Chapter 23

Sam felt better now that he knew Black Beauty was guarding them. He looked back down the canyon as other noises drifted to him. He was sure there was someone down there but couldn't see them yet. He cocked his head and listened intently when an occasional word was understood. He caught a couple of words and realized he knew that voice.

Without thinking, Sam leapt to his feet and made his way down the ledge when he spied figures rounding a bend. He would know that shape anywhere and almost fell as he started waving frantically. He stumbled backward but didn't take his eyes off the figures walking along the canyon floor.

"Dean!" Sam yelled in excitement. "Dean!" He waved frantically at him almost falling from the edge and quickly stepped back.

"Sammy!" a faint voice replied as one figure separated from the others and started running along the canyon floor until he was to a place where he could begin climbing the incline. "Stay there, I'm coming."

Sam watched as his brother made his way up the slope deciding not to fully test his recovery yet and let him come to him. He sucked in a breath when Dean slid in one spot, almost falling, but got his balance and continued upward. Sam reached a hand toward Dean when he got close enough and pulled him the rest of the way over the edge to stable ground.

"Sammy," Dean panted as he leaned over to catch his breath. He looked his brother over for any signs of injury before grabbing him in a bear hug. "It's good to see you, bro," he mumbled in his ear as he squeezed him tightly as tears filled his eyes. Emotions ran high in both brothers.

"You too," Sam replied hugging him back just as tightly. He couldn't help the soft sob that escaped from between his lips as tears leaked from his eyes.

"We've been looking for days trying to find you," Dean said running a hand down Sam's face, wiping his tears, and refusing to let go of him. "What happened to you and why do you smell funky?" he asked wrinkling his nose as he sniffed him.

Before Sam could reply, Ice and Titus made their way over the ledge and looked at the two brothers. Sam smiled at them and shook Ice's hand and accepted a hug from Titus.

"Titus, thank you for helping Dean and delaying returning to your family. I know how much you want to get back to them," Sam told Titus patting his back.

"It's good to see you're okay," Ice told him shocked that Sam was not injured in any way. He would have thought there would be signs of injury after being taken by the dragon.

They all looked at the cave opening when Drako ran out and squeaked in surprise at the strangers. He made a bee line for Sam and hid behind his legs while eyeing the others warily. He tried to roar deep in his chest, but it only came out as a soft growl along with some puffs of smoke.

"What the hell Sammy? Who's your bodyguard?" Dean asked looking perplexed at the baby dragon and then up at Sam. "Wanna tell me what's going on?"

Titus squatted and wiggled his fingers at Drago as he cooed at him. The little dragon sniffed the air and snorted sending a stream of smoke out his open mouth but eased closer to him.

"He likes being scratched," Sam told him stepping back a little and letting Titus get closer. He smiled as Titus started scratching his neck and back making Drago almost purr in his throat. The little dragon butted Titus making him fall so he could climb on him and play.

"Black Beauty was on the cliff above us. I'm not sure where she went," Sam told them looking up. "Better not get too boisterous so we don't upset her, since she might think we're going to hurt her baby."

"Black Beauty, as in the one who saved Dean? She led us here, sort of," Ice asked, his interest peaked because Dean had told him the story.

"Okay Sammy, spill it. How did you end up here?" Dean questioned. They sat down on the ledge around Sam so he could tell his story.

"We were walking across the meadow and suddenly I was up in the air," Sam recounted as he looked out across the canyon. "I didn't know what had happened until I realized I was in the clutches of a dragon. I couldn't fight since my arms were pinned to my body by his talons." Sam paused and absently rubbed his side where he was injured.

"We saw Sammy," Dean said softly patting his arm. "I was going to shoot it but was afraid it'd drop you…I…I didn't know…" Dean faltered and looked down at the ground.

"It's fine Dean. I know if you could have done anything you would have," Sam assured him. "Black Beauty saved me," he said proudly. "This is her baby."

"She did how?"

"She attacked the dragon, and I passed out, so I don't know what happened but when I woke I was in this cave. She healed my injures like she did you Dean." Sam pulled his shirt up and showed them his scars that were still pink and tender looking.

"You got a dragon kiss," Dean smiled looking over at the baby dragon with interest when Titus laughed loudly. He didn't say what he was thinking, not wanting to spoil the mood, but by the look of the scars, Sam would probably have died without her intervention.

They all looked up when Black Beauty glided to the ledge and landed. She looked the humans over and eyed her baby to be sure he was okay. The scent of two of the humans was familiar to her and she wasn't concerned. The dragon eyed the third member closely, not sensing any danger from him. She snorted and grumbled before settling down nearby to watch over them.

"There she is," Dean mumbled looking into Black Beauty's eyes and nodding his thanks to her. A moment of understanding passed between them before he turned back to his brother to listen to him talk.

"I help Drago to be born by helping to break the shell open and free him," Sam explained to them. "I used my knife hilt to make the cracks bigger and the blade to slit the membrane inside. With one hard pull, it came open and Drago was released. I fell backwards and he landed on top of me," Sam laughed as he remembered the scene thinking how funny it would have looked to the others.

"So, you got dragon slimed," Dean surmised as he tried to picture it in his mind and chuckled.

"Drago?" Ice asked about the name.

"Oh, it's Latin for dragon."

"Watch it Sammy your geeky side is showing."

Sam gave him a bitch face and rolled his eyes before continuing.

"We sort of bonded and Black Beauty brought food for us and I fed Drago and myself. She didn't want me to leave, but I think she understood I needed to get to Dean to let him know I was okay. I told her stories about us growing up and how you looked after me."

"Black Beauty is wise, and I believe she does understand us," Dean offered looking back at the momma dragon who seemed to be listening. "So, you became a babysitter," he teased with a chuckle, making the others snicker too.

"What else was I to do?" Sam snipped giving Dean his best bitch face glare. "I had no supplies really, since when the dragon snagged me he ripped my pack and destroyed some of my supplies. Plus, I didn't know where I was or how to find you guys. Even if she did let me go, I had no idea which way to even go."

"You know Sammy if you weren't so tall maybe someone else might have been taken. I figure the dragon zeroed in on you because you're bigger and would make a better meal," Dean continued his teasing.

"No, it wasn't," Sam insisted. "I was at the back of the group and the first one it came to."

"You keep telling yourself that," Dean said with a smirk.

"I hate to interrupt your banter, but do you think she will let us leave with Sam?" Ice questioned, looking at the mother dragon as she watched them.

"Why not, she brought us here," Dean shrugged. "Hey there," he spoke to the baby dragon that butted his side for attention. He rubbed Drago's head for a moment and laughed softly.

"It's getting late, think we can camp below for the night?" Titus asked as he joined the others.

"Don't see why not."

"There's water in the cave if you need any and Momma Dragon usually brings some food for dinner. I'm sure she'll share," Sam told them. He got up and walked over to Black Beauty. "Thank you for finding my brother. They want to stay for the night and then we'll leave in the morning."

Black Beauty turned her head and lowered it down to Sam's face. She glanced at Dean who had gotten up and stepped to his brother's side feeling the need to protect.

"Your baby seems to be doing okay now. You don't need Sammy anymore," Dean stated. "We need to get Ty home and go back to our world."

Black Beauty stood onto her feet as she let her wings sway back and forth for a moment before moving them faster to take flight. She soared out into the canyon and disappeared stirring up the dust and dirt on the ledge. Dean and Sam coughed and shielded their eyes from the flying debris.

"It'll be dark soon, we should go set camp up and tend to the horses," Ice said standing up. "If you want to stay up here with your brother, it's fine."

"Dean can bring some food down for your meal when she comes back with it," Sam suggested wanting some along time with his brother. "I'd like to spend one more night with them before I leave."

"Alright," Ice said sensing Sam needed time with his brother. "Come on Titus, we'll find a place nearby to set up camp."

Sam bid them goodbye and grabbed Drago as he tried to follow Titus over the edge.

"No, you don't," Sam yelled grabbing the little dragon and pulling him back which wasn't an easy task. "A little help here dude."

"Hold on," Dean complained getting up to help with Drago.

"We should get him inside before he tries again." Sam guided Drago into the cave and to the nest. "Momma will be back with food shortly," he told the little dragon. "Settle down here now." He rubbed him and made sure he was going to stay before moving away.

"Oh yeah, you smell like dragon," Dean decided coughing a couple of times as he looked around the cave. He saw Sam's sleeping bag lying on one side and the large pool of water near the back.

"Can't smell anything," Sam shrugged. He went to his sleeping bag and sat down waiting for Dean to join him.

"I was really worried about you, bro," Dean told his brother in a serious voice. "I didn't know if you were alive or…" Dean couldn't say it as he looked away. "I didn't know what to do…Where to even start looking…And I had no idea what'd I find if we found…" he trailed as his voice cracked.

"I understand Dean, but I had faith you would find me," Sam softly whispered bumping shoulders with him. "I don't think anyone else would have even looked for me, surmising that I was dead or would soon be a dragon snack. It's all good. I wish I could have gotten a message to you but there wasn't any way to do that. You've found me now and we can get Titus home and go home ourselves."

"Yeah, now you'll have some stories to tell Bobby about all this."

"I know. This was an adventure of a lifetime and I'm still pinching myself to see if it's real."

"Oh, we'll need to make a stopover at the farm where we left the horses. I promised to help Hariam out on the farm for the supplies he gave us."

"That's fine. I don't mind doing that. A lot of people have helped along the way, and we should repay who we can."

They sat in silence, since words were not needed, watching Drago play in the nest; they were just happy to be reunited again. It wasn't long before Black Beauty returned with food. Sam divided it and gave some to Dean for their meal. He bid him goodbye with assurances they would see each other the following morning. Dean was hesitant at first to leave Sam now that he had found him, but he knew he would okay with Black Beauty and Drago.

A/N: Reviews/comments would make my day. NC