A/N: If you haven't seen the latest episode of SPN, don't read this, spoiler. Did anyone else's heart break at Sam's expression when Dean asked, "Who's the hippie?". Sam thought the spell didn't work and he had lost his brother for good, it brought tears to my eyes. NC
Chapter 3
"I know Bobby. Caleb's on his way out, should be heading to the motel within the hour," Dean told him as he paced his campsite.
"Dean, you can't stay out there with no supplies. Have you found any other signs of your brother?"
"No, it's like they just stopped and he disappeared," Dean sighed feeling hopeless and at a loss of what to do.
"Son, why don't ya come on back, it's been over a week now and you've not found anything. We'll head home and regroup. Maybe Castiel has found something," Bobby pleaded with him.
"A few more days, I can't leave without knowing. What if he's waiting for me to find him? I can't give up."
"A few more days and if you don't come in, I'm coming to get ya sorry ass and drag ya out of there," he warned him.
"Thanks Bobby." Dean said hanging up the sat phone and storing it in his pack. He pulled his jacket closer and felt the lump in one of the pockets. He reached in and pulled out his brother's cell phone. Dean turned it over in his hand and turned it on. There was only a little power left on it and he pressed listen to hear the last message left on it. Dean heard his voice on the phone but not his words. His face paled and he drew in a sharp breath as the words echoed in his ears.
"Listen to me you blood sucking freak...Dad always said I'd either have to save you or kill you..."
The phone went dead before the last bit of the message played but he had heard enough. He finally let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding and blinked several times and his shock turned into anger and rage. Somehow the demons had changed his message to his brother. No wonder Sam had run, he thought Dean was going to kill him. This just made it all that more urgent that he find his brother and set things straight. If that bitch wasn't already dead he would of hunted her down and made her suffer for what she did to his brother. He was not going to stop until he found Sam, no matter what it took. He couldn't let Sam think this is what he thought of him.
spn
Sam swallowed and rolled his head as he tried to pry his eyes open enough to see. His vision was blurry and the light was dim in the room but he was able to make out a chair sitting near the bed with what looked like his clothes laying on it. Sam frowned as his mind caught up with what he was seeing and he ran a hand over his bare stomach and down to his hip. He realized he was naked under the blankets and had an urgent need to pee. He raised his hand to his head and felt a knot and what felt like a scab. Very slowly and carefully, Sam pushed himself up on his elbows but stopped as the room spun for a moment.
After a minute, he slipped his legs off the bed and clutched the blanket around his waist looking for the woman he was sure that saved him. He paused for a moment when he realized something was missing. He wasn't sure how long he had been out, but he didn't feel a need for the blood anymore. It was like the cravings were gone. Sam saw handcrafted shelves against one wall across from the bed that was stacked with different sizes of books, hardback and paperback. His vision wasn't quite clear enough to read any titles, but thought he would check them out later. Seeing no one, he reached for his briefs and slipped them on and pulled them up under the blanket before grabbing his tee shirt and slipped it over his head trying to balance and not fall as another wave of dizziness hit.
"Good you're up," a female voice said startling Sam who hurriedly pulled his tee shirt down over his bare stomach.
Sam wadded the blanket around his waist as his cheeks heated with embarrassment. He looked at the older woman dressed in a soft, tanned leather skirt and loose simple cotton shirt, looking very much like the Shaman she claimed to be. Her hair was braided and hung down her back and her face was smooth but tanned from working outside. Her statue presented as someone who's strong and wise and powerful.
"Hello," Sam said shyly while trying to be nonchalant about reaching for his jeans.
"I'll let you finish getting dressed and maybe you can eat some soup," she said turning her back on him and stirring something in a pot hanging over the fire.
"Thanks," he said slipping his jeans on quickly and sitting back on the bed suddenly tired from what little he did. He felt weak and slightly lightheaded. "Um...I need to..." Sam spoke not sure how to ask about a bathroom.
"You'll have to use the bucket there, no indoor bathroom I'm afraid," she told him without turning around. "I don't think you need to be using the one outside yet, until you get stronger."
Sam looked down and saw a metal bucket sitting at the foot of the bed. If he didn't feel like he was about to burst he would have waited, but that wasn't gonna happen. He picked up the bucket and moved to the end of the bed unzipping his jeans and relieving himself, sighing with relief. After he was done, he left it there and sat back down on the bed watching the woman. He couldn't tell how old she was but she moved with the grace of a dancer. Before she turned back to him, she poured some warm water into a basin and dropped a cloth into it.
"Here you go, why don't you wash you face and hands and I'll dish you some soup up?" she said sitting the basin on the table beside him. She turned back to get a bowl and spoon out for the soup and got him a cup of tea.
"Thank you," Sam said wringing the cloth out and wiping his face and neck, thinking it felt so good. He washed his hands and dried them on a towel lying on the table.
"Don't over do it man child, you've not eaten in a while so you're gonna have to let your stomach get used to food again. The tea will help settle your stomach."
"Smells good," Sam commented already feeling his stomach rumble and churn from lack of food. He spooned a small amount out and blew across it before putting it in his mouth. He swallowed and quickly scooped up another bite and swallowed it. He burped loudly and covered his mouth in surprise.
"Excuse me," he mumbled looking down at the food as he felt his cheeks redden.
"Easy man child, let your stomach settle. Sip some tea, it will help."
"Alright. My name's Sam, don't think I've told you," he introduced himself before sipping the tea. He tasted the odd mixture of herbs in the tea trying to place them, but couldn't even start.
"Sam, I'm thinking short for Samuel, a strong name man child, it suits you. My name is beyond your vocabulary, but you may call me...Sun," she replied.
"Didn't know how much energy it took to ea,." Sam sighed sitting the bowl aside and sipping the rest of his tea.
"It will take a few good meals and more rest before you start feeling stronger."
"My brother is probably looking for me. I don't..." Sam started but couldn't finish his sentence.
"It is fine man child, my woods are protected by the ancestors, no one can enter them unless I allow it," she said. "Rest now, you are safe here and no one will find you."
"Think I might do that," he mumbled as his eyes slid shut and he let himself relax into sleep.
spn
Bobby was leaning against the Impala as Dean emerged from the woods and walked slowly toward him. His face was grim and determined. His clothes were dirty and slightly loose on his body and he had a nice beard growing since he hadn't shaved while he had been in the woods. As he got closer, Bobby could see the pain and anger in his eyes and didn't say anything as he held out the keys for him. Dean accepted them and opened the trunk to drop his pack into it before getting behind the wheel. He sat there and just ran his hand over the steering wheel for a moment before cranking her and pulling from the parking area.
"We can go home," he finally spoke quietly.
"I think we got time for you to get a good shower and some food in ya," Bobby told him. "We'll find him son," he added quietly after a moment.
Dean didn't respond to him as he headed back to the motel, knowing Bobby was right. He was smelling pretty ripe by now and could do with a hot meal too. He couldn't talk yet and was glad Bobby wasn't pressing him for information. He didn't know what happened to his brother out there in those woods, and he may never know. The loss he felt was devastating and nothing was going to patch the hole in his soul.
Bobby could tell the loss of his brother had Dean balancing on the edge of a canyon and it was only going to take a feather to send him crashing over the edge and destroy him. He hoped Dean would let him help, but knew how closed off he could be. He knew he would not stop searching and trying to find out what happened to Sam. Now that they had stopped the Apocalypse, no one knew what either side would do. They didn't know if a Plan B was in place to crank it up again or if each side would go back to their home base and regroup to take another shot at freeing Lucifer.
Dean didn't speak the rest of the way to the motel. He parked in front of the room and got out waiting for Bobby to open the door. Caleb had left to catch another hunt, but told Bobby to keep him in the loop. He was worried about Dean and how he was taking Sam's disappearance. Caleb wanted Dean to know he was there for him if he needed him.
spn
"Well Sam you are starting to look better, how do you feel?" Sun asked him as she sat a cup of tea on the table by his bed.
"I am feeling better. Your medicines have helped a lot," he replied sitting up in the bed.
"Feel like a bath today?"
"Yeah, I think that would be nice," he agreed with her.
"Come child, I will show you," she said stepping back so he could get up. "You may think it crude but it works."
Sam got up and followed her out of the room and out of the structure. He blinked at the bright light and paused to look around before following Sun toward an outcrop of rocks at the back of the structure. He stopped in surprise when he saw a large pool of water that had steam hanging over it.
"It's a hot spring, makes a great bathtub," she said going to a wooden box and pulling towels and homemade soap from it for Sam. "Here you go; you can hang the towel on a rock when you're done. Just be careful and don't stay in too long. It can zap all your energy before you realize it. I made these for you," she said laying a folded bundle on the box.
"Alright, I won't be long," Sam said accepting the items and watching her walk away. He waited until she was out of sight before laying down the towels and stripping his clothes off. Sam saw a step and carefully stepped into the hot water. He stood there a minute feeling the gentle current brush against his legs. He wasn't sure how deep it was, so he cautiously stepped from the rock and let his body float for a moment before dunking his head under the water. He picked up the soap and quickly washed his body and hair enjoying the feeling of being clean. He stepped back up on the rock step and out of the water quickly grabbing the towel to dry his body and so he could dress. Sam slipped on his brief and shook out the bundle and found a pair of soft, tanned, buckskin pants. He slipped them on and found they fit perfectly. It was like a second skin for him. He toweled his hair as dry as he could and laid it over a rock to dry. Sun was right, just taking a bath took a lot out of him and he headed back to the structure.
"How was it?" Sun asked looking up when he came back inside.
"Amazing and you were right, that took more out of me that I thought it would. Thank you for the pants, they fit surprisingly well."
"Don't you worry, you'll start getting your strength back and feel good as new," she said as she prepared their next meal. "I am glad you like them. I thought you could use another pair of pants."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"No man child, you rest."
"Sun, can I ask you a question?" Sam asked her sitting in a chair near her.
"You may ask."
"How long have you lived here?"
"Well let's see...I was ten when I came to be here."
"So you're not Native American?"
"No, I was saved by the Shaman before me, much like I saved you. They allowed me into the tribe and the Shaman became my teacher, my mentor, and a mother figure for me. I embraced their ways and teachings and the ancestors blessed me with their knowledge and powers. They protect me and provide for me."
"Wow, you are a strong woman and sounds like you had an amazing life and must be a very wise woman."
"Tell me a little about yourself, what brought you to my woods?"
Sam looked down at his hands unsure what to tell her. He was ashamed of what he had done getting addicted to the demon blood and didn't know how much she would actually believe anyway. Even if she was a Shaman and knew about mystical things, he wasn't sure she knew about the monsters out in the world.
"It's alright man child, I saw your affliction and rid you of the blood lust," she said gently.
Saw looked up wide eyed not sure what to say. He didn't know how she knew about the blood or how she could take away that all consuming need he had for it. He looked at the woman with a deeper respect before he spoke.
"You could do that?"
"The ancestors have been here since the beginning of time, there is much humanity does not know. Why you were cursed, I could not see, but I know you are brave and strong, your soul burns bright, but you are troubled."
"I thought I was doing the right thing, I was trying to save the world," Sam said hanging his head. "What I did, it was turning me into something..."
"You need not fret about that any longer."
"My mother was killed by a demon, that's what pushed my Dad into the life and why he trained my brother and me to be warriors, hunters. It was a life that I wanted out of, so when I could, I left my family and went to college. I thought I could escape it, but once you're in it, you're in it forever. My girlfriend was killed by a demon too and that led me back on into the life. My brother..." Sam said stopping as he tried to calm his mind. "We had a falling out..."
"You have had much tragedy and pain in your short life my child," the Shaman told him laying a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Will you teach me?" Sam asked. "I don't mean everything, I know I'm not true blood, but about the herbs and how to make healing salves and tinctures and about the forest? It's a whole new world out there and I want to discover it."
The Shaman cocked her head and looked at the man child and his eager, begging face. She studied and looked deep into his soul but saw no ill intent, but she did see the power that was dormant in his mind. This young man had a destiny that would affect the entire world. The journey ahead for him was going to be a hard one that he could not face alone, but for now he needed the solitude. She smiled kindly to him and nodded her head.
"I would be honored to show you some of my teachings. We will start this afternoon, now why don't you pour us some tea why I dish out our meal?"
"Thank you," Sam replied smiling back at her happily. He got up and took two cups from the shelf, sitting them on the small table. After picking up a potholder, he lifted the coffee pot from the fire and poured the strong, sweet smelling tea into each cup before sitting the pot back on a rock at the fire. Sam watched Sun spoon vegetables and meat and a thick broth into each bowl and place them on the table. She pulled a stack of thin, crusty flat bread from a rock oven and sat them on the table before taking her place. Sam bowed his head and waited as the Shaman blessed their meal and gave thanks to the ancestors for this offering of food they were about to eat. He listened to the strange language that sounded so magical and foreign to him.
"Shall we?" she asked once she was done with her blessing.
"Smells and looks good," Sam said breaking off a piece of the bread and dipping it in the broth before taking a bite. The flavors that exploded in his mouth were nothing like he had ever tasted. "This is delicious, what is in it?"
"The herbs, mushrooms, greens all come from the surrounding woods. The vegetables I grew myself in a small garden plot I tend each year. The meat is venison that I dried from last year's hunt. The land will sustain you if you know how to treat her. We will forage after we eat and you will learn to recognize what is good and what is bad. Spring is here and new growth is growing. This is a good time to start your teachings."
"I can't wait. I know a little about herbs and spices that are used in spells and incantations. I have studied books and journals about that."
"Then you are ahead of the game, which is good. Now finish up so we can leave."
Sam spooned the last of his stew into his mouth and wiped his bowl with a piece of bread before getting up to add his bowl and cup to a basin with hot water. He scrubbed the dishes and laid them out to dry before wiping his hands dry and heading outside.
"Let's us go now," the Shaman said shouldering her pack and holding out one for him before walking into the forest.
They spent the afternoon hiking the woods and gathering medicinal herbs and roots and edible greens. Sam absorbed everything the Shaman told him and showed him. He learned how to recognize the plants of the forest and what could be ate and what was poisonous to humans. They gathered some of the first berries of the season for dessert with their dinner. When they returned to the shelter, Sam took a fishing pole and walked down to the river below the falls and caught two fish for their dinner. He had never felt so at peace in his life. There was no stress, or monster to hunt and kill or someone chasing him or injuries that needed to heal. He paused to thank Mother Nature for the fish. After gutting and scaling them, Sam headed back to present his catch to Sun so she could prepare them for their meal.
He planned on spending a quiet evening by the fire reading and studying her stock of herbs to familiarize himself with more plants. He was in his element right now with new knowledge to learn. He believed you could never stop learning and tried to continue to expand his mind whenever he could.
spn
The front door opened and Bobby reached for his gun until he saw the outline of the man stumble into the living room and collapse on the couch. He laid his weapon back down and sighed softly knowing Dean had drunk himself into a stupor again trying to numb him mind to the guilt and despair he was feeling right now.
They had searched towns around the forest for any signs of Sam and came up empty. Bobby had feelers out and alerted hunters to contact them if anyone saw Sam. Bobby had checked hospitals, morgues and police reports for any John Does that might fit Sam's description but didn't find anything.
Dean had caught several demons and interrogated them before sending them back to hell, but even they knew nothing of Sam's whereabouts. Castiel searched a five hundred mile radius around the wreck but found no signs of him either. They tried a locator spell but got nothing from it. Bobby was at a loss, he didn't know what else to do. It was as if Sam had disappeared from this world.
This hit Dean hard and he was not dealing well with it. He had been drinking heavily and going on hunts that he shouldn't go on alone. Bobby and Caleb tried to support him when Dean would let them, but mostly he pushed everyone away, he wanted to wallow in his on self pity and guilt and grief. When Bobby looked at Dean now, he saw only a shell of the man he was. Dean had played the message on Sam's phone for him and swore that was not what he said. Bobby believed him and knew this was eating away at Dean's soul. He wanted to find Sam and tell him the truth; he needed to make it right with his brother.
Bobby got up from the desk and walked into the living room, smelling alcohol on Dean before he got close. He looked down at Dean's drunken body before pulling a blanket from the back of the couch and draped it over his prone body. He would let him sleep it off and have a strong pot of hot coffee ready when he woke up. This was starting to happen more than Bobby liked and he was going to have to sit him down and give him a talking to whether he liked it or not. He was not going to let him kill himself this way.
spn
The forest came to life as spring marched forward. Sam threw himself into helping Sun prepare her garden spot for planting. He turned the soil and pulled weeds and laid out rows as she instructed. He found fallen trees and with an axe and hand saw cut them up, split them and hauled them back to the shelter to restock the wood supply for winter and for cooking.
Sam learned how to use a bow and brought down deer and boar so she could smoke and store the meat for the year. He built up muscles and developed a deep tan from working outside. The work was hard but rewarding and what he received in return kept his mind sharp. He thrived as he studied under her, learning all he could from the Shaman. He learned healing methods and what natural items he could use in so many different way.
He also learned some of her language and symbols too. Sam understood there were certain things he could not be taught. He was an outsider and he knew it. He was just happy to be allowed to stay here this long. They gathered nuts, berries, mushrooms and wild fruit to dry and store. Sam never knew just how much the forest could provide for a person until now.
"Man child, you have provided enough wood for three winters," the Shaman laughed happily as Sam stacked the last load of wood he pulled from the forest. "Here now, why don't you rest for a moment and drink some water."
"Thank yo,." Sam huffed wiping the sweat from his face before accepting the cup and swallowing huge gulps as he took a short break. His hair had grown long and he used a leather string to keep it tied back out of the way. He kept his beard trimmed but hadn't shaved since coming there. No one would recognize him at first glance except for his height.
"You have truly been a blessing to me my child. I have more food and wood than I have ever had."
"I have no other way of repaying you for all you have done for me and taught me these past months. It's the least I can do," Sam told her finishing his water and handing her back the cup. "I only have one more load and I'll be done."
"I will have dinner ready for you when you are done and a special treat, the blueberries were ripe and I made a cobbler for us."
"That gives me all the incentive I need," Sam chuckled moving the last of the wood from the pallet he used to move it from the forest. "I shouldn't be long and I'll get a quick bath before we eat, no need having to smell me while we eat." He turned before she could see the sadness fall across his face as he thought of his brother wondering if he would like cobblers. He pulled himself back trying to mask his feelings so he could finish his work.
"Alright then, I'll have the meal ready," she replied feeling the sadness around the man child. She knew his time was coming to leave and she would miss him but he had much to accomplish still in his life and bridges to mend with his family. Sam had never really talked much about his brother but she could tell how much he missed him and how the grief was eating at his soul. She tried to counsel him without coming out and telling him he needed to face his fears before they became irreversible.
"Thank you. I'll be back," he told her picking up the ends of the pallet and pulling it back into the woods. Sam turned his mind to tonight because it was perfect for him to sit outside and study the stars. He had been doing it now that the nights were clear and the weather was warmer. He had been spending many nights enjoying the show Mother Nature provided, even though it brought back memories of other times he had done this with his brother. Star gazing had been one of their favorite past times in between jobs. Sam stopped at the pile of wood and began to load it onto the pallet so he could take it back and unload it. Now that he had replenished her wood stock, he was going to go on a couple more hunts for meat.
spn
The forest hummed and buzzed with insect and animal activity as Sam quietly made his way through it, tracking a deer he had seen earlier. He had his bow ready to take a shot if he ran across it again. Sudden silence all around him had him pausing in his step as his senses went on high alert. Something was wrong in the forest; the animals knew it as a silence fell over the surrounding area. He tilted his head slightly and flared his nostrils trying to pick up any scents or noises that would help him locate the disturbance. He moved slowly and carefully toward a faint noise he picked up off in the distance.
As Sam broke through the trees, he saw the remains of a small campsite that had been destroyed. Sam quickly looked around for any predator that might still be around but didn't see anything. He walked carefully into the campsite seeing pools of blood and shredded clothes just inside a ripped tent and drag marks a little further below it that left a bloody trail into the woods. His first thoughts were a wendigo, but then he found bear tracks all around the tent and fire pit. He sighed with relief that it was only a bear attack and not something supernatural that would need dealing with.
This was bad enough and it looked like two people lost their lives to the attack and that deeply saddened him. As he looked around the area, he spotted smaller clothes that would only fit a child. Sam quickly looked around and saw a couple of kid's toys lying by the shredded tent. He closed his eyes listening intently for any sounds that seemed out of place. Suddenly, he heard what sounded like soft crying nearby. Being careful, Sam made his way into the brush and around to a fallen tree. There curled back under the trunk of the tree in a small hollowed out area was a child.
"Hey there," he said softly kneeling down by the fallen tree.
The frightened child didn't respond to him as she tried to shrink smaller into a ball as she cried softly. She covered her face with her arms and choked on sobs that broke his heart.
"I won't hurt you sweetie. My name's Sam," he said slowly reaching a hand in to get her.
The child cried in alarm as Sam touched her arm and tried to scramble away from him. Sam scooped her up before she could run and held her wiggling body to his as he cooed to her trying to calm her down. He brushed her unruly hair from her face as he wiped her tears away.
"It's okay, you're safe sweetheart," Sam whispered rubbing her back in gentle circles with his hand. He finally got her to calm down as she clung to him, her face buried into his neck. The small body shivered uncontrollably in his arms as he walked back to the camp. "Can I sit you down for a minute?" he asked starting to put her down, but she just tightened her hold on him almost choking him. "Okay, okay won't do that."
He looked around and saw a small backpack tossed to the side and bent down, still holding onto the girl, to pick it up. There were girl's clothes in the pack and he looked around for any more that might be salvageable and stuffed them into the pack also. He picked up a stuffed dog and slipped it under her arm being sure to keep her face pressed to his chest so she wouldn't see any of the blood and destruction. Deciding he had saved all he could, Sam set off back to the Shaman's home. He could feel the girl's body going limp in his arms and was sure she was in shock. He stopped long enough to pull his outer shirt off and wrapped it around her cold body before continuing on. It took him nearly an hour of fast jogging to get back to the structure.
"Sun! Sun! I need help," Sam called bursting into the room and looking around for the Shaman.
"I am here man child," Sun called to him as she made her way back into the front room. She hurried to him when she saw the child he placed on his bed. "Tell me."
"Bear attack, her parents are gone," Sam told her as he pulled a blanket from the foot of the bed to cover her. She cried out and curled into a ball, shivering and clutching the stuffed dog to her.
"I'll get her some warm tea to help calm her," Sun said going to the fire and getting some hot water. She added some cold water and a spoon of tincture, stirring before coming back to the bed and sitting down by the child. "Can you hold her up for me?"
"Yes," Sam said kneeling by the bed and slipping an arm under her shoulders and lifting her from the bed.
He watched as Sun spooned a small amount of water into her mouth waiting for her to swallow before trying to give her more. After getting a few more spoons into her she stopped and nodded to Sam that he could lay her down.
"That should calm her and let her sleep," Sun told him watching the child cling to Sam as he tried to lay her down.
"Ok,ay I'll just stay here with you," Sam said pulling her into his lap and sitting down on the bed. "I brought what I could back," he said pointing to the pack by the door. "There's some clothes, shoes and a couple of toys."
"That is good when she sleeps; try laying her down to rest."
"I will. Poor thing to loose both parents at one time," Sam sighed looking down at her tear streaked face. He waited for ten minutes before easing her from his lap and getting up from the bed. He joined Sun just outside the door where she was looking through the pack.
"How is she?"
"Sleeping finally. Did you find anything to tell who she is?"
"No, there were initials in one of her shirts ARB, that's all."
"Wonder why they would be this far into the woods camping like that? I've not seen any other signs of anyone since I've been here."
"Some don't heed warnings I'm afraid. These woods are full of bears, wolves, boar, cougars and other dangerous animals. I have learned to live with them and respect them," she said folding the clothes and putting them back into the pack.
"I'm gonna go back in and check on her," Sam said worrying about the child.
"I'll go get us something to eat. You must be hungry after your hunt."
"Thanks. Maybe she'll be able to eat something too when she wakes."
"I'll fix some broth for her. Maybe she'll drink a little of that."
"How old do you think she is?"
"I'd say maybe five or six, wouldn't say any more."
"So young to have to deal with what happened," Sam replied pulling a chair closer to the bed so he could sit with her. He leaned over and tucked her hand back under the blanket feeling it to see if she had warmed any.
"I think the child will be okay with time. I can feel a strong spirit within her."
"I hope so," he replied watching her sleep.
spn
"What the hell has gotten into you boy!?" Bobby yelled at the younger hunter as he continued to sew up the wound from another hunt Dean went solo on.
"I'm fine," Dean stated in a dull, lifeless voice. He didn't even flinch as Bobby finished the last stitches on his shoulder and smeared ointment over the area before taping a pad over it.
"Are you all hell bent in getting yerself killed, 'cause it sure looks that way to me."
Dean didn't answer the older hunter as he tossed back another shot before getting up and stumbling toward the stairs and his bedroom upstairs. Bobby huffed out a hard breath as he began to clear away the bloody gauze and pack the first aid kit. Nothing that he said to the boy seemed to get through to him about his brother.
It had been nearly three months and there had not been any signs of Sam anywhere. From what Castiel could hear on angel radio, the angels knew nothing about his disappearance and the demons that Dean questioned had no knowledge either. He was beginning to wonder if Sam did die in those woods and that his body would never be found. He turned to put the kit away when Castiel appeared in the kitchen nearby.
"Cas, what's going on?"
"Where's Dean?" Castiel asked looking toward the other room for his friend.
"He's upstairs hopefully gone to bed. Fool jackass tried to take on a werewolf by himself, 'bout got himself killed. I had to patch him up again. I swear I don't know how much longer he can keep doing this 'fore he does get himself killed."
"I may have a possible lead on Sam," Castiel said starting to head toward the stairs.
"Stop! Don't bother him; he's in no shape to go."
"I can heal him."
"You can't heal his soul and that's what's broken right now. Think you could check it out 'fore you get his hopes up? I don't think the boy can take many more disappointments. The last ones never panned out you know."
"Alright, I will do as you ask. I'll check it out first," Castiel agreed and disappeared leaving Bobby alone in the kitchen once again.
Bobby looked at the empty space where the angel had once been and huffed to himself wondering what Castiel might have found. Sometimes the angel could be too secretive for his liking, but he chalked it up to Castiel not knowing how to interact with humans in all situations. Sometimes he was like a child and other times he could be a formable ally and the warrior he once was. He knew Castiel was only trying to help Dean the only way he knew how. Bobby turned to the counter to pour a cup of coffee wondering if he should chain Dean in the panic room to keep him from killing himself.
A/N: Thank you to all who have decided to read my creation. I hope it is entertaining and you like the world and the characters I have created. Only one more chapter to go and this short will be complete. If you have a moment, please review. I do like to know what readers think of my works. NC