A/N: Ok, this was a little late getting out as it was longer than I'd intended it to be. Those of you who are astute will note the re-use of some of chapter 1 here as this officially brings us back to the beginning. ;) Don't worry, I have PLENTY more in store for our boys and things are only going to get worse before they get better. ;) Heh. In the meantime, please enjoy! As always, thank all of you for the love and support! I am so thrilled at the reception this story has received and I take all feedback seriously so thank you!
After Dean left:
Sam watched as the red glow of the Impala's taillights faded in the distance before turning back to their small motel room. Cas snuggled tightly against the curve of his shoulder and he allowed himself a fond smile as he stroked the angel's hair. While he certainly was going to worry about his brother until Dean returned safely, Sam could also think of worse ways to pass an hour or two than sitting in the quiet of their room with their young friend. He shuffled back inside and made his way over to his bed, flopping down onto the freshly folded sheets and instantly undoing all the maid's hard work. As he leaned back against the headboard and took up the remote with his off hand, Cas scooted around to lay flat against his chest. Sam had to admit that their small angelic friend had certainly developed a taste for being held that he would never have expected from the normally stoic being. He chalked it up to simply being an aspect of childhood that perhaps Castiel had grown out of as he got older. Regardless, Sam was happy to oblige. He flipped idly through a few channels and spent a good hour watching everything from documentaries to local news. It was the latter that finally caught his attention though as a bright red bar flashing "breaking news" streaked across below the smiling face of the anchorwoman who had been talking only moments before about local fashion trends. Her expression dropped to something far more serious as she read aloud the information she'd just been handed.
"This just in. A local man who has not been yet identified was just arrested at Poppy's Tavern on Dishman Mica Road after apparently murdering one of the other patrons. It is unknown at this time what the motive was though we are told he may have been related to his victim. Witnesses say the man seemed to suddenly fly into a rage for no reason and brutally stabbed his companion at the bar without provocation. Three police officers were needed to bring the suspect under control but no other injuries have been reported. We'll bring you more as the investigation continues…"
Sam frowned even as the anchorwoman turned back to local events as if nothing had happened. It could be coincidence but his instincts were screaming that the whole thing seemed off for some reason. The bar in question wasn't terribly far from their small motel and something about a random murder occurring that close to them made him worry. Years of hunting had taught him not to ignore his gut feelings so Sam fished out his cell phone to give Dean a call; better to get a second opinion on whether they should worry about it than to just ignore what might be a bad sign. He punched in the speed dial and waited for a ring but his call was shunted directly to voicemail instead. Sam's frown deepened. Dean knew better than to turn off his phone after Sam specifically asked him to keep it on. He left a brief message and decided to give a quick call right back in case it was just a technical issue.
"Hi. If you know who you're calling, then you know how this works. Leave me a message. If you don't know who this is…then stop calling me." Beep
Sam pulled the phone away and flipped it off without leaving a second message. Something was wrong. A small knot of worry began to settle in his gut and he glanced down at where Cas was comfortably resting. The infant was utterly at ease and that helped drain some of the tension off Sam's shoulders but the feeling was short-lived as a sharp rap sounded at the door a minute later. Castiel's head perked up and he stared intently in that direction as if he could see strait through it to the person on the other side. Sam watched the infant's reactions carefully as he slid from the bed and sure enough as he started toward the door, the delicate wings folded down tight against the child's frame and he cast large concerned eyes up toward his caretaker. Sam hesitated as the knock came again and the angel in his arms shifted nervously, turning his face away from the sound and his wings all but sealing themselves against his skin. Sam turned back instead and fished Castiel's floppy stuffed rabbit out from one of the overnight bags before heading into the bathroom. The sigils he and Dean had painted in there in preparation for Crowley's arrival were still in place and he was intending to take full advantage of them now. He dropped the bunny into the bathtub and then settled the reluctant angel down next to it. Cas turned and immediately glommed onto the toy with a death grip, his face burying into the soft white fur. Sam pulled a few thick white towels down and nestled them around the child even as a third knock sounded with more insistency than before.
Satisfied that the angel was safely ensconced within the protection of several devil's traps, the hunter made his way back over to the door and squinted through the peephole. The maid that had walked in on them earlier that day stood just outside, her impatient expression distorted heavily by the curved glass. Sam glanced back in the direction of the bathroom once more as his hand curled instinctively around the grip of his knife. Castiel hadn't shown any signs of discomfort around the woman when she'd first burst in on them that very morning so his sudden unease around her now didn't bode well and the hunter wasn't taking any chances. He steadied himself and unlocked the door, carefully blocking any view into the room with his own body. The woman's hand dropped from where she'd been reaching to knock again and she smiled sickeningly sweet at him as she gestured toward her cart. "You need cleaning?" she said in thickly accented broken English.
Sam waved her off with a pleasant smile. "No, we're fine. Thanks." He moved to close the door again only to find her hand placed flat against it.
"Towels?" she offered brightly.
Sam tried to keep his expression friendly even as he watched her eyes dart to the small space below his arm that revealed the room behind him. It was obvious she was looking for something and he was pretty sure he knew what already. Weighing his options quickly, he glanced around to make sure no one else was in the area before stepping out of the way to let her enter. She snatched a few fresh towels off the cart outside and bolted into the room with a little too much eagerness for Sam's tastes but he was already formulating exactly how to deal with this unfortunate turn of events and it didn't include letting her get out so she could inform others of their whereabouts. As soon as she entered the room, he calmly snapped the door shut behind her and then hurried to her side as she zipped toward the bathroom, her eyes flicking about with a great deal of interest. She sniffed the air a few times in a way that reminded Sam of a bloodhound and he swallowed down a shudder of disgust. He couldn't be positive yet that his instincts were right but he watched intently as she pushed open the bathroom door and took in all the sigils. Her expression faltered and she clucked her tongue quietly in disapproval but her eyes locked none the less onto the bathtub and the bundle of towels it contained.
"Cristos," Sam uttered from behind her. The woman tore her eyes away from Castiel's hiding spot and she turned slowly to look over her shoulder at him, her eyes flicking black for a moment. "That's what I thought," he said flatly. His hand slammed out and pushed her harshly into the bathroom and straight into the middle of a devil's trap set into the ceiling. She growled at him angrily before turning back toward the tiny form huddled in the bathtub. Her fingers curled claw-like as she reached for the infant only to find the way blocked by not only the edge of her own trap but all the sigils of protection etched along the edge of the tub as well. A frustrated snarl issued from the woman and she began looking about desperately for a way to get out but Sam was already rattling off the Latin exorcisms he'd come to memorize so well over the years and within a matter of minutes she was on her knees screaming as a thick column of black smoke poured from her mouth. As the scream faded away, the maid collapsed to the floor unconscious and Sam dropped down beside her to check her pulse. She was alive. He breathed a sigh of relief at not being forced to take another innocent life and reached over her to snatch Cas up from the tub. It was no longer safe to stay where he was.
Sam laid Cas onto his bed and hurriedly stuffed their belongings back into the small overnight bags they'd brought. He knew he wouldn't be able to take them with him right away but perhaps they could swing back once Dean picked him up. Either way, Sam knew he had to get out of the hotel quickly. Somehow the demons had once again found them and he couldn't take the risk of staying in place without knowing if another horde of hellspawn were converging on his location as they had done at Bobby's. He would be alone trying to defend Castiel and if the demons chose to use humans as their pawns again, then the sigils in the bathroom would offer no protection for the angel. He grabbed his backpack and began throwing a few of Castiel's clothes in it but a sound from outside caught his attention, freezing him in his tracks. Voices were raised in anger though the words were muffled and the sound distant enough to not pose an immediate threat.
Sam none the less moved over to the window and drew aside the curtain just enough to peek through. He could see two men across the street who seemed to have devolved into an all out screaming match at each other as those around them looked on with interest. Suddenly and without warning, one of the two lunged for the other and the pair dropped to the ground in a tangle of swinging arms and legs. The aggressor finally gained the advantage and Sam's mouth opened in mute protest as the other man's head was pounded brutally against the pavement. He wanted to go out there, to stop the senseless violence but he couldn't risk leaving Cas alone and he wouldn't risk taking him near the fight. Instead he was forced to watch helplessly as the beating continued until the victim's body simply went limp. Sam recoiled from the window and ran back over to Cas. He tugged his overshirt off and wrapped it around the infant, almost completely covering him, and then pulled the whole bundle, stuffed bunny and all, into his arms. He'd seen plenty of violence before but experience had taught him the sort of brutal murder he'd just witnessed in the street didn't happen without a reason and when paired with the demon attack as well as the killing that had occurred at the bar up the street, he knew something else had to be behind it all. Considering what Crowley had said about the affects Legion had on those around him, Sam feared the worst. Somehow, the demon had tracked them down and that was one battle he was sure he didn't want to face alone.
The overnight bags were left behind in favor of being as light as possible since Sam had the bad feeling speed was about to become incredibly important. He cradled his friend to his chest and quickly scanned the area for potential threats before ducking outside and hurriedly making his way to the end of the building. The crowd that had gathered across the street were too intent on what had just happened to notice the lone figure slipping into the late afternoon shade afforded by the side of the building and Sam broke into a light jog as soon as he was out of their line of sight. He balanced Cas with one hand and fished his phone back out, quickly jabbing in Dean's numbers as he pressed his back against the rough brick wall. Once again he was greeted only by the static voicemail message and his worry and frustration grew. "Dean, pick up your freakin' phone, man. A demon just possessed our maid and people are killing each other in the street outside our hotel. I…I think Legion might be here. I'm taking Cas and getting out. Not sure where I'll head yet but we need to steer clear of people right now. Just…call me when you get this." He snapped the phone shut with a frustrated huff and tried to tell himself his brother wasn't answering because Dean was Dean and maybe he turned it off just to be spiteful and it certainly couldn't be because something horrible had happened to him and…
Sam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Cas shifted slightly in his arms and he immediately reached up to rub soothingly at the infant's back, carefully avoiding his wings beneath the flannel shirt. As much as he was worried about Dean right then, Cas was in more immediate need of his help and he refocused on just getting to someplace safe that he could hide out. He leaned cautiously around the back corner and then dashed across the small vacant lot behind the motel, picking his way among the strewn beer bottles and sun faded garbage that lay strewn about the pavement. He tucked carefully behind one of the large dumpsters and then slipped through a large hole where the chainlink fence separating the motel from the road behind it curled up like a sheaf of burnt paper. It was an awkward squeeze but he made it through without snagging his clothes or risking injury to the angel in his arms and then dashed down the sidewalk in the direction leading farther out of town. His eyes were constantly on the move as he walked, scanning for any sign of danger, and he placed another two calls to his brother before he finally spotted a sign ahead announcing "Dishman Hills Natural Area". To his left the city continued to sprawl out in endless rows of suburbia but area to his right had given way to a long line of thick trees and heavy underbrush. Sam paused and glanced between the two choices. He could potentially find a place to hole up among the myriad cookie-cutter homes that stretched out along the side of the road and so long as he avoided people, he and Cas would be fairly safe.
The decision was taken out of his hands though as a car rounded a bend behind him and began heading in his direction. Sam took an unwilling step back toward the forest edge. He would have to cross the state road to get to the neighborhood on the other side. As the vehicle approached though, he decided it would be better to wait for it to pass completely and better still if the person in it simply didn't see him or Cas. He turned and threaded his way through the brush and into the safety of the treeline, stopping a few feet in when he felt he was no longer easily visible from the road. The car zipped past and Sam began making his way back up but as he reached the very edge of the trees and could once again clearly see the road, he noticed that the vehicle had stopped up ahead and was turning around. Once more his instincts began rearing up and Sam ducked back down into the woods. He hurried farther in and dropped into a crouch behind a large tree, his ears straining to pick out any sign of the vehicle. It could be nothing, just some tourist with bad directions, he told himself but his hopes were smothered as the car slowed next to where he had slipped into the woodline. Another demon maybe? Cas was staying still and silent against his chest but Sam wasn't sure how close a demon had to be before the angel would be able to sense it. He had no intentions of finding out either.
As soon as he heard the car door open, Sam turned and fled farther into the cool shade of the woods, his mind reeling as he tried to figure out how the demons were finding them. He pressed his precious cargo to his chest and shielded the infant from any low hanging branches as he ran. Behind him he could hear a few twigs snapping signaling that he was definitely being followed. He barreled on as fast as he could, ignoring the snag of brambles against his jeans and t-shirt until he skidded to a stop above a steep ravine. He couldn't risk climbing down with the infant in his arms so Sam turned to his left and raced down along the edge. He chanced a glance back and saw a large man skid to a halt at almost the same place he had. The man turned to look at him, a scowl written over his face, and then headed straight in Sam's direction. Sam tore off again and this time he could feel Cas burrowing into a smaller ball around his stuffed animal. It was all the sign Sam needed to know that his pursuer was indeed a demon. He cussed his luck and wrenched out his knife as he ran.
"Nice trick in the bathroom," he heard the creature behind him scream, "It won't be that easy this time, boy."
Sam cussed aloud. Apparently the demon he'd sent back to hell had somehow spread the message to the ones still up top. Considering how badly all the demons they'd encountered thus far had wanted to get their hands on Castiel, he didn't have a hard time believing that they'd all jump at any news of the angel's whereabouts. If he and Dean were going to keep Cas safe, they were going to have to figure out how the demons were finding them in the first place and put a stop to it. In the meantime though, Sam had a more pressing issue to deal with. He slammed on the brakes and wheeled around, his arm snapping out and the knife flying from his fingertips with laser-like precision. If the demon had expected easy prey, he was going to be sorely mistaken. The blade hit its mark and plunged into the creature's chest. It wasn't sunk all the way but it was enough to do its job none the less and the demon screeched in agony as light flared beneath its skin. The lifeless body tumbled to the ground and for a brief moment, Sam felt bad for the poor bastard who's body had been possessed. He couldn't let that stop him though as the demons would spare him no such mercy.
Sam retrieved his knife and wiped it off on the unfortunate man's jacket. At least this demon wouldn't be going back to hell to spread the word. He pulled back the folds of his shirt some and brushed reassuringly at the angel's hair causing Cas to finally raise his head from where it had been buried in his stuffed rabbit. Large blue eyes blinked up at him and Sam bent his head to place a soft kiss in the infant's hair. The child hadn't even been bathed since all this started and yet somehow he still smelled like fresh linens to Sam. The thought brought a smile back to the hunter's face. Angel babies were definitely easier to care for than human ones. He chuckled lightly and took a step back toward the road but pulled up short when the hair on the back of his neck rose. He couldn't see anything within the shade of the trees that should be cause for alarm but his instincts were once again screaming that he needed to head in the other direction and Sam took a few steps back. The smell of fresh soil met his nose and for some reason it his stomach lurch. He turned and immediately rushed farther away from the road, heading deeper into the nature preserve. As he ran, he kept waiting for someone to burst out of the brush behind him but the path he was blazing belonged only to he and Cas and after a few more minutes he came across a well worn trail that ran further into the woods. Knowing he would make better time out on the nature trail, Sam turned and headed down it at top speed. The way was much easier going and as he ran further in, the heady scent of tilled earth faded and died behind him.
He risked pulling out his cell phone once more and quickly punched in Dean's number again. Still no answer. "Dean, this isn't funny. Turn your damn phone on. I got Cas out of the room but there's still demons on our trail. I don't know how they're finding us but we need to get the hell out of this town. I'm in a nature park right now. I'm heading….south I think. Call me when you get this. Please!"
Sam redialed the number again a few more times, his frustration mounting with each successive call as they went unanswered until he had to stop himself from wanting to throw the damned phone into the woods. The trail he was on wound farther and farther down, skirting along the edge of a deep ravine filled with bright yellow lilies and fragrant bluebells. The sight would have been amazing had Sam not been too preoccupied with the thick knot of worry that was plaguing him. It had been almost an hour and a half since Dean had left and Sam was left wishing his brother would pick up the phone. Sure, he'd be pissed if he found out Dean was ok and had just shut the phone off but it was better than the alternative. Castiel didn't have any such worries though and he perked up from his hiding spot within Sam's shirt to peer around with great interest at the wonders of nature all around them. He freed his wings with a few minutes of struggle made all the more difficult since he wouldn't let go of the bunny with more than one hand and they flicked excitedly as every corner Sam rounded presented them with new views. By the time Sam came to a fork in the trails, he was panting slightly and his t-shirt was soaked through with a healthy layer of sweat. He paused and glanced back over his shoulder in the direction he'd just come but it didn't look like he was being followed anymore. Sam gratefully paused and took the moment to lean against a tree and catch his breath.
Castiel turned to watch him as the hunter tried to slow his breathing. He looked down at the toy clutched tightly in his grip and then back up at his obviously tired protector and after a moment of hesitation the infant held the bunny up in offering, pressing the fluff gently beneath Sam's chin in the hopes it would make him feel better. Sam chuckled softly and pressed the toy back into the angel's arms. "It's ok, Cas. You keep it but thanks anyway." The child smiled shyly at him and pulled the bunny back to himself, chubby little arms wrapping possessively around it as he laid his cheek against the top of its head. Sam gently smoothed down a few wayward locks of dark hair as they curled up in the slight breeze that raced through the trees around them. "We're gonna be ok," he whispered as much to himself as to the infant in his arms, "Dean'll be back soon. He's gonna come get us and then we'll get out of here. Then I'll get ya some more honey or something." Cas nuzzled up against the hand in his hair in response and Sam grinned. He took the respite to give yet another call to Dean who still wasn't answering his phone but Sam left another message anyway updating his brother on their current location. He took another minute to finish resting before pressing on again in the hopes of getting out the other side of the park and back onto a paved road. Dean would need them to be closer to a highway or state access road if he was going to get to them in any timely manner and the sooner they could leave town after Dean found them, the better.
Sam no longer felt the need to run but he didn't take up a leisurely pace either. His concern over Dean's current situation had him rushing to get back to at least some semblance of civilization in the hopes that he could activate his brother's GPS and if need be make his way in that direction. He had gone a good two hundred more feet before that familiar scent of fresh soil hit his nose again and Sam paused as he tried to figure out what about the smell was bothering him so much. There was plenty of dirt around them but something about the scent reminded him of fresh dug graves more than the pleasant odor of warm sun kissed soil. As he stood smelling the air, Cas suddenly went rigid in his his arms and let out a thin strained sound that immediately had Sam on edge. He looked down to find the child staring intently in the direction they'd come from. The boy recoiled from something Sam couldn't see among the relatively innocuous trees and began scrambling to put himself as far as possible from the path behind them. He shifted and scooted toward the middle of Sam's chest forcing the hunter to clutch him tightly lest he fall. In the next heartbeat Sam knew exactly what was bothering the angel as the distant cry of a hound caught his ears. Deep, low, and guttural, the sound was anything but natural and Sam's heart sank. Hellhounds.
He turned and ran headfirst down the nearest trail, his legs pumping as fast as he could go as he tried to put distance between himself and the creatures no doubt hunting him now. Castiel clung even tighter to his shirt and let out a terrified whine when the hounds sounded again in the distance. Sam wrenched his phone back out of his pocket and dialed Dean's number once again. He cursed loudly when all he got was the same answering machine message. The trail seemed to go on for forever, winding in and out among steep ravines, little creeks, and amidst a whole rainbow of flora that bloomed on either side. Two deer turned and fled as Sam burst through the small field they had been grazing in but he barely noticed their presence. The trail curved steadily northward once more and he was making record time flying down it, his long legs eating up distance with every stride. The sound of the hounds grew closer behind him and he risked glancing back in time to see a dark figure slowly advancing through the trees on the other side of the gorge he'd just skirted around. He didn't get a good look but what he did see burned into his mind like a brand. Sharp green eyes had met his own for just a moment, filled with such hate that it had caused a slight falter in Sam's steps. Darkness had swept over his mind like a wet blanket threatening to suffocate him but he tore his eyes away and pushed himself harder to put more distance between himself and the monster behind him.
He blew through another junction without stopping since one way seemed just as valid as another without any map to guide him and continued northward until a set of ponds came into view. The reeds were thick around the edge and algae formed a bright green carpet over most of the shallow water. Sam rushed headlong for one of them and slipped into the chilly water. Mud sucked at his shoes as he waded through them and headed for a large open drainage pipe poking out from a steep bank that fed into the larger of the two ponds. If he were lucky, the heady smells of the lake would mask his own and hide both he and Cas from the hounds. He would never outrun them, not with Cas in his arms, and he needed to give them a little breathing space. He slogged his way through even as the sound of the baying creatures grew louder and almost dropped Cas when his foot caught on a submerged tree stump. Finally though he made it to the relative safety of the pipe and crawled inside. He scooted in until he was far enough away from the opening to remain hidden.
"It's gonna be ok," Sam urged in whispered tones as he drew in tighter around the trembling bundle in his arms. Small fingers curled into the soft material of his t-shirt and he tried not to think about how dirty and grungy that t-shirt was honestly as he scooted further into the open pipe he was currently hiding in. Sweat, mud, and algae were plastered to his clothes and as he looked at the bunny his friend was clinging to, he could see it would need to be replaced since its lower half was not a dingy brown. He gently tugged on the oversized plaid shirt Castiel was wrapped in and carefully tucked it up around his friend's shoulders to hide the soft glow of light that surrounded the tiny appendages protruding from his back. He couldn't risk the light catching the wrong sort of attention and giving them away despite the fact that he hated covering the little wings. It was the only set of actual angel's wings he'd ever seen or ever would for that matter and he had come to enjoy the sight. He drew out his phone and once again called Dean. ""Dean, where the hell are you? Legion's right behind us! I can't stay hidden forever. Please, man, please pick up," the cry of the hounds interrupted him and Sam knew he didn't stand much chance of staying hidden from them for long. "Oh god…..Dean….hurry…"
The cry of the hounds drew closer and Sam tried to soothe his friend the best he could as he waited to see what would happen. He drew his knife out and turned to put himself as much as possible between Cas and the hellhounds. The baying turned to snarls and growls punctuated by deep barks but the monsters appeared to have stopped at the edge of the lake where Sam had disappeared. He held his breath and waited but they didn't get closer. The smell of soil once again permeated the dank air around him and Sam found himself willing down the urge to vomit as his stomach lurched again. He pushed at the welling mix of confusing emotions which began rearing in his head, anger, despair, and fear all waging a war for dominance, but they were far easier to cast aside with the tiny angel pressed against him and Sam was able to maintain control. The sound of approaching footsteps had Sam scooting silently into the darkness around him, sliding ever further into the dank pipe he was hiding in. His jeans were soaked with water, his hands shaking with the cold of the air below ground, but the point of light in all of that darkness was Castiel, who wordlessly shifted to let Sam carry him farther away from danger. The child radiated heat in a way that reminded Sam of sitting in a window in summertime with the sunlight pouring over him and it renewed his silent vow that he'd die before he let the demons get to his friend. "Damn it, Gabriel," Sam muttered under his breath. Perhaps it wasn't fair to lay the blame for this odd situation squarely on the archangel's shoulders since the demon's arrival wasn't his fault, but Castiel's current condition certainly was and that was good enough for Sam. If Gabe hadn't gone and gotten himself kidnapped, Cas would be back to normal already and the four of them together could easily take care of anything hell had to throw at them. He half wondered if Dean was going to kill Gabe when he finally got to him.
The footsteps halted above him and Sam stopped breathing entirely as he willed the monster to pass them by. The air was so thick with the smell of earth that it was almost choking and Sam looked on horrified as the reeds at the opening of the pipe all withered and died. The algae faded brown and even the moss growing around the edges of the pipe wilted and shriveled. He half expected those horrible eyes to appear and lunge into the pipe after him but nothing happened. The air around him suddenly erupted in a crack of thunder and a flare of light so bright it was almost blinding. The atmosphere became electrified and from his precarious spot in the wet tunnel, Sam could see dangerous arcs of lightening singing the edge of the pond. In the next breath it was gone along with the cry of the hounds and the smell of soil leaving Sam waiting for the other shoe to fall. After a few long minutes Cas began to stir and unfolded himself a bit from where he'd been curled. The infant looked up at him just as perplexed as he was but Sam wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and he crept back to the entry of the pipe. There was no sign of the hounds and as he came up to the top of the bank he saw no sign of the demon either save for a large brown ring where all the grass had died. Scorch marks like those he'd seen in their hotel room were burnt in thin ribbons on the ground a few feet away but there was no sign of what had caused them. Perhaps Dean had managed to reach an angel and had gotten his messages for help but it seemed strange that there was no battle, no sounds of struggle and no attempts to locate him afterwards. Sam wasn't about to argue the point though and he took the opportunity to make a break for it anyway.
He ran for the trails on the other side of the ponds and headed down them at break-neck speed. He'd barely entered the woods on the other side when he once again heard the hounds start up. "Oh you have GOT to be kidding me," Sam huffed in frustration. He couldn't figure out why the demon would call off the chase just to put it back in motion again though it was possible it had escaped whoever had interrupted it last time but Sam had little time to think it over as the cries once more headed in his direction. Suddenly the wafting notes of music hit his ears and it took Sam a minute to realize that it was his phone. He tugged the device loose as he ran and flipped it open, relief flooding him as Dean's worried voice came over the line.
"Sam? Where are you? You ok?" Dean called frantically over the phone.
"NO, I'm NOT ok, Dean! Where the hell have you been? I've got hellhounds on my ass and I think Legion is here! I'm in the nature area. How fast can you get here?" Sam shouted as he ran. It was harder to run with a phone to his ear and a child in his arms but he pressed himself to keep his current pace.
"I'm not more than five to ten minutes from you. I'm on my way now. Just keep running. I've got your GPS turned on and if you keep heading west you should get back to a highway. I'll meet you there."
"Make it five, Dean. I can't stay hidden from the hounds for long," Sam panted as he came upon yet another fork in the road. The trail diverged north and south instead of east and west leaving him guessing which way to go. He chose the path southward and ran down it as the hounds closed in behind him.
"I'll make it five," Dean confirmed and Sam could hear the Impala's engine rev even higher as his brother stepped on the gas, "you just keep your ass alive till I get to you, ok?" There was a tightness to Dean's voice that belied his worry but there was little Sam could do to alleviate it since he was pretty damn worried himself.
"Trust me, I'm trying." Sam snapped his phone shut and turned his attentions fully back to just keeping one step ahead of the monsters tailing him. He stumbled as his foot caught on an uneven rock sending him to the ground in a tangled heap but he managed to turn in his attempt to keep Castiel from getting hurt and took the brunt of the fall instead on his back and side. The impact hurt like hell and knocked the wind from him, eliciting a squeak from Cas as well that indicated he'd been squeezed a bit too tightly when the hunter fell, but Sam didn't stay down for long. He rolled right back to his feet and pointedly ignored the pain lancing through his hip and into his ribs. He was sure he'd be bruised in the morning but it was a far cry better than being torn to shreds right then. The chase seemed to drag on forever and Sam was beginning to think he'd gone the wrong direction when the dirt trail gave way to pavement. It led in a thin black ribbon toward a lighter section of woods where the trees thinned considerably and Sam threw what little energy he had left into pushing through those last few kilometers into the clearing beyond. As he pushed through the last of the trees he saw the familiar and all too welcome sight of the Impala idling by the side of the road. Sam forced his tired and bruised body to close the distance between him and salvation as Dean burst forth from the vehicle and raced toward him. He wanted to tell his brother to get back in the car but his burning lungs had given up on trying to gain enough air to form words and all he managed was a tired wheeze.
Dean wrenched the back door open and Sam gratefully collapsed into the back seat. He felt his legs being shoved unceremoniously out of the way and he was pretty sure he heard his brother mutter something about "freakishly tall" before the door slammed shut behind him. Dean climbed back into the driver's seat and floored the gas sending the Impala lurching forward in a haze of burnt rubber and smoke. Castiel was still clinging tightly to Sam's chest and he let out another displeased squeak as the car was thrown violently into gear. Sam looked down to check if the infant was alright and was met with the sight of a shocked and somewhat frazzled angel whose thick locks were sticking out in every conceivable direction. Dirt and sweat marred the normally smooth ivory skin of his tiny face and Sam moved to wipe it away only to realize his own hands were far from clean. The two of them were a right mess and he decided that bathtime was definitely in order once he could convince his heart to stop trying to escape from his throat.
Dean floored the gas pedal as he put the park behind him. He'd heard the cries of the hounds and wasn't about to risk them catching up. As he looked in the rearview mirror though, it wasn't hounds that met his eyes. There, standing like a statue in the middle of the road, was a lanky looking man with vibrant red hair hanging in a limp curtain all the way down to his shoulders. His face was a twisted mask of utter hate and his eyes were so vivid green they almost seemed to glow. Pale skin stretched over muscle and bone so tightly it made the man look more like a dried husk than a person and ragged clothing hung in tatters from his skeletal form. Dean found his breath catching unpleasantly and he tore his eyes from the man to concentrate on keeping the car on the road. He hadn't been formally introduced but it didn't take a genius to figure out who he'd just seen watching them drive away and the hunter was determined to put as much distance between them and the demon as possible. As he rounded a corner and headed for the winding streets of the city once more, Dean chanced looking back again only to find the road behind them utterly empty.