When The Past Returns To Haunt You.

Summary. . . . . . . . . What if the rabbits foot wasn't the only thing taken from John's Storage unit? What if something that haunted Sam so long ago was taken also? Something with a lust for revenge, and a need to finish what he started all those years ago. An AU sequel to The Nutcracker.

Disclaimer. . . . . . . . Still only borrowing from the genius that is Kripke.

A.N. . . . . . . . . . Well it's raining and I have a cold so going out is a no-no for me today so I thought I would attempt to get you all another chapter out quickly. As always I hope that you enjoy, catch you soon, Peanut x

It obeyed the commands with a fueling mixture of pleasure and despair. Icy tendrils of wispy mist moving stealthily, slowly from it's hiding place and into the nighttime darkened streets, feeling, searching for it's victim it's anger growing with every passing second, intensifying in it's power and it's lust for the kill until it found what it was looking for, and the despair it had been feeling at been stuck in this plain vanished. It slunk back down into the sewers until his prey passed, it's eagerness to attack almost taking away his element of surprise. Uncoiling itself he struck.

Her sneakers moved swiftly, yet quietly across the rain soaked, deserted pavements; her pastel colored scrubs, still new, starchy and not yet loosened enough, swished loudly in the otherwise still night with every sweep of her legs. Although her head faced forward, her eyes swept the road ahead, and her ears listened for any sign of danger as she strode purposefully towards her home. She'd been warned about taking this shortcut, but after the night she had just had, she just wanted to get home, check her children were sleeping soundly and snuggle deeply into her loving husbands side. As she turned the last corner she breathed a sigh of relief as her house came into sight, she was safe now nothing was stirring, everything was quiet.

But his was a ghostly silence, sweeping unsuspected and deadly towards her, curling around her legs and body before she even realized the sudden coldness that surrounded her, his misty form invading her mouth sealing off her screams as his form stalled her walking and continued upwards until within seconds she was covered, her form encased in a chilly cloud. He started to suck the life from her body, doing so slowly so that he could savor every moment, doubling his own form in size as he did so, until there was nothing left of her but a dried up husk. The Wraith dropped her viciously to the cold hard concrete as ordered, left her in full view to be discovered. He wanted to wait, wondering if one of the children the woman had thought of as she died would be the one to find her body, wanting to see the agony in their eyes, but the lust and need to kill again was stronger, enticing him back into the sewers to stalk out his next victim.

By the time dawn began to break, The Wraith was empowered. Three more victims lay drained and dried, left out in full view for unsuspecting humans to discover. His strength had grown, and along with it his need to consume all the more. He tried to ignore the calling of the one who had created him, wanting to stay and kill, but the hold the mannequin had over him was still too strong and he turned away from the tent in the backyard and the sleeping boys that lay unawares of how close they had been to death. Using the dark and dank system he maneuvered his way back to the motel, his vaporous form easing effortlessly through the gap of the door frame. Once inside he returned to his corporeal self, the one they had called Grossman, the bumbling idiot and unsure thief, no longer recognizable in the dark and menacing figure that paced threateningly about the room, his thoughts drifting back to the other lives he had consumed that night, the wails and cries and pleas thrilling him, his mind eager for the Master to allow him to feast once more.

The Master's mind though was consumed with something else. Now that his creation was back, he could allow his thoughts to drift back to his main prize. The memories he had received from the Wraiths kills had amused him, but it was the essence seeping from the boy in the next room that he needed, and now that the Wraith had created a hunt, a reason for them to stay, it was time to start closing circle on his goal, but first he had to separate it from it's protector and he knew exactly how to do just that. He chuckled manically as his plans played out in his mind, shivered at the thought of running his hands across the one that would bring him back to life, sneered as he thought of the foul ways to pay back those that had cursed him all those years ago. Thinking of that time angered him, took his mind of his goal, something that he knew could not happen. He closed that part of his life off, and pushed instead against the weakening mind of the chosen one, feeling the resistance as he tried to worm his way inside, his prize had grown stronger over the years, but so had he. Pushing harder he broke through the resistance and entered, cherishing the gasp of pain his intrusion caused. He cursed as the prize was awakened by the protector and the fragile link was broken, his wooden hands pounding against the motels thin mattress as he fought to contain his rage and his eagerness to take what was rightfully his, but he knew he had to be patient, knew that he had to wait, knew that if he was then this time no one would stand in his way.

Dean's head popped up from where it had rested against the laptop, square indentations visible upon his cheek, as Sam shifted uneasily upon the bed. He turned in his chair ready to move to his siblings side if any more signs of distress were forthcoming, as he had numerous times during the thirty six hours Sam had slept. He did a double take as the numbers registered in his mind and looked at the glowing numbers of the digital clock on the dresser for confirmation, the glaring red digits blurring together slightly, but confirming his suspicions. Thirty six hours. Sam had slept for thirty six hours. A spark of worry churned unpleasantly in his stomach, what was going on? What was wrong with his brother? Was he just exhausted? He'd had a rough couple of days, but he'd had worse before now and his sleep patterns hadn't changed then, why had it now? He wondered if he had missed something, if he had missed an injury when he was tending to his brother, but he knew deep down that he hadn't so what was wrong? He was brought out of his thoughts as Sam gasped as though in pain, his body by his brother's side before his mind had even registered to go there. He settled on the bed next to Sam and gently began to shake his sibling awake, the knot in his stomach growing as after a few attempts Sam opened his eyes; eyes that were glazed and etched with weariness; eyes that looked exhausted.

"Hey Sammy, you okay?" Dean whispered, brushing stray strands away from his brother's eyes in a sly attempt to check his temperature. Sam's forehead though was cool and clammy. He thought Sam hadn't heard him as no reply was forthcoming, his mouth opening again to repeat the question, the words halted as dawning seemed to spark back into Sam's eyes and his brother's voice finally rang out.

"I'm good, tired but good. How long was I out of it?" Sam replied as he gingerly sat up, the action seeming to drain him, sending him slumping against the velour headboard.

"You slept for a day and a half Sam. You shouldn't be tired." Dean replied, that knot growing yet again.

Sam's eyes widened as he listened to his brother's response, a day and a half and yet he felt like he had only just closed his eyes. "I guess I slept too much?" Was the only excuse he could think of, lame at best, but he was as stumped as his brother. "Give me a minute and I'll be fine."

"Good." Dean answered, even though he was less then convinced. He thought about staying quiet about the deaths that had happened in town over night, but it was looking more and more like their kind of thing, and he knew Sam would blame himself if anyone else were to day tonight and they could have stopped it. Biting down his concerns he added. "Because a hunt seems to have stumbled upon us. Four people drained of life and left as a dried up husk, rind any bells?"

"It sounds like a Wraith." Sam replied, his tiredness forgotten as he slipped into hunter mode. He knew that he couldn't have known but he still felt guilty that he had slept as these people perished. "Which means angry spirit, which means banishing spell."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too, I checked with Bobby also and he gave me a spell that he thinks will work. Why don't you go get showered? We'll eat and then go stop this thing."

Sam untangle himself from the sheets that held him captive, a shower sounding like a very good idea. He placed his feet against the worn carpeting and pushed his aching body up, lurching violently to the side as vertigo assaulted him. He threw out his hand for support, his palm planting against the wall that adjoined their room to the one next door, his knees starting to buckle as pain registered on his stomach, legs and arms, and visions of a painted mannequin flashed across his mind. His strength seemed to seep from him and it was all he could do to keep from falling. As he felt his brother's arms surround him, grounding him, pulling him back to the bed, breaking his hold of the wall, he could have sworn he heard a maniacal laughter.

The Nutcracker laughed as he stroked his wooden fingers down the wall one last time, placing the digits in his mouth he sucked the last traces of his prize from them, his strength growing. Turning to his creation he spoke. "Go out now. Kill again. Lure them to you, destroy the protector, but leave that was is mine. Do not hurt The One or I will make you suffer in ways you could never imagine. Go now, do not disappoint me." He sat back on the bed as his puppet dissolve into the mist once more and slink effortlessly under the door. Soon he told himself, soon he will be back with me, soon I will return.

To Be Continued. . . . . . . . . .

A.N. . . . . . . . . . . Thank you all for taking time out to read, will be back soon with more, catch you later, Peanut x