Chapter 14

Hunter instinct kicked in making Dean wake suddenly searching for a weapon as he surveyed the room for danger. He spotted Castiel sitting on the bed starting intently at him.

"I didn't want to wake you; I know you both needed sleep." Castiel explained when he saw Dean was awake.

'How long was I out?" he grumbled slipping Oree the rest of the way off his chest so he could sit up.

"A few hours or so."

"Did you find out anything?"

"A little. The way stations can be entered by one being, reapers. They pick up the souls and ferry them on to Heaven. We need to find a reaper and see if they will help us."

"I think I might just know of one. Let me call Bobby and see if he can find a spell to summon one." Dean commented grabbing his jacket and searching the pockets for his cell phone. Dean speed dialed Bobby waiting for the older hunter to answer.

"H'llo." a gruff male voice answered.

"Bobby, its Dean."

"'bout time ya called me. Yer sister was on the war path huntin' you two idjits."

"I know she's with me. It's Sam, something's happened to him."

"Balls!" he grumbled. "I knew it wurn't a good idea you two jacklegs goin' off on yer own."

"Yeah, yeah. I need your help; can you look through your books for a spell to summon and bind a reaper, get the ingredients together and meet us at Oree's?"

"Not asking for much are ya?"

"Bobby." Dean groaned.

"Don't worry son, I got yer back. I'll be there as soon as I find the spell and get the things together."

"Thanks Bobby. Asteria is at Oree's; we'll get there as soon as we can."

"I'll see you there." Bobby ended hanging up.

spn

"Bobby will meet us at Oree's. As soon as she's ready to travel, we're heading back there." Dean told him. "Did you find out anything 'bout the creature?"

"Not really, only that it's older than most of us. I found one who remembered beings with enormous power that were entrapped in some sort of parallel plane for the safety of mankind. They were called Nameless Ones because no one would acknowledge their existence. Over time they were forgotten about. He didn't know much more than that. I guess this one somehow escaped."

"It's more than we did know. Hopefully when Oree wakes up she can fill us in on what she saw." Dean said looking over at his bed and his sleeping sister. "Did your researcher have any idea how to kill these things?"

"Sorry, he didn't know any more."

"I need coffee." Dean mumbled heading for the kitchen to start a pot. He stood by the counter with his arms crossed waiting for it to finish making. Castiel remained on the bed keeping a watch over Oree. Dean noticed that he seemed overly protective of her since he had been with them. He wanted to get Castiel alone and question him about the two of them and see what he said.

He turned to the coffee pot when he heard it click off so he could pour a cup. His attention was diverted to the bed as Oree started to stir.

spn

Oree moaned softly looking for the warmth that had disappeared. She began to make herself wake up looking around to see where she was.

"Aurora, how do you feel?" Castiel asked switching to sit on her bed beside her.

"Angel, I'm better, could you get me some water?" she asked coughing trying to clear her dry throat.

"Of course." he replied getting up and looking for water in the fridge. He found a bottle and took it to her. "Here you go."

"Hey kid, good to see you up." Dean commented not wanting to push her too hard.

"Give me a minute and I'll tell you." she told him not waiting for him to ask. Castiel helped her position the pillows behind her so she could sit up and sip the water. The water tasted so good and moistened her parched throat taking some of the sour taste away. It was several minutes before she felt able to talk.

"What did you see?" Dean asked her sitting on the other bed facing her.

"What happened to Sam was because of me. This creature wants me, well it wants my powers. The missing people were absorbed to give it strength and to lure me there. It ripped Sam's soul from his body and threw it through some type of shimmering opening and it closed behind him. It was a trick to get me there." she explained to Dean and Castiel who let her talk without interrupting.

"If it wants you that bad, why didn't it attack you when we were there?" Dean asked knowing his sister well enough to know she wasn't telling them everything. This bothered him, but he knew she couldn't be forced into revealing anymore than she would.

"It wants me stronger before taking me. It wants freedom to destroy the world." she finished softly.

"Well, we just don't let you go anywhere near that place again." Dean stated strongly.

"Won't work that easily. It knows we will try to kill it, it will continue to take people until I return. I can't let that happen."

"I'll fight it." Dean decided.

"You can't, it would use you against me."

"I could try to kill it." Castiel offered.

"You wouldn't stand a chance Angel. This creature would tear you apart. No, I have to face it and stop it."

"No, hell no." Dean growled getting up from the bed to pace. "First, we're heading home and summoning a reaper to get Sam's soul back. Then we'll figure something out to stop this creature." Dean told her. "You think you can travel?"

"Yes, but how do we get Sam?"

"I happen to know a reaper. We just have to get her to help." Dean told her as he began to gather their things. "Cas, you can drive Sam's car and follow me back."

"Alright." he answered moving so Oree could get up. "Do you need assistance packing?"

"Could you get my bathroom bag?" she asked him taking her bag to add clothes to it. Castiel came out of the bathroom with her bag and handed it to her. She thanked him and put it in the top of her bag. "Make sure you get all of Sam's research, we might need it."

"Put those dirty clothes in the bathroom in a garbage bag and tie them up. They can go in your car." Dean instructed him.

It didn't take them long to get their bags packed and in the car ready to leave. Oree did one last look around before joining them by the cars. She looked from one to the other trying to decide who to ride with. She knew Dean would be hurt if she didn't ride partway with him.

"Angel, I'll ride with Dean until we stop for gas and switch and ride with you."

"As you wish." Castiel said getting in the car waiting on them to start. He felt slightly sad Aurora wasn't riding with him, but knew her reasoning.

Dean and Oree got in the Impala and headed home with Castiel following behind in the other car. Oree settled in the passenger seat pulling her coat tightly around her. She let her gaze stare out the window at the passing scenery that flew by. Her eyes grew heavy as the rocking of the car and the familiar purring of the engine begin to put her to sleep. Dean looked over at her as her head sunk to her chest and back up.

"Hey, stretch out and get some more rest." Dean offered pulling her down so her head rested on his leg for a pillow. She curled her hands under her chin and let sleep overtake her mind. Dean brushed her hair from her face letting a finger caress her cheek. He wanted to ask her about Castiel, but knew she needed sleep more than conservation and he would rather not be driving when he did. Dean drove on in silence absently listening to the soft music flowing out of the speakers. He kept an eye on Castiel to be sure he was still behind him and wasn't having any problems.