Chapter 19

The routine was becoming extremely boring to Sam. Now that Esmee was gone, he had no one to talk to. The few others that were here didn't seem too friendly or wanted to converse. Sam continued his searching through the old tomes hoping to find some clue to help him get home.

He was beginning to have doubts about Nathan's intentions now. He said he was helping, but Sam thought something didn't seem right. Nathan was starting to avoid his questions with vague answers that only led him to more questions. It was like he didn't want him to find answers, that he wanted him to remain here.

Sam didn't know how many days had passed since Esmee had moved on. The light was fading some indicating night was coming. Sam hated this place. He wanted to see a night that was actually dark, void of light, pitch black. Sighing to himself, he made his way to his room to try and rest, if you could call it that. These days it seemed his mind never quieted long enough for him to find peace to sleep.

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It was several hours later that Sam was waken by a hand being clamped across his mouth to silence him. He started to take a defensive stance when soft words reached his ears causing him to stop.

"Your sister and brother sent me to bring you home." a female voice whispered to him. "Don't yell out or fight."

Sam nodded into her hand as he sat up when she removed it. He looked at her in the dim light and recognized her face.

"Tessa?"

"Yes, we need to go."

"Sounds good to me." Sam replied reaching down to get his boots and slip them on. He grabbed his shirt and jacket from the chair and followed Tessa from his room.

Tessa quietly led Sam out of the hotel and around the side of the building toward the large meadow in back of the place. She walked quickly wanting to get to the trees and away from this open area. Sam kept pace with her as they stepped into the woods. Tessa didn't slow her pace as they worked their way deeper into the forest. After several hours of steady walking and jogging, Tessa came to a halt looking around the area carefully.

"How did you find me?" he asked finally able to get close enough to talk to her.

"Your sister and I think her angel friend, Castiel." she replied pulling a folded paper from her pocket.

"My brother?" he questioned cautiously.

"He was the one who summoned me, the oaf, it's a wonder Death didn't slay him then and there. It was your sister who turned the tables. She is a strong one that girl is."

"Yeah, I guess she is. Why did we have to sneak out of the hotel? Why didn't we talk to Nathan?"

"Let's just say some angels like to collect unusual things and you are one of a kind. He didn't want to share." she explained to him.

"I thought he was acting strange." Sam nodded. "How are we getting out of here?"

"We have to find another portal, an opening to your world." she said looking closely at the paper and then the area around them again. "Come, we need to keep moving."

Sam got up and fell in step behind her as she continued to trek deeper still into the woods. The light was dimming as the branches of the trees cut off its filtration. The surroundings around him were cast in dark shadows making him on edge and wary. He kept an eye and ear out for any sounds or sights that shouldn't be there. The sound was easy since there didn't seem to be real noises in this place. That only made him that much more cautious, he didn't want to stay in this place any longer than necessary.

One day pasted into another as they pushed onward, Sam wondering just how big this place was and if they were ever going to find the borders of it.

Sam accepted the bottle of water offered to him and drank a long swallow before handing it back. He knew it wasn't necessary for him to survive here, but it just automatic for him.

"How much father is it?" he asked breaking the silence between them.

"Not much further, maybe several more days, its close, I can feel it drawing me there." she said looking off to the south along the rim of the next hill. She wanted out of this place, it gave off strange vibrations and there was an undertone about the place she didn't like. "Let's go, I want rid of this place."

"Sounds good to me, the sooner we're out of here, the sooner I can get home."

"Yes, you must be returned to your body, your role is yet to come." she stated moving quickly into the brush.

Sam was puzzled by her words, but didn't have time to ask her what she meant. He hurriedly followed after her before he lost her in the brush. Tessa didn't bother looking back knowing Sam would keep up without being told. She pushed them hard, only stopping for a few minutes at a time as they continued on.

On the morning of the third day Tessa came to a stop at the edge of the woods. She took the paper out once again and conferred to the map drawn on it being sure she had found the right spot. They only had one chance at this and she didn't want to mess it up. Everything was riding on her now, she had to complete this task, and Sam Winchester must be returned to his world and his body.

"We are here." she declared at last.

"What now?" he asked sitting down on a fallen tree, glad to be off his feet, but not really feeling the ache he should after the traveling they had done.

"You will have to trust me from now on, this body can not cross over, and I am going to remove it." she explained looking him directly in the eye.

"I-I don't understand."

"Two bodies can not exist in the same plane, this body you have now, can not make the crossing. Sam you must close your eyes, and remember I will not harm you." she said as she walked toward him. Sam stood as she approached him unsure but knowing he had to trust her. He closed his eyes, standing very still as he felt her present draw nearer.

Tessa began to mumble in an ancient language Sam did not know, as she plunged her hand into his chest.

"Keep them closed, look in on yourself, your journey is almost over." she encouraged him digging deeper, and cupping a brilliant, glowing, sphere of energy that pulsed multi-shades of color and hue. She cupped it lovingly close to her body before stowing it in the leather bag she carried.

With the soul safely in place, she walked on toward a small clearing where she felt the trembling in the air. The air grew colder the nearer she drew to the thinning.

"What are you doing?" Nathan demanded as he appeared in the clearing.

"I am returning the soul you tried to keep here."

"That was mine!" he cried out reaching to stop her.

"No, he was not yours to keep, this soul's journey is not over, he must be returned." Tessa ordered. "You will not stand in my way, it has been decreed."

Nathan growled madly, but disappeared from her sight in the blink of an eye. Tessa turned back to the thinning stilling herself for the crossover as she stepped into the void between the planes letting her senses guide her on the right path to the right world.

The air around her popped and sizzled and the pressure pushed in on her as she pushed back finally able to break free of its grasp. Tessa stumbled into the hot, humid atmosphere of a bog. She looked around quickly getting her bearings before stepping toward firmer land and safety.

"Castiel I have found him and am through." Tessa said sending out a silent message to the angel. She looked around the area seeing the beauty and the mystery of the place.

"I am here." Castiel replied appearing with a swish of feathers at her side.

"Good, I have fulfilled my task, you must return his soul, he plays a major role in the future." she told him before handing him the bag. "Guard it well."

"With my life." he solemnly swore taking the bag and bowing to her before leaving. "Thank you for your help, it will not go unrewarded."

Tessa looked on for a moment and disappeared knowing there were many that needed help crossing over and her list was growing. Death would not be happy if she didn't get back to her duties.