Sam wiped off the dirty mirror with a polka dot handkerchief to get a closer look, he backed way and fell down on the straw covered dirt. Sam's butt made a honking sound, he pulled a horn out of his baggy back pocket. "No…no it can't be, I'm a circus clown..I'm in a circus, maybe its hell…or both."

A woman in a veil walked in, only her big beautiful blue eyes were showing and they were rimmed with dark coal liner. She was dressed like a seductive fortune teller and had a small monkey perched on her shoulder, the woman handed it a small piece of Turkish delight which the simian took and began to nibble.

Sam looked up at her wondering if she was a threat, then he heard her deep, smoky voice, "Mateo, no "thank you" for the treat?" The monkey tipped his little hat and stuffed the rest in his mouth.

She placed a long, red nail under Sam's chin and winked at him, "So Sammy, you always talk to yourself? I suppose its ok as long as you don't answer right?" The slim chain belts around her waist were hung with paste gems, tiny bells and gold colored coins that made a tinkling noise as she moved.

Sam got up and reached out to remove her veil but she did it for him, it was Castiel clean shaven with long, pretty dark hair and red painted lips. Sam took a chance and asked her, "Do you know who I am?"

She raised a carefully arched and painted eyebrow and pointed to a lithograph that said, "Sammy The Clown" with a colorful image of Sam holding a pie. "Well I should hope I do kid, you are just the best kisser ever." She stood on her tiptoes and gave Sam a sloppy kiss then pulled back with a face full of grease paint. "Just don't tell Denton I did that, you know how jealous he gets. Between myself and the strong man I don't know how that poor guy gets any rest."

Sam had to know, he grabbed Castiel by the crotch and he was indeed male. For some reason the angel and everyone around identified Castiel as an attractive female. Sam had to admit, when Castiel had no facial hair and exotic makeup he was actually pretty.

She slapped him, "You got some nerve."

She stepped over to the mirror and wiped off the evidence of their kiss. "Toodles honey, maybe later we can clown around."

…..

Sam stepped outside into a world almost as bizarre as the things they encountered while hunting. The mouth watering scent of roasting peanuts, fresh popcorn and taffy was overshadowed by the thick smell of dung. He turned a corner and ran into a man leading several camels. The man shouted at him to move, Sam pressed himself against a wagon and tried to catch his breath.

He was frightened and alone, Castiel was someone else and he still couldn't find his brother. A small man dressed as a clown walked by with a tall, pretty blonde in a revealing costume. They both looked safe enough and Sam stepped out and greeted them. "Hello, do any of you know where the fortune teller lives?" the blonde giggled and looked down at her friend then to Sam, "Well you should know where she is of all people silly boy." Sam didn't know what she was talking about.

The clown pointed to the tent attached to the big top, "Look Sammy get your rear in there, its almost time for your act." He gave Sam a push and they both entered the tent, it was called "Clown Alley" where the props were kept and clowns ready to go in the ring waited for their cue.

Sam started to back up but a large hobo clown grabbed his arm, "Hey Sammy, its almost time to go on." He handed him a pie and when the music started they shoved him inside. The crowd roared and the applause was deafening, when they settled down he just stood there not knowing what to do.

Someone grabbed him from behind and hissed, "Do something you fool." Sam in his panic whipped around and smashed the stranger with his pie. The crowd went wild but the other clowns gasped in unison and backed away from Sam.

It was the Ring Master he had hit, he could see the familiar angry green eyes boring a hole through him, the man wiped his face off and Sam's heart leapt when he saw who it was, "Dean its me Sam." Dean was Denton and didn't have a clue who Sam really was.

He hauled off and punched him, the crowd thinking it was part of the act burst out laughing as Sam crawled away holding his nose, the fake one long gone from the force of the blow.

Denton, ever the professional, raised his arms and broke out in a big smile waving to the crowd, "This is just a taste of what the day will bring folks, welcome to the Winchester Wonder Circus."

Denton leaned down and whispered to Sam, "You are going to get a beating for that you little piss ant."

….

Sam ran past the other clowns back into the changing area stripping off the costume and wig then took some of the cold cream and worked the grease paint off. He nose was swelling and he was miserable, Sam heard a tinkling noise then felt arms hugging him, he looked down and long red nails lightly scratched his bare chest.

The fortune teller pressed her cheek against his back," Sorry Denton punched you like that honey but you had it coming, what would make you do that? He is really hard boiled, I try not to get him mad. I remember the black eye he gave me…you don't want to be on the receiving end of that temper."

Sam turned around and held her hands, "He hit you? What gave him the right?" She lowered her eyes, "I had it coming, I got too chatty with the Polish guy from the high wire act. I don't know what he says half the time but oh boy, he is a handsome one!" She looked back up at Sam and smiled wanly, "Don't look so sour kid, it was worth the punch."

One of the candy butchers walked in holding a candy apple on a stick, he whistled at Celeste, "Hey Celeste, bring that kisser over here and give me some sugar." She gave a deep, honey tinged laugh and pointed to his hand, "Its gonna take more than a candy apple to get a kiss from me buddy."

Sam watched as the man grabbed Castiel's arm, "Ok…Castiel is called Celeste…I have to play along until I can figure out how to snap them out of it."

Sam was only fifteen and as physically and mentally tough as he knew he was, all of this was scaring him. He was afraid he would lose his brother and the angel for good and be stuck in this hellish circus.

Celeste jerked her arm away, "You got something better to give me?" The candy butcher pulled out a bill and she snatched it, "A crummy ace note? What do you take me for, some cheap bally broad in a cut rate show?" She tucked it in the waist of her sheer skirt of veils, "Clarence you get a couple more of these and buy a lady dinner and we got a deal."

She walked out laughing at Clarence who in turn angrily poked Sam with his finger, "Look kid, Celeste is my gal…you keep away or I'll give you double what Denton gave you right in the jewels."

Sam knew he shouldn't have said it right after the words came out of his mouth, "I thought Denton was her boyfriend?" To his surprise he didn't get socked in the jewels.

Clarence chuckled, "Geez kid, Celeste is everyone's gal, I just don't need to compete with a young buck like you, bad enough that bastard Denton tries to get in her drawers. Besides she is a tease, I don't even know if anyone ever got any. Somehow just being around her is enough for men shower her with money and gifts, I think its those pretty blue eyes of hers."

"So Clarence, you think this Denton guy would see me?"

Clarence shrugged and pointed to a wagon, "that's his, he has a break soon during the dog and pony show. Suite yourself, he is just gonna punch you again unless you got something to offer. Trust me, once you are on his bad side you gotta give him something special or you're finished here."

Sam looked at him confused, "I don't get it, what do I give him?"

Clarence looked Sam over and smiled, "I think just giving him yourself would be plenty to appease the jerk."

Sam looked around for a calendar, anything to tell him where or when they were stuck. "Clarence this is going to sound odd but where are we and what year is it?"

The man let out a course laugh, "Look Sammy you got to cut out the booze, don't let those old soaks get to yah, nothin' more dangerous than a young guy like you hangin' around with these old school clowns."

He started to walk away and yelled back to Sam, "Figure out what Denton wants and give it to him, it's a damn cold world out there and he's gonna boot your little rear out for that pie thing…hey, maybe give him your cute little rear."

….

Celeste was lounging on Denton's bed waiting for him when he went back for his break before the afternoon show. Denton broke into a smile when he opened the door and saw her there. He quickly pulled off all his pie covered clothes and sat next to her, when he looked closely at her he felt like he was someone else for a second and the pretty gal with the big blue eyes was something else altogether, not human.

Celeste raised an eyebrow and watched him, "What was that look for honey? Its like you didn't know me. Offer a lady a drink why don't you."

Denton handed her a whisky, downed his and quickly poured another, "I don't know angel, for a second I thought you were…never mind." Celeste worked a bare foot between his legs, "So what would you like to do before the afternoon show handsome?"

Denton set down his drink and climbed on top her, he worked down her sheer skirt past her hips until the ace note fell out, he picked it up, crumpled it in his fist and angrily threw it in her face. "What the hell is this Celeste, some rummy paying for the pleasure of your company?"

He got off the bed and poured himself another drink, "How am I supposed to make an honest woman out of you when every heel in this dump of a circus is throwing money and gifts at you?"

Celeste got up on her knees and hugged his waist, "You know they get nothing for that, just the pleasure of my smile. You are my darling and I'm saving myself for you when you decide to put a ring on my finger."

Sam was spying on them through the small window in the wooden door, it was like watching a scene out of an old movie. Castiel and Dean were the characters in this lost in time fiasco, he started to wonder how ridiculous he looked acting as Selene. They seemed to fit in with an old time circus, everything seemed right and at least he wouldn't have to worry about them being found out for awhile.

…

Denton grabbed her by the hair and pushed her back on the bed, "Don't touch me, I heard about Sammy…flirting with him like a painted whore. He's just a kid, a pretty kid but still…I'm not putting a ring on any gal's finger if she's going to break my heart. Maybe I should take a crack at your other eye." He raised his hand and she shirked away. He lowered his hand and she relaxed.

Celeste got up and pressed herself against his beautiful, naked body, "I can be good for you darling I promise." Denton pointed to the door, "Celeste you are no angel and I don't know if you can change."

She started to cry and ran to the door, when she opened it Sam was smacked in the head, he didn't have time to jump off the stairs and fell backwards. He heard her heels on the stairs and the next thing Sam knew she was holding him, "You ok Sammy? What were you doing outside the door, are you nuts or something?" She helped him up and brushed him off, "Come with me kid, I'll take care of you."

Denton watched angrily from the window and punched the wall.

…

From around the corner a large, shadowy figure watched the exotic woman and young man go by, he stepped out from the shadows and his eyes turned from green to black, he took a step and tripped on his oversize shoes. The demon got up and looked at his feet, he scowled, "I fucking hate clowns more than the Winchesters."

TBC