Chapter 20

Dean and Oree waited in Sam's bedroom with his body waiting for the return of Castiel. They knew Tessa had made it through because she had called to Castiel. Asteria and Bobby had gone for supplies knowing there was nothing they could do and wanted to keep busy.

"Pacing is not going to bring him back any quicker." Oree noted as Dean paced from one wall to the other.

"It's how I stay calm." he replied glancing over at her sitting cross legged on the bed beside Sam's body. "How long has he been gone?"

"Not long." she answered looking at her watch.

Both heard the displacement of air and the swish of feathers as Castiel appeared at the foot of the bed. Oree saw the bag first and sat up taller.

"You have it?"

"Yes, if you will both leave, I will return his soul."

"Why do we have to leave?"

"It may be painful and not something you want to see, please." Castiel told her looking to Dean for support.

"Come on kid, Cas knows what he's doing; let's go get something to drink." Dean told her pulling her off the bed, putting an arm around her and leading her out of the room. Oree took one more quick look behind her as Dean closed the door.

Dean took her to the kitchen and pulled a bar stool out for her to sit down. She reluctantly took a seat and watched him move around her kitchen filling the pot with water, pulling mugs from the cabinet and looking for tea.

"Next cabinet over." Oree said.

"Any one in particular?" he asked as a piercing scream echoed from the bedroom. He looked up as his body stiffened and he forced himself to remain still and not run for the bedroom. Every fiber of his body was protesting that he should be racing back to the bedroom and to Sam. It took all his will power to stay in the kitchen.

"Damn!" Oree cringed as another scream followed on the previous dying one. She bit her lip as tears brimmed her eyes, one silently making its way down her cheek.

Dean walked around the bar and pulled her into his arms holding her tight. She accepted his strong embrace and fisted his shirt in her small hands. A jolt of pain shot through her body taking her breath away so suddenly she couldn't draw air into her lungs.

"Kid, hey what's wrong?" Dean asked pulling her back from his chest. He watched her face pale as she gasped for breath. "Oree, stop it, you need to breath." he commanded her giving her a small shake. "Listen to me damnit!"

Oree tried to obey him but couldn't seem to make her lungs work. Another pain shot through her making her legs give out as Dean grabbed her before she fell. He carried her to the couch and laid her down. He felt her chest realizing she wasn't breathing. Without hesitation Dean pinched her nose and blew air deep into her lungs several times before checking her breathing. The air filled her lungs causing the black spots to slowly disperse as she pulled in a short shaky breath.

"That's it kid, try a little deeper now." Dean encouraged as he saw her chest rise and fall slightly. "Keep it up, you're doing great!" he sighed as her breathing got deeper.

spn

"What happened?" Castiel asked hurrying to Oree's side. He laid a hand on her forehead calming her and allowing her breathing to return to normal.

"I think she felt Sam's pain too." Dean said standing up and letting Castiel take his place. "She couldn't breathe. How's Sam?"

"Resting now, he will come to in his own time, the soul and body must work to be cohesive again." Castiel told him as he looked Oree over carefully.

"I'll get that tea ready." Dean said going back to the kitchen.

"I'm good." Oree grimaced as she let Castiel help her sit up. Dean returned with a cup of tea and handed it to her.

"I put an ice cube in it to cool it." Dean cautioned her waiting for her to get a gripe on the cup before letting go.

"Sam?" she asked Castiel hopefully.

"It's up to him now, he's resting, but he has to find his way back."

"I might be able to help with that." she said sipping her tea. "I can dream walk."

"You need to rest." Dean told her.

"I can rest and talk to my brother." she insisted thinking this was a good time to tell Sam her plan and not have Dean or Castiel hear it.

"No." he demanded.

"I didn't ask your permission." she bristled. "Angel help me up."

"Aurora are you sure?"

"I wouldn't say I could if I wasn't sure." she told both of them getting up and heading to Sam's room daring Dean to stop her. She was in no mood to argue with him about this.

Dean stood by the couch wanting to stop her, but knowing it was useless when she got this way. He rubbed a hand down his face and went back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Castiel settled back on the couch waiting for Aurora to return, knowing better than to try and stop her too.

spn

The door was opened as Aurora made her way into Sam's bedroom. She sat the cup down and eased onto the bed beside his prone body lacing her small fingers through his much larger ones. She laid her head on a pillow and tucked her body up against him feeling his warmth. As her body started to relax her mind started looking for that thread to lead her to her brother.

The thread was there, she just needed to pick it up and follow it back to Sam. Oree picked her way carefully, searching until she latched onto the thread. She quickly worked her way backwards moving fast now until she opened her eyes on the bank of a quiet, serene lake. The sun was starting to come up and reflected in the water mirroring the image. Oree began to walk around the lake knowing her brother was near.

Sam looked up when he saw a familiar figure walking along the edge of the lake toward him. He sat still until she was within thirty feet of him and then stood and waited. Oree saw Sam stand and couldn't wait any longer. She jogged to him, jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

"S'mmy." she cried uncontrollably as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Hey Sis." he smiled wrapping his arms around her waist holding her up. "It's good to see you too."

"I-I..." she tried to get out but her emotions were on overload. He was finally back she thought.

"Sh-sh-sh, I'm okay. Come on let's sit for a bit." he told her, carrying her back to the bench and sitting down letting her slide down beside him.

Oree sniffed and wiped her eyes as she leaned her head onto his arm. She drew in a shaky breath and cleared her throat.

"You had us scared there."

"What happened?"

"Your body was found in the forest, Angel and I rescued you from the hospital and brought you home. We know what did this to you."

"What, an angel or demon? I know they took my soul and I ended up in some way station."

"Yeah, but it's much worse. It's an ancient creature that is trying to get free of its bonds. It was trying to stop you from helping me." she started explaining.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"It wants me for my essence and power to break free."

"It means to kill you?"

"Yes, we've got to stop it or it will destroy the world and every human in it."

"What can we do if it's that strong?"

"There is a way, first we have to get a weapon from Crowley."

"Crowley, you think he'll help us?"

"Well, if we go, Hell will be next, losing his kingdom, yeah I think he will."

"How is this weapon going to kill it?"

"Let me worry about that, but Sam you have the biggest role to play." she continued as she explained her plan and what would need to be done.

Sam grew silent as he let the words sink in as a sense of dread crept over him. How was he supposed to do what she wanted? There had to be another way. He stood and took a couple of steps toward the lake. The burden of the world was on his shoulders once again, was he going to be able to do this?

"Sis no, I can't do that, you can't ask me." Sam told her shaking his head as tears spilled down his cheeks.

"If there was any other way Sammy, I wouldn't have asked this of you. You have given so much already, I know I'm asking a lot."

"Crap Oree, why does it always have to be us that has to save the world?"

"Sam you need to wake up, we don't have much time. Dean's been worried about you."

"Tessa said he was here." he said looking away.

"He didn't tell me anything, but I think whatever it was can be put on the back burner, we've got bigger problems right now."

"You haven't told him about this have you?"

"No, and it has to stay that way, you know that. He would never allow us to do this, it's just who he is. Now come on, let's go." she urged him pulling back to her body and waking herself up. Oree sat up and looked down at Sam. "Hey come on there's some family that wants to see you."

Sam took a deep breath and squinted his eyes, blinking hard several times before finding Oree and focusing on her. He saw her face light up as she smiled at him. Ellie pranced on the bed licking his hand and kissing his face, happy her man-child had come back. Sam appeased Ellie by scratching her ears and belly. He looked over at Oree wondering how he was going to face the others with what he knew. He fought the tears again as his gut clenched into tight knots. Oree waited for him to get up before wrapping her arms around his waist and leaned into him, soaking in his present letting it give her strength. She was going to need all the strength she could muster before this thing was over.