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. . . . . . . . . . . Sorry for the wait, between a really bad cold, a birthday, a bad internet connection and another plot bunnie that wouldn't leave me be, this fic got pushed aside a bit. But I'm back on track now, and here it is chapter 7. I hope that you enjoy, Peanut x

"Sammy!" Dean cried out, turning back as he heard Sam's gasp of pain. He rushed over as he caught sight of his brother seemingly caught in a trance, his hand braced against the wall as though it was the only thing keeping him upright. "Sam? Sammy? What's wrong? " He asked as he reached forward pulling his sibling back down to the bed he had just recently vacated, thankful that as he did so his brother's vacant stare seemed to dissipate, his eyelids blinking furiously before focusing on Dean's face.

"Dean?" Sam asked, confusion evident on his face as to why he was once again sitting on his bed.

"Yeah Sam. You okay?" Dean worriedly inquired. "What the hell just happened?" He added when Sam nodded his head in response.

Unable to explain what had just happened, Sam just shook his head. "I don't know. I just felt dizzy. Maybe I stood up too quick. I'm okay now." When he still felt Dean's arm around his shoulders, Sam turned his head and added. "Dean, really I'm fine, tired but fine. I'm gonna take that shower you mentioned, clear away the cobwebs so to speak." Pushing away from his brother's embrace, Sam gingerly stood, smiling down at his sibling as though to comfort him more, when he managed to do so without swaying. "See I'm good. I'll be out in a bit."

Dean watched Sam make his way slowly towards the small bathroom, the knot that had been clenching in his stomach releasing a little as Sam did seem a little bit more steadier on his feet, but the worry still remained and he wondered if he should ring Bobby for help. He hated the fact that the Nutcracker had been mentioned by Sam, hated the fact that he had also thought back to that time, but it was destroyed, their Dad had said so. Was he just reading too much into this? Concern churning in his stomach told him that he wasn't, that he was right to be worried, but he swallowed it down as anxiety over Sam's mysterious illness. They were in the middle of a hunt, people were dying, he had to focus, they had to stop this Wraith. Once this hunt was over, he promised himself, he would look into the past more seriously.

He was brought out of his thoughts as he heard the shower turn off through the paper thin walls, standing quickly he made his way over to the table where all of the research he had found was scattered, knowing that if he stayed sat upon Sam's bed his younger brother would question his actions. He tried to look nonchalant, tried to not make it seem as though he was checking Sam over, as the youngest Winchester eased his way through a plume of steam and back into the main room, but all thoughts of the hunt vanished and he only just managed to swallow down a gasp of concern as he took in his brother's appearance. Sam looked beat, his normally glowing tan seemed to have faded leaving the bruises he had acquired, from the fallout of the rabbits foot, to stand out vividly against his skin; even the damn Nutcracker burns seemed to be more intense than normal. He opened his mouth to request that either Sam sit this one out, or they both leave the hunt well alone, but the words became stuck as Sam's own voice rang out.

"I know what you're thinking Dean, but I'm fine, and I'm going. So are you gonna tell me what you've found or do I have to take up precious time by reading through it all myself?"

Dean coughed to clear his throat. He took one last look at his brother, seeing the stubbornness radiate from him. Picking up his research he thrust it his brothers way asking. "Tell me what you see?"

Sam glanced at the pages briefly before his eyes settled on the map Dean had dug up of the area, his eyes widening as realization settled in. "Dean, this can't be. This has gotta be wrong. It's too easy man, it has to be a set up?"

"That's what I thought too, but a set up by whom?"

Sam could only shrug his shoulders in response, grimacing as the stitches pulled once more. "I don't know Dean, but this is freakin' eerie man. Four points of death, all evenly spaced apart, it's almost as if they're telling us where the next victim will be found."

"Yeah, but why? I don't like this Sam. I don't like the fact that a hunt just pops up outta nowhere, as we happen to be in town. I don't like that it's practically begging us to come hunt it. And I especially don't like that this freaky illness has taken a hold of you at the same time." He paused before adding words that he knew would piss his brother off. "I think we should just high tail it outta here, head off to Bobby's for a while, just until you're fit again." He wasn't surprised when Sam responded with words that he knew he would, and with guilt written all over his face.

"What? No way Dean. Four people have already died whilst I've been lying around. I wont have another victim on my conscience. I just can't. I have to save this person."

"Sam, we don't even know these people. I'm more concerned about you. Why can't we go? Why do we have to save everyone?"

"Because?"

"Why Sam?"

Sam choked back tears as Dean spoke words that so often haunted his dreams, before mumbling. "Because maybe if I save enough people, I wont turn."

Dean had wondered if that would be the reason, but to hear it from his brother's mouth was still disheartening to listen too. "Sammy."

"No Dean, don't try and tell me I'm wrong. I have to do this. Can we please just go."

Knowing there would be know way he could stop Sam, Dean acquiesced. "Okay, we'll do this, but we do it my way Sam."

Following the route the Nutcracker commanded, the Wraith slithered and slunk his way through the dark and dank systems, feasting upon the carcasses the relentless rainfall swept down through storm drains, the humans above blissfully retreating to their beds for the night unawares of the danger that lurked so far beneath. It trembled as the scents of so many souls assaulted him, so wanting to deviate from the plans the Master had laid out for him, but he knew to do so would result in dire consequences, so he slithered onwards, heading for the coordinates that would lead him to his victim for the night. He paused as he neared, feeling the essence of three, this was perfect a decoy to lure in it's first victim, that would result in the even bigger prey entering the picture. He pushed his misty form up the slime covered walls and through the rusting bars of a grate, the hunt truly beginning and his meal for the night now in sight.

Sam pushed water logged strands of chocolate brown hair out of his eyes; eyes that were so heavy and desperately wanted to close. As his sneaker clad feet sloshed through yet another deep puddle, coating his drenched feet in yet more chilling liquid he wondered, not for the first time, if maybe Dean was right, if maybe they should have forgotten this hunt and taken off, waited until he felt better, cause Dean was right about something else, Sam wasn't a hundred percent, not even close. Chills wracked through his frame, yet he still sweated and fire seemed to rage inside him, chills that no matter how many layers of clothing he had added he could not still. His head felt stuffy, and pounded to a beat he was sure his brother must be able to hear on the other side of the road even over the thunder that crashed overhead, he just wanted to collapse where he was standing, to drop to the floor and sleep for a week. He turned defeated, ready to yell his siblings name and tell him he needed to leave, but a movement in his peripheral vision stopped him in his tracks, surely it couldn't be? Surely no one would be so stupid to allow this to happen? But as he blinked and forced his pained eyes to focus, he knew that someone had. He started racing down the sidewalk, whistling a signal he hoped Dean would hear, racing for the little girl that had somehow managed to escape one of the houses and was now gleefully jumping from puddle to puddle.

Sam's heart thudded against his chest as his eyes caught more movement, wispy mist slinking it's way from the sewers below to form a barricade between himself and the child, blocking him from her. Sam wanted to scream then, wanted to cry out in rage for the young life that was about to be lost, but the cries died before they could be spoken as the Wraith began to move and realization struck. He had been played. He tried to halt his momentum, to back peddle away from the mist, but it was too late. He felt the cold bite into his already chilled skin, felt it seep deep into his bones as the Wraith slithered around his legs and began to crawl it's way up his body. He could feel it begin to feed upon him as it crept around his chest, crushing, making breathing hard. He panicked as it reached his face, the mist pulling back ready to strike and cut off any cries for help, just managing to calm himself enough to utter "Got ya" before it pushed it's way into his mouth. As his last air was used, blackness encroached and his knees buckled, Sam heard his brother shout out words.

Dean had turned the minute he had heard Sam's whistle of warning, he watched as his brother flew down the street, wondering what could have alarmed him so. He started running as he too caught sight of the small girl, running even faster as he witnessed the Wraith begin to appear. As it turned away from the small child and started to head towards Sam, Dean realized their mistake. This was a set up, this had been planned, this was all about him and his brother, and they had fallen right slap bang into the trap. He cut across the road at an angle, hoping to gain back some of the gap Sam's longer legs had created, but as the Wraith encircled his sibling Dean knew he wasn't going to get there in time. As Sam's knees buckled Dean began to chant the banishing ritual, hoping and praying that the binding spell they had cast upon one another earlier would be enough to hold the Wraith in place until he finished; and that he could finish in before it was too late for his brother.

"Nos dico super amicitia, porro utpote morbus, porta custodis, animus curator. Succurro nos eximo is phasmatis. Succurro nos succurro is reperio pacis. Sino is reperio suus via ex is rectus. Sino is silo. Subsisto is vallum ut eram coepi, permissum is urbs pacis iterum."

The light blinded him as the last words were spoken, the screech the creature let out thankfully drowned out as another crash of thunder roared above them. Dean blinked furiously, trying desperately to bring focus back to his eyes, his gaze immediately finding his brother once he could see again, his breath catching in his throat as Sam continued to lie ominously still as the rain pounded even harder around him.

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

A.N. . . . . . . . . . As always thanks for reading, will be back soon with more, Peanut x

Oh and the Latin translates as "We call upon friends, long since past. Gate keepers, soul guardians. Help us free this spirit. Help us help him find peace. Allow it find it's way from this plain. Allow it to rest. Stop this rampage what's been started. Let this city sleep peaceful once more"