next dosage.'

'I-I ... please no.' Sam tried to pull away from the shining needle but the restraints only cut deeper into his already abused flesh. 'I'll do what you want just no more.'

'Hmm now there is a thought ... nope can't do it, I have orders that I have to fulfil.'

Sam frowned at that statement, if Cornase wasn't pulling all of the strings then who was. 'What ... who?'

'Need to know Sammy boy need to know.' Cornase plunged the needle into Sam's neck as he spoke, 'that's a boy just let the drugs do their thing, relax that's it.'

Sam felt the drugs explode in his system and that now familiar concertina effect before the confusion reigned. He had to keep focused; he had to keep Mickie safe.

'Good, good untie him and clean him up he stinks.' Cornase orders fell heavily on Sam's hearing but the words made no sense, he barely felt the hands manhandling him off the bed and drag him out of the room. He tried to register the fact that they stripped him and tossed him into a shower cubicle the ice-cold water becoming scolding hot in seconds. Spluttering under the water he tried to clear his fogged mind but the more he tried the harder it became. Lost in his pain and confusion Sam never felt the hands pull him out of the shower, and never felt the hands poking and prodding check his injuries, not caring how much it hurt him.

Clad only in a pair of loose fitting sweat pants Sam felt himself dragged back to the bedroom and thrown into the room this time though they didn't bother to tie him to the bed or handcuff his hands.

A soft crying pushed through the mists and made Sam try to focus on the direction where it was coming from, crawling awkwardly with his swollen knee refusing to bend, and with his head down he finally crossed the small bedroom and found the source of the tears.

'Mickie shh it's okay Uncle Sammy's here.' He picked the toddler up with shaking hands and cradled her close to his chest, she snuggled close to him and her sobs eased to the occasional hiccup. 'Ah baby sh we'll get out of this I promise.' Sam sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, 'as soon as the world stops spinning and changing shape on me.'

'Uncsammee booboo?' Mickie pulled her little face up and level with Sam's, her chubby fingers twisting in his hair. 'Uncsammee play Mickie?'

'Ah baby Uncle Sam feels sick.' Sam felt his stomach twisting and churning, 'don't feel so good.' Sam barely heard his niece's cry as he slumped unconsciously against the wall. Mickie patted Sam's face and tried to pull his hair hard but nothing would wake him up.

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Dean paced the motel room resembling a wild animal caged, lethal, feral and primal, his muscles rippled as he tensed and relaxed his fists. 'We need to find out where they are Bobby, I can't do this again, last time ... last time he had Sammy and Mickie ... damn it all to hell Bobby.'

'Dean ah ... oh crap Dean I think we have a visitor.' Bobby nodded his head to behind him, spinning around Dean stared into a very pretty face one he thought that he would never see again. 'Azuraus? Az?'

'Hey Dean close your mouth if you don't want to catch flies.' Az smiled and pecked a kiss on his cheek, 'sorry I didn't get here sooner but I kinda got tied up ... literally.'

'Dean?' Bobby stared at the spirit with a mixture of mistrust and curiosity.

'Oh sorry Bobby this is Azuraus ... Az this is Bobby Singer I don't think you guys met properly last time.' Dean countered quickly knowing that except for himself, Sam and Mickie, everyone who met Azuraus wouldn't remember her, it was a simple fact of her status as an animal spirit.

'Hey Bobby.' Az smiled and touched his face lightly chuckling softly at the blush forming on the craggy features. 'So what happened to Sam and ... oh Gods Dean Cornase got out didn't he?'

'He has Sam and Mickie ... Az we have to get them out of there something is so wrong this time.'

Quickly he explained to Az what was going on although Dean had a sneaking suspicion that she already knew most of it and then he finally showed her the pictures.

'Oh Gods Sam.' Az breathed when she saw the condition of the young man. 'Dean I can't get a reading on Sam, it's like there's something barring me, ah something not natural.'

'The drugs.' Dean muttered blinking has he realised he said it out loud, 'they have been giving Sam this drug ... he said it made him hurt and feel funny.'

'Okay, so I have to work on zeroing in on Mickie, one thing I don't understand Dean.' Az looked at him and then at Bobby before turning her attention back to Dean, 'I can understand in some sick way why Cornase took Sam to get back at you but ... why bother with Mickie? She's a baby and it's not like he has Merci with him anymore.'

'Good point, listen Az do whatever you do and find my daughter and brother please?' Dean hated the sound of begging he employed in his voice but he was beyond desperate.

Az flittered in view for a few seconds and then she disappeared leaving two very confused hunters staring at the empty space. 'Well she could have said goodbye.' Dean quipped.

---------------

Mickie giggled and stopped crying when she saw Az appear next to her, the toddler immediately felt safe again, 'Uncsammee.' She wailed, 'wake up.'

'Sh Mickie, let Az have a look at him.' The spirit whispered as she took in the extent of Sam's injuries and his apparent drugged state. 'Oh Sam I am so sorry.'

'Az.' Sam mumbled 'save Mickie please.'

'Sam no, no I can't leave you like this.' Az brushed her fingers down his face lightly tracing the fractured cheekbone and then his bruises, 'I have to get you both ...'

'No, no ... can't go.' Sam pushed the words out of his own unresponsive body, 'take Mickie to ... to Dean Az.' Sam slumped down the wall, his energy levels spent.

Az frowned and stared at him for a moment desperately wanting to help him, but not wanting to be found out by Cornase she took Mickie into her arms and did what she could do. 'I'll be back Sam I promise.' Within the blink of an eye she disappeared taking a teary Mickie with her.

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'Dean wait, see what she can do and hear what she has to say before you go running off half cocked.' Bobby tried to reason with Dean but the younger man's patience had worn thin and he was arming himself ready to go and rip the town apart looking for Sam and Mickie.

'Dean?' Az appeared in the room behind the two men startling both of them, 'hey guys.'

'Az ... I really wish you wouldn't...' Dean's words trailed off as he turned and saw the precious bundle in the spirit's arms. 'Mickie?'

'Daddad.' Mickie cooed reaching frantically for her father, 'Daddad, want Daddad.' She squirmed and pushed against the arms holding her, her tears trickled down her little cheeks as she turned on the full puppy look with her big eyes.

'Oh God Mickie.' Dean covered the room in two strides and took his daughter into his arms, his own tears falling silent as he cradled the child close to him, 'Mickie baby.' He looked up at Az and mouthed thank you as he inspected his baby girl for any signs of injury. 'Sam?'

'Uncsammee booboos.' Mickie said solemnly putting her hands on Dean's cheeks and patted him, 'Uncsammee big booboos.'

'Az?'

'He's bad Dean, really bad, fractured cheekbone and nose, bruises, so many bruises and his knee.' The spirit started to fade out as she got more upset.

'Az hey no disappearing act.' Dean snapped as he sat down on the bed and sat Mickie on the floor at his feet. 'What else.'

'The drugs ... they really do block him from me, if it wasn't for Mickie I wouldn't have found them.' Az said as she disappeared and then reappeared seconds later sitting on the floor next to Mickie. 'I am so sorry I wasn't able to stop them Dean.'

'What happened Az?' Dean asked glancing up at Bobby who stood watch at the window, the older hunter strangely silent in the discussion and the air of distrust and annoyance filled the room making it stuffy and awkward.

'I was with Rachel and the children, in my cat form to make it easier to blend in,' Az started her own gaze falling on the ever-watchful Bobby, 'I got baited.'

'You what?' Dean's eyes widened in surprise at the frank admission.

'I got baited, someone put something into my food ... hey a cat's still gotta eat ... when I was able to transform back ... well I was not at Rachel's anymore someone made sure I wasn't there when they took Mickie. When I was well enough to function properly I came straight to you.'

'I am so sorry Az.'

'What for Dean?' Az cocked her head to the side and regarded the young human carefully, 'I should have been more vigilant, I got complacent and coz of that Sam's hurt and Mickie ... it's me who should be sorry.'

'Look you two can play the sobbing blame game later, but when Cornase finds out that Mickie is gone it aint gonna be long before he figures out what happened.'

'Sam!' Dean cried out in horror, 'they'll take it out on him.'

'Oh Gods no please I never thought about ... he begged me to get Mickie to you safely.' Az couldn't meet Dean's eyes and turned her attention back to the toddler in front of her. Mickie happily played with her father's feet for a few minutes before deciding that she was bored and wanted to make her daddy happy again. Carefully she pushed her feet under her nappy-clad bottom and stood up on wavering chubby legs, proudly she looked up at the adults but none of them took any notice, pouting slightly she put a steadying hand on Dean's leg and took the few steps to stand by his legs, 'Daddad.'

Dean looked down at where Mickie was sitting and then his eyes tracked her short distance and locked onto her standing by herself next to him. 'Mickie you walked?' He blinked in surprise arching his eyebrow perfectly when the baby giggled and toddled over to Bobby, taking a handful of his trousers she tugged at them until he looked down.

Smiling at the littlest Winchester Bobby scooped the baby into his arms and gave her a peck on the cheek. Mickie giggled in response and started to tug at individual hairs in his beard. 'Bobbee.'

'Ah Mickie no, no pulling Bobby's beard.' He chuckled until she pulled another one and then he winced, 'please Darlin'.'

'Aw Bobby it's so cute.' Dean couldn't help himself, he whipped the cell phone open and clicked off a photo before Bobby registered in what he was doing. 'Thanks new Christmas card material there.'

'Dean!' Bobby tried to glare but the little girl in his arms decided to give him a sloppy big kiss on the cheek and then squirmed to get down again. 'Dean what are we going to do with her while we find Sam?'

'Damn, Az is there anywhere you know of where she will be safe from Cornase?' Dean sat poised ready to catch Mickie as she toddled back to him, a sleepy yawn slipped from the baby. 'Come here princess.' Dean picked up his daughter and hugged her tightly, 'daddy loves you.' He whispered in her ear.

'Dean I – I can take her to the ...' Az stopped herself and faded out of view.

'Az front and centre now.' Dean barked the order out sounding more like his father than ever before.

'Dean I can't tell you where I'm taking her,' Az appeared again 'if I do and Cornase ... I just can't tell you.'

'It's better if I don't know true but Az just tell me that she will be safe until this is over?'

'I promise.'

'Uncsammee!' Mickie flinched and started sobbing uncontrollably, 'booboos.'

'Oh Gods, Az where did you find them?' Dean passed the sobbing child over to the spirit and went back to finish his packing as Az told him the directions and address of where Sam was held then she swallowed down on her own tears, watched Dean say goodbye once again to his daughter before they disappeared.

'We're getting Sam back Dean,' Bobby said, 'and then we'll be able to bring Mickie home.'

'I-I know.' Dean said he straightened his shoulders with a snap, slipped his glock into his waistband and slipped his jacket on, 'It's playtime.'

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Cornase shook Sam trying to rouse him but the young man was out cold, 'I want to know where the kid is now.' He shrieked, 'get him awake.'

'Sir?'

Use the drug anything I want him awake now.'

The guard stared at his boss and then filled another syringe, 'Sir he could overdose.'

'Now!'

The guard shrugged and plunged the needle into the tight muscles of Sam's neck, swallowing he stared with a sympathetic look as the prisoner started to convulse, sweat poured down the greasy blood slicked skin and drenched the ragged sweats. Minutes later Sam's eyes shot open and he screamed before retching violently; vomit sprayed over the guard and Cornase.

'Tell me where the brat is.' Cornase pushed his face up against Sam's, his acrid breath choking his prisoner, suddenly Sam opened his mouth and vomited mucous and blood hitting the demon full on the face. 'Make him talk.' He ordered stalking out of the room, 'I don't care what you have to do to him I want him talking.'

TBC