Grace of the Hunter When it Rains

The Impala moved sensually down the highway. The sound of the purring engine would normally put Sam in a calming mood. This was not one of those times. He gripped the steering wheel as if he were glued and his eyes were stuck on the long strip of asphalt before him. He could not think of anything but Dean.

Did Castiel take over him? Did Dean run away to protect Sam? There was no note, no sign that he had ever been there. Sam's face turned white and he slammed the brakes to pull over. He ran his fingers through his hair and stared at the car's console. He had no idea what he was doing.

Sam closed his eyes for a moment. He breathed in the air of the night and the smells of the car. He listened to the engine purring and felt the rumbling within his hands. He grabbed for his cell phone and quickly dialed the only other person who could possibly help.

"Hey its Sam," he spoke as calm as possible into the phone, but his voice was shaky. "Wait-- no, I'm fine its Dean. Listen!"

He slammed his fist in the steering wheel, causing the car to beep. He rubbed his hands over the wheel apologetically.

"I'm sorry," Sam whispered into the phone, "We have a big problem and we can't handle this on our own. Do you think I could come by?"

Sam nodded to the response, his shoulders relaxing but a little at the reassurance.

"Thank you, I mean it," Sam again gripped the wheel before dropping the phone on the seat and driving off into the night.

This time he took in a little of the sights of trees and the occasional mile marker. He could have almost enjoyed the silence. Plans and ideas flashed back and forth in his mind. Nothing seemed plausible or even possible. His frustration grew and he began to lose sight of the road ahead. So instead he thought of the road so far.

He thought about Dean when it all began. He thought about the night when Dean came for him to hunt for their father. He thought of when Dean was sent to hell. Then he thought of how he felt when he was brought back. He thought of how grateful he was to Castiel then.

Sam felt sorrowful for both of the men. He knew that Cas would have never done this to Dean. Sam knew what chemistry they had between them before even they knew themselves. They were perfect, and Castiel might have finally been the one to bring Dean true happiness.

All thoughts in his mind stopped as he pulled into a nice city by the water. He rolled down the window and breathed in the fresh salty air. It actually made Sam smile, being this close to the ocean. He parked the car by the usual hotel and checked in for his room. Sam threw on some fresher clothes and walked back out of the door with a piece of bread hanging out of his mouth.

Sam looked at the Impala and decided that he could no longer stand the silence in the car, so he walked. He walked his way down to the docks, watching the water, but also keeping an ear out for anyone who could be following him. He laughed as a few kids ran by with a kayak, but then stopped laughing as they stopped running. They began to shout and point, and Sam could clearly see the thick black smoke that billowed ahead of them.

Sam immediately dropped his head and sprinted towards the smoke. He didn't have to ask where it was coming from, he already knew. The luck of the hunters never ceased to become as rotten as old apple pie.

Sam turned the last corner before seeing his suspicions become reality. There was a great rusty boat in the water and it had burst into flames.

"NO!" Sam screamed as he dove into the boat. He threw open the thick metal door and hopped down the stairs in one bound. The smoke that filled the room almost completely blinded Sam as he attempted to make his way through.

Down in the hold he found streaks of blood across the floor, where a body had been dragged down into the engine room. The door to the room had huge smears of blood across it. It was clear that this was the source of the fire and of Sam's fear. He pushed the door open to find his old friend.

Garth was sitting up on a computer console, face beaten in and riddled with holes through out his body. The fire was slowly creeping up around him and had already filled the room. Sam did not have much time. He ran to a wall on the other side of the hallway and grabbed the fire axe that was mounted on the wall.

"Garth!!" He shouted, the small man smiled weakly and gave Sam a thumbs up. Sam nodded and took the axe to the wall of the boat. He whacked hard and fast and went through the metal on the first shot, letting salt water spew into the boat. He gave it a few more whacks before the hole was large enough to clear a path through the flames.

Sam waded through and grabbed Garth from the engine room. He began to make his return and even made it to the front door to the boat before a great gust of wind blew through unnaturally. Sam looked up the small staircase and saw Dean, but it was not Dean. His eyes glowed red and wings black as ash.

"Sam," the angel spoke, looking into the hunters arms to see Garth smiling. "You disappoint me."

The door slammed shut and Sam could hear the locks moving into position. Sam panicked and dropped Garth into a chair. He ran up the stairs and pushed against the door to no avail. He banged his hard fist against it.

"Dean!" He screamed, hands beginning to bleed as he punched at the door. "Dean don't you dare leave me here!!"

"Dean's not here." The angel spoke from outside. "And I have no use for you."