CHAPTER ONE
It was hard to believe that Cas had turned so violent in such a short time. He had hoped that somehow Bobby would have found a way to remove the souls but everything he tried had backfired. Now, with this last attempt... Dean turned to Sam, his knuckles white on the steering wheel and a look of genuine fear spread across his face as the impala swerved wildly across the road. He slowly closed his eyes as the car flipped over and over causing the windows to implode, showering glass in on the them. As the car skidded to a halt Dean twisted his head to the side and opened his eyes. He could feel the red salty liquid running down his face to pool beneath him as he made the slightest movement. Peering through the red haze he could just make Sam out. He was hurt bad. "Damn you, Cas!" he spat as he unbuckled his seatbelt and slumped to the roof in a heap. Dean twisted around and stretched out as far as he could within the crushed up confine of the car and kicked his door outwards. As he began to crawl out, he looked furtively around and prayed, God, that was a joke, he hoped that Cas wasn't nearby. Gasping for breath he clasped hold of the crumpled door and propped himself up. He took a moment to get his bearings then heaved himself off the dirt road and looked at his precious impala which now resembled nothing more than a heap of twisted metal. Sighing heavily, he began limping around to the passenger side. when he got halfway around he caught the scent of gasoline in the air. His nostrils began to burn. Quickly, he rounded the side and with a hefty boot he managed to get the passenger door open enough to reach Sam. He knew Sam would be hurt when he hit the ground but there was nothing for it. He had no choice. At any second the car could explode and he didn't want either of them to be in it when it did, so leaning forward he pressed the red clip and unbuckled Sam's belt. Dean looked at Sam's lifeless body then reached in and gave a mighty tug. "Come on!" he grunted as he dragged Sam slowly to the edge. As soon as he was clear of the door Dean picked him up and hobbled as fast as he could towards the field. He had no sooner placed Sam on the grass when the impala exploded into a large orange ball. Tearfully, Dean looked up. She had been his baby, a part of his life since before he was born and now because of Cas, she was gone. Dean looked around him, suddenly aware of how exposed he was. He grabbed Sam, slung him over his shoulder and headed for the forest that ran along the side of the road. Shaded by the trees Dean lay Sam on the leaf strewn forest floor. "Don't you die on me, Sam," he cried. He lay his head down on Sam's chest and listened for a heart beat. "Damn it," he cursed. Taking a large gulp of air he pinched Sam's nose, tilted his head back and exhaled into his mouth. His hands went to his chest automatically and he began compressing, 1,2,3... he counted. He pulled back and lowered his head again. The heartbeat was faint but it was there. As relief washed over him he mustered the last of his strength, grabbed Sam off the forest floor and cradling him in his arms, began to walk. Cas stood amid the blazing fire staring after Dean as he walked along the tree line heading for civilization. "Hang in there Sam," Dean kept saying over and over again. As he approached a downwards hill, he could see city lights ahead and a small gleam of hope fuelled him on. He walked through the streets, bloodied, torn up and barefooted, heading for the hospital that had been sign posted a couple of miles back. "Help!" he yelled as he neared the hospital and the doors swung inwards. When a medic with a gurney ran forward and took Sam out of Dean's arms, placing him on the soft mattress, Dean finally collapsed, piercing the emergency reception area with his screams. His eyes fluttered and closed, but no-one came to help him. What was wrong with everyone? Couldn't they hear how much pain he was in? The next thing he knew, Cas was standing beside his bed. "Hello Dean," he said. Fear flooded through Dean. He leapt from his bed, but Cas just stood there bemused and stated matter-of-fact, "Don't try and run, you're dreaming." "Get the fuck out my head!" Dean screamed at him. Cas gave a small smile, looked up, noted the hospital ward number and left as Dean's eyes popped open. Grabbing the drip in his arm, he pulled it out and began scanning the bedside cabinet for his phone. Damn, they must have taken it when I was admitted, he thought, feeling irked. Woozily, he got off the bed and stumbled forward. Pain etched upon his face with every step, but somehow, he managed to find his way out the room and along the corridor to the payphone. He picked up the the receiver and began dialing. "Where the hell are ya?" Bobby yelled down the phone at him. Dean mumbled the name of the hospital. "Hurry!" He gasped and hung up, then looked around him before hurrying along the corridor with his hand resting on the wall for support and his ass exposed. Why they had to put him in one of the old hospital gowns was beyond him. Couldn't they have given him one that covered his modesty? Peering around the side, he noted that the ward sister was gone from her station. Crossing to the desk, he turned the monitor, typed upside down and scanned the patients lists trying to find Sam. There he was, ward 57 room 2. Grateful that Sam wasn't in ICU, he sighed happily, turned the monitor back and headed along the corridor towards the stairwell. Lowering his head, he tried to blend into the side as he passed several visitors that were heading in his direction. Bobby threw down the phone and grabbed his gun from the desk. As he walked around, he picked the keys for the truck up off of the shelf and headed for the front door. Stepping out onto the porch, he turned, closed the door behind him and glanced around ready to fire on the first thing that moved. He could see the truck parked just a few feet ahead but there was nothing, all was still. Scurrying to the truck he opened the door and clambered in. His fingers seeking the ignition fumbled momentarily before he managed to get the engine purring. He put the truck in gear, pulled out the yard and headed along the freeway not sure what he was going to find when he got there. As a rule, hunters always kept below the radar. It was the best way to stay alive in this business. The fact that Dean had gone to a hospital spoke volumes. He knew it must be serious. Gripping the steering wheel tight, he pushed his truck on,. Spotting the side stream to the right, he left the freeway and headed into the city. Slowing, so as not to draw attention to himself, he hoped that Dean would be there waiting for him by the time he pulled up. Passing the sign that indicated the entrance to the hospital grounds, he drew up to the main doors and peered around. Dean wasn't there. Where are you? he wondered, as fear gripped him and he twisted in his seat. Just then, Dean careened out the door with Sam strapped to a gurney, his ass bouncing as he ran forward, the gown flapping in the breeze. "Couldn't you find some clothes?" he asked, getting out the truck to help.
"It was hard enough getting this fool out," Dean said, pointing at Sam. "He was going crazy."
"Well that explains the straps," Bobby said, untying Sam and pulling him up.
Bobby helped him into the truck and climbed in after him. Sam stared straight ahead, trapped in his mind. He knew he had been hurt bad from the vague memories he had. He recalled Dean leaning over him, a pained expression on his face, muttering something he couldn't quite make out.
"Oi, over here, you buffoon!" a voice in his head said. Sam shook it as though trying to get rid of an irritating fly. "Oh, bloody hell." Gabriel walked forward, "Woohoo! Sam, take the 2nd on the right and keep going. Go to the old motel, you'll know it when you see it. Room 407, hurry." Gabriel looked around, clicked his fingers and disappeared.
Sam sat up straight and grabbed Bobby's arm, muttering the directions as he stared out the window then down at his bandaged hands with a vacant expression on his face. "Do you think he's alright?" Dean asked, worried that Sam had finally lost it.
Bobby looked across at Sam "Yeah, he's going to be real peachy!" he replied, rolling his eyes and driving off.