Hunter of the Shadows
Title taken from a line in Metallica's 'The Thing That Should Not Be'
Chapter 11
WARNING: ultimate cuteness lies ahead. May make you go all silly.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
It's foggy.
The sound of water moving, sloshing about, and something's being banged lightly against... something else.
Then,
"Oh shit! Sorry!" Something that looks like a washcloth wipes the fog away to reveal a relaxed looking Dean, wallowing in the bath.
There's bubbles. Everywhere, including on Dean's head, ears, chin, and a small splodge on his nose.
He's grinning widely, possibly for the first time in days.
"Gotta love a hot bath, huh? I used to prefer showers, but man these are good!" A waggle of the eyebrows suggests his reasons aren't all that innocent.
A loud snort, followed by a snuffling from the next room, and Dean rolls his eyes.
"Jeez, that kid could snore for Kansas!" he mutters, and closes his eyes in bliss, the large back-scrubber held over a shoulder by his right hand, and his other hand pours soapy water over an impressive set of pecks, hard muscles gleaming in the soft bathroom light.
"So, as I was saying..."
And many a woman might be impressed at the guy's ability to multi-task, but not without going blind with lust.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Back in the past...
To my surprise, I did manage to sleep, and woke up a couple of hours later feeling groggy and cold. The balcony windows were still open and the smell of silver had definitely dissipated. Tobius was nowhere in sight though I could hear him rummaging around in the kitchen.
Sam looked terrible, sweat pouring down his pale face and saturating the sheets. Occasionally his eyes would open, flashing silver-blue-green, glowing like tiny LEDs as his head thrashed from side to side. Sam's eyes were clearing and the paralysis was releasing its hold on him, but he was obviously still in a lot of pain; small whimpers rising and falling in volume, between feverish groaning and muttering. Looking back, I think Sam was also suffering some quite vivid hallucinations at the time, though now he doesn't remember much about it. He called out for John once or twice, but when he started screaming out my name, begging me to come home, to come back to him, I honestly thought my heart was falling to pieces. No amount of reassurance or comfort was getting through; the kid was locked down too tightly in his delirium. All I could do was climb onto the bed and hold him, hoping like hell this wouldn't last too long.
Another few hours and I realised I could hear his thoughts, fluttering weakly on the surface of his consciousness.
Dean... Deeeaannnnn!!!!
Ssshhh Sammy. I'm here.
Don't go... please... don't leave me again... I'll be good I promise... just don't go...
Not leaving ya, kiddo. Never leaving you.
That was good news, the best we'd had all day. The sun was sliding down the sky and evening was soon upon us, turning the horizon beyond the window a warm red that reflected off Sam's face and gave him a healthy glow. It wasn't real, at least not yet. Sam had a long way to go before he truly recovered, if our experiences with Tobius' own silver wound were anything to go by.
In fact, it took several more days before Sam regained consciousness enough to talk, but only for limited periods. He exhausted easily and spent most of his time sleeping.
"I've brought him some beef broth," Tobius approached the bed with a tray holding a large bowl that steamed, and the aroma made my mouth water. "Try to get him to eat some; he needs the iron."
With a small smile and a nod I tried to wake the kid up.
"Sammy? Come on, time to eat something."
"Hmmm?" An eye cracked open, the pupil still that weird faded silver but at least he could make out blurred shapes and shadows. "Wha...?"
"Food." I tapped his cheek when it looked like he was about to drift off again. "Now kiddo, before it gets cold."
"'Kay." Sam struggled into a sitting position with my help and leaned heavily on the headboard.
It was Sam's first real solid meal since Gordon abducted him, and I worried it might make him sick. But the broth actually slipped down easy for him and helped settle his stomach. He didn't seem to mind me feeding him like a baby, he probably didn't really notice or understand and was too hungry by that point anyhow. You can imagine our relief that he was actually eating at last, even enjoying the food and asking for some bread, but he only made it halfway through the bowl before exhaustion caught up, and Tobius saved him from landing face down in the hot broth.
The paralysis took longer to dissipate completely, lingering for some time in his lower body, and it was weeks before his eyesight was fully restored. Sam had to suffer a lot of indignities during that time; carried around until he could move his legs, being bathed by either myself or his grandfather, spoon fed broth or soup until he was ready to consume solid food. And the part that made me so damn proud?
He didn't complain once. Sam was in pain most of the time but never mentioned it; only the set of his mouth and the strain around his eyes gave it away. On a bad day his eyes glowed a strange red-blue-purple colour, the light pulsing and throbbing as his body continued the readjustment. Tobius relented on the pain killers mainly because Sam's metabolism had been affected so harshly by the silver that he was going through something akin to withdrawal.
All this took me back to when Sam was a baby, but even I couldn't bring myself to tell him that; he would have been mortified. In a way it was kinda cool that I'd looked after him when he was so little, reminding me that, in many ways, I hadn't missed out on all the fatherly duties. Not at all, in fact.
It meant that Sam was one hundred percent mine.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I'm sorry Dean.
I glanced up from the TV to find Sam watching me from the bed. He could see well enough but only in black and white, and he couldn't stand on his own two feet yet, tired easily, and often needed support to sit up properly at meal times.
What the hell you got to be sorry for? I frowned at him, my mind a complete blank.
For telling Gordon about... well... you know...
He shrugged and looked away.
Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that.
The bastard tortured you, Sammy, he didn't give you a choice. It wasn't your fault. But I had an apology of my own to make. And I'm sorry I yelled at you. Had no right to do that, not when you were so sick.
Sam, look at me?
He clearly didn't want to so I got up and sat on the edge of his bed.
"You were delirious, poisoned and badly injured." Running a hand through his hair, I gently tugged his head round to face me. "It's ok. I'm just glad you're alive and getting stronger each day. S'all I care about, dude."
He blinked at me and let out a small gasp.
"Sam? You ok?" Frantically searching his face to find the source of trouble, I could feel my worry levels kick in again. "Sammy?"
"I..." He shook his head then suddenly cried out, face scrunching up in pain.
Dean... my hands...
His hands were no longer... hands. Claws sprang out, black spongy pads forming behind them and dark red fur had already grown. Sam stared at them, held out in front of him, and began hyperventilating.
Oh God! Dean! Help me!
Easy Sammy!
He was changing. I couldn't tell you why, but I just knew this would be his first full change. My baby boy was finally going to do it! You can't imagine how proud I felt, but now wasn't the time for celebrations, not when Sam was freaking out.
Breathe deep and slow, stay calm and just let go.
I sat back, pulling the covers with me, and began helping him out of his PJs.
It's gonna be fine Sam. Just relax your muscles like we told you.
"Dean? Everything ok in here?" Tobius halted just inside the doorway, a small grin forming. "Is he...?"
I nodded.
"His hands went just now, like..." I snapped my fingers "Poof! Like a rabbit from a magician's hat."
Not helping Dean!
Sam's nose gave a sudden pop! and sprouted outwards, and he yelped loudly. Tobius and I had a hard time not laughing as Sam went cross-eyed trying to stare down at his newly formed snout.
"Oh God... oh no... ohnonononono... SHHHHHIIIIITTTT!!!!!"
Next thing we knew, a young, half-grown puppy with soft chestnut coloured fur sticking up in all directions, and a decidedly mournful expression on its little face was staring up at us from the bed. Head tilted to one side, familiar blue-green eyes glowed brightly and a long pink tongue hung out beneath his black wet nose, as he panted softly.
"Sammy, you... you..." In truth, Sam looked completely and utterly adorable.
Don't you fucking dare say it!
Even Tobius was taken aback by the sheer force behind that thought. He cleared his throat and gave me a quick glare, a warning to not make fun of the little guy.
How do you feel Sam?
The pup rose on shaky legs then slumped back down.
Weak, but otherwise ok I guess. Sam huffed miserably through his muzzle and fixed me with the patented Sam Winchester Puppy Dog EyesTM.
How do I look? And he seemed genuinely worried about it. I don't look stupid do I?
No Sammy, anything but. You look just as you're supposed to. I couldn't resist it and reached out a hand to stroke his soft silky ears, almost expecting him to snap at me for the unwanted intrusion on his personal space, but instead he leaned into the touch then shuffled over to me on his tiny butt, shaggy tail wagging nineteen to the dozen, and curled up on my lap.
Thanks Dean. Sam sounded better already.
I hate to break this up but Sam's needs a thorough medical. Sam tilted his head towards Tobius inquiringly. His grandfather smiled, placing a hand under Sam's muzzle. As much as I am very pleased and highly relieved youngster, you're still sick and I want to make sure you're ok.
Sam responded by swiping his tongue up Tobius' nose, and the older werewolf chuckled loudly.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
He really gave Sam the works, checking his eyes, which were completely clear, his nose, teeth, ears, heartbeat, and, to Sam's fury...
Nuhuh! Sam squirmed in his grandfather's grasped, small teeth nipping gently as he tried to escape. You are NOT shoving that thing in my ass!
"I just want to check your temperature," Tobius stated reasonably, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh. "Now, raise your tail youngster... really, Sam. Even your father didn't whine this much."
He grinned at my malevolent glare. Bastard!
No way! Sam tried to make a break for it, but still being weak from the poisoning, combined with four legs he wasn't used to, had him almost pitching head first off the bed. I caught him easily before he could cause any more damage, and gently dumped the pup back down on the mattress.
Tobius and I smirked as I held him still between us. Sam actually clenched his eyes shut and grimaced, his small body quivering with embarrassment.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
"Well, all I can say is that your body got fed up with waiting, and made the decision for you." Tobius packed away the stethoscope then wrapped Sam up in a big hug, the surprised pup burying a cold wet nose in his grandfather's neck. "The minute the silver was finally out of your system, the process began, preparing you for the change."
So, I'm gonna get stronger right? I'm getting sick and tired of being sick!
I laughed and gave his soft tail a gentle tug.
"You'll be fine Sammydawg." That earned me a powerful glare that just looked so damned comical on a puppy. "You wanna look in the mirror, Sam? See what you look like?"
Tobius set him back on the bed and the youngster's head drooped, pointy ears twitching slightly.
Uh... not sure I'm ready for that yet.
I studied him for a moment. There goes that self-confidence issue raising its ugly head again.
"Tell you what, how 'bout I change and we both look in the mirror together huh?" Maybe seeing what he'd look like when he'd fully grown would help. At least that was the theory.
Sam looked undecided, and it amazed me just how expressive he was even in this form.
"Could be fun, ya know." I leaned over and put an arm round him, pulling him close. "I can help you get used to walking on four legs."
He still didn't look convinced but he went with it anyhow, and whilst I was busy changing Tobius left the room, only to reappear a few moments later carrying a heavy old mahogany full length mirror, which he set down by the bed.
Sam stared.
See? What dya think Sammy? I watched him anxiously.
Sam just stared.
Pretty cool huh?
The pup was still staring, like he was in shock or something.
I mean, you look...
He cut me off with a pitiful wail... ridiculous! Dean I'm a joke!
Ok, that genuinely surprised me, until I very quickly figured it out. Sam thought this was it, that this was his wolf form for life. And I so wanted to laugh, but Sam wasn't too receptive to humour right then, was even refusing to look at himself any longer, just stared down at his paws sadly.
Sammy, you're not a joke.... ya just got some growing to do is all. I nudged him with my nose, nibbling gently at one of his ears, parental instincts' taking over as I automatically checked him for flees, which was really stupid given he'd only just changed, but I couldn't help it. You're just a baby... a puppy. And I'm so proud of you kiddo. 'Cos you're gonna grow big and strong, just like me.
Sam raised sorrowful eyes. You think so? I'm not gonna be stuck like this every time I change? Looking like a dork? He sounded like a shy eight year old instead of the confident teenager he should have been.
Nope. Though a small selfish part of me hoped like hell he'd never grow up; he was just so darn cute like this. Werewolf years work differently to dog years. As a human you're fifteen years old, but as a wolf that puts you at about eighteen months, and that difference quickly alters the older you get.
Sam snuffled and shifted his weight, gazing into the mirror, and eyed himself critically. Okkkkayyy... I s'pose.
Tobius snorted softly, hiding a grin even as he reached down and gently wiped some sleepy-gunk from the corners of Sam's eyes.
"Are you two quite finished admiring yourselves?" He asked with a light smirk. "Or is the Sam and Dean Mutual Appreciation Society not ready to adjourn as yet?"
Sam's tail thumped the bed in a steady beat. Blue-green eyes peered innocently up at his grandfather. A short recess for food?
I sat up eagerly. I second that!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Authors Notes:
So there we have a puppy Sam. And wasn't he just too cute? A slightly shorter chapter than you guys are used to, but I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Kind regards,
ST xxx