A/N: We have come to the end of the journey my dear readers. I hope you have enjoyed the story and the universe I created. I hope you will check out some of my other stories and give them a read. Thank you to all who left me reviews and I hope you will take a moment to leave me your thoughts on this last chapter. Please review even if you haven't before. NC

Chapter 25

"Alright, we only need one more ingredient." Bobby said screwing a lid on a pint jar and shaking it up.

"What's that?" Dean asked looking suspiciously at the jar whose liquid had turned a murky, reddish brown.

"A couple strands of his hair."

"I gotta drink his hair?" Dean gagged working hard not to puke.

"I could do it." John suggested.

"I didn't say I wouldn't." Dean scoffed. "I'm just saying it sounds...Nasty."

"Well hold yer breath when ya drink it." Bobby told him holding out the jar for inspection.

"Let's do this then." Dean stated getting up to head for the stairs. He knew time was not on their side and wanted to get this done.

"Dean, son..." John started making Dean pause and turn back to look at him. "You be careful, you hear me. I don't wanna lose both my sons tonight."

"I'll bring him back Dad." Dean said softly before continuing for the stairs. He was followed closely by John and Bobby as they headed for the bedroom.

spn

"I'll just add the hair..." Bobby said reaching over and plucking hairs from Sam's head to add to the jar. He put the lid back on and shook it again before handing it to Dean who grimaced.

"C'mere honey." John said to Deanna as he picked her up from the bed so she would be out of the way.

Dean sat down beside his brother and took the jar, steeling himself for whatever was going to happen. He unscrewed the lid and stared at the crap floating around on the surface, seeing the dark strands of hair mingled in there. Taking a deep breath, he brought the jar to his lips and quickly swallowed four huge gulps of the warm liquid.

"Holy shit! That tasted like ass." Dean gagged and coughed sitting the jar on the nightstand. "Did it have some ass in it?" he asked sticking his tongue out in disgust and working to stop his gag reflex.

"Dean!" John snapped at him, looking at Deanna who was watching Dean, perplexed and not sure whether to laugh or cry or do nothing.

"Sorry Dad. So what now? I don't feel any different. How long doe..." Dean didn't get to finish his sentence as his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell back unconscious on the bed partly on Sam's body. Bobby reached over and repositioned Dean's limp form so he was laying beside Sam on the bed.

"Guess all we can do now is wait." John said taking a seat in the chair by the bed. He shifted Deanna in his lap and let her cuddle against him for comfort. He could feel her small body tremble slightly as she tilted her face to watch her father and uncle's bodies. Bobby got a chair from the boys' bedroom and moved it to Deanna's so he could sit down to wait with John. Castiel remained silent sitting across from them watching each one in turn seeing the conflict because there was nothing more they could do. He studied their feelings and emotions wanting to learn more about humans and how they processed things in their world.

spn

Dean jerked awake and looked around him trying to get his bearings. He was sitting in the fog, but there was something different about it than the previous time he was sent here by the angel. It seemed like there was a dullness, lifeless, dying sense about it with dark, graying splotches of color to the fog that had not been here before. He could only guess it was because Sam was dying in here, so the world was too. He cleared his mind and closed his eyes searching for his brother. A pull drew him to the right and he began to move that way squinting his eyes trying to see through the fog, knowing he was out here and he was dying. It seemed to take him forever to make his way to his brother. He could just barely make out his slumped form just ahead of him and stopped for a moment watching the swirling mist move around Sam's body as if gently caressing it, but it seemed more ominous to Dean like it was draining him of his essence. He tensed his body and forced his way ahead to his destination.

"Sammy, hey man you gotta wake up." Dean told him as he stepped closer to kneel down beside him. When he didn't get any response, Dean grabbed a hand full of shirt and jerked him up from the floor holding him upright. "You with me Sammy? Don't let this happen bro, ya gotta stop it!" he commanded slapping his face hard back and forth, before he shook his body trying to get a response. He wasn't letting him give up this easy. Dean was determined Sam was coming out of this, even if it meant sacrificing himself to do it.

"Mmm..." Sam finally responded as his head rolled from side to side and his eyes fluttered for a moment.

"C'mon Sammy, you gotta fight this. I know you can do it." Dean said concern and worry in his voice. "Look, you gotta pull yourself out of this. Your daughter needs you bro."

"So...Ti'ed...Sl'p..." Sam slurred as he let Dean hold him up, not able to support his body on his rubbery legs. He tried to raise an arm but didn't have to strength to lift it to grasp his brother's arm. His breathing was labored and shallow, his eyes glazed and empty and his heart was beating erratically.

"No-no-no Sammy. Stay with me here, look at me. Sammy man, look at me!" he growled giving him a hard shake. "You need to come back. Remember, you did it before. I'll help you." Dean encouraged him as he draped Sam's arm around his shoulder and wrapped his arm around his waist. He started walking back the way he came dragging Sam with him. What light that was around them was beginning to dim and the fog started growing thicker. Dean began to struggle the deeper he walked into the ever thickening fog.

"Sammy, gotta help me here, you can clear this up and show me the way. Don't give up on me now brother. Try Sammy, try." Dean said, coughing as he pulled the mist into his lungs. He could feel it growing thicker and harder to move through as he pushed forward. After only a few more steps, Dean couldn't fight his way ahead any more and dropped to his knees taking Sam down with him as his breathing became compromised and he started gagging not able to expel the fog from his lungs and not able to take a breath as it pressed harder into his body. "S'my!" Dean cried out trying to reach for his brother's crumpled body as dark spots swirled around his face and he barely sucked in a breath into his oxygen starved lungs thinking if this was it, at least he was with his brother. All sensation left Dean's body as his breathing stopped and his heart fought to beat one more time.

spn

"What's happening?" John asked when he noticed Dean's body begin to jerk erratically and he started gasping for air as his face started turning red and he began to choke. "Dean! Dean!" John cried out, quickly setting Deanna down and shaking Dean to try and wake him. "C'mon son! You gotta breathe Dean! You listen to me!" John yelled madly before whacking him on the back. He pushed him back to the mattress and pushed hard just under his ribs trying to get whatever was choking him out.

"Daddy!" Deanna screamed out as Sam started trembling and shaking uncontrollably. She crawled over Dean to get to her father, kneeling between the brothers. "Daddy, I'll show you the way." she said placing her hands on his chest and concentrated all her power on her father. She reached deep into Sam until she found his dimly lit soul and encased it, sending light and energy into it. "Daddy..." she whispered as pain started to build in her head. She didn't see or feel Castiel lay a hand on her head and allow his grace to flow into her and to her father. Castiel made sure no injury came to Deanna when he felt blood vessels rupture in her brain. He quickly repaired the injuries before she could be affected as she gave everything to pull Sam back to reality.

"S-S-Sa'my." Dean gasped as he worked to painfully fill his lungs with oxygen and cough out a thick, stringy, watery, grey/blackish substance. John got him on his side and grabbed a cloth to catch the mucus like crap running from his nose and mouth. Dean looked over at his brother who was still trembling and jerking, and reached for his arm grasping it tightly. "Come back!...Sam'y c'me back..." Dean said hoarsely as he squeezed his arm and spat up more junk into the trash can John was holding to his face. After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, he was able to pull in a much needed breath of air into his lungs. He cleared his throat and coughed hard again as he tried to push up to a sitting position. His throat was raw and ached and his lungs burned as he tried to get them working again.

"Are you ok?" John asked Dean as he helped him to sit up.

"Yeah, head's splittin' an' got shitty taste in m' mouth." he wheezed, slowly taking in bigger gulps of air into his oxygen starved lungs. "But I'll live."

"Sip this." John offered, holding a straw to Dean's chapped lips so he could drink some water. He watched closely not letting him have too much for fear he might choke again.

"Da'dy..." Deanna groaned as she let her small body fall onto her father, exhausted from the ordeal. Her breathing was rough and wheezy and a few drops of blood slipped from her nose onto Sam's sheet.

Sam suddenly inhaled sharply as his eyes fluttered for a moment before stopping and opened in slits. He blinked slowly trying to focus on his surroundings and saw his daughter lying on his chest. He raised a shaky hand to lay it on her back and gently rub it.

"Sa'my?" a hoarse voice asked from beside him.

"Dee." he mumbled weakly looking his way before letting his eyes close as his breathing became stronger as his chest expanded more. Sam's face was relaxed now in his slumber.

"He will rest now." Castiel said laying a hand on Sam's forehead for a moment and looking at Dean. "He is back, but very weak."

"How's the lass?" Bobby asked looking to Deanna with concern.

"She will sleep now." Castiel replied moving Deanna's body a little so she would be more comfortable, but leaving her on her father's chest. "I healed the damage before it could affect her."

"Damage?" Dean questioned in a weak, but concerned voice.

"She helped her father to find the way, it took all the strength she had to do that and she wouldn't stop until he stopped her. There was bleeding on her brain, but I controlled it so there wouldn't be any lasting affect."

"But she's ok? You're sure?"

"Yes. She might have a headache from the ordeal, but nothing more."

"Help me up Dad." Dean told him as he tried to get up.

"Hold on." John said reaching to help Dean up off the bed. "You want to go lie down in your bed?"

"No, slept enough." Dean replied as he stood to his feet, letting the dizziness pass as his body swayed.

"I will watch over them." the angel said sitting back down in the chair beside the bed. He would return to his vigil of watching over his charge and her family.

"Here let me help." Bobby said steadying Dean as took an unsteady step.

"Let's get him downstairs and get some coffee in him." John suggested hanging on to Dean's other arm as they slowly walked him out of the room.

"Think we can add a little Jack to that?" Dean asked feeling his body seemed weak and didn't want to cooperate with his wishes.

spn

A moan and groan got Dean's attention as Sam slowly lifted a leaden arm to swipe it down his face and then come back to his eyes to rub them so he could get them open. He blinked fast several times to try and clear his vision and saw his brother's face staring intently at him.

"Welcome back bro." Dean said softly. "Think you can sip a little water?"

"Dean-na?" Sam managed to get out as his hand roamed over the bed not finding his daughter.

"Chill, she's in the shower, starting to smell a little ripe." Dean assured him. "She's ok, we got her back and she got you back."

Sam let out a sigh and let his head drop back onto the pillow in relief. He pulled in some slow breaths as he calmed his racing heart and felt something being pressed to his lips. After opening his eyes slightly, he saw Dean was holding a bottle of water with a straw for him to drink. With a little effort, he managed to suck in some water and relished the wetness as it relieved his parched mouth and throat. He drew in more swallowing quickly, but Dean pulled it away.

"Need to take it easy, don't need ya getting sick or choking." he said sitting the water down on the nightstand. "You can have some more after we see how that does."

"Daddy?" Deanna asked when she came back into the room and saw he was awake.

"B'by G'rl." Sam croaked holding up a hand to her.

Deanna ran to the bed and crawled up on it, throwing herself onto her Dad's body and hugging him tightly. He brushed her damp hair back from her face and smiled at her as tears sprang to his eyes. He looked over her head at his brother who was wiping his eyes and clearing his throat.

"I was so worried about you." she mumbled through her tears and soft sobs. "I love you Daddy."

"It's ok sweetheart. I love you too."" he whispered hugging her to him, never wanting to let her go. "You helped me get back."

"Me and Cas, he helped too." she said looking over to where Cas was still silently sitting, guarding them.

"Thank you." Sam whispered to him.

Castiel nodded to him, happy to see the family reunited. He was amazed at the strong bond this family had to each other and how they protected and cared for one another. He saw this was not the case with most humans of this world. Castiel was beginning to feel like maybe they were seeing him as a part of this family too. He pondered that and had to admit that he liked the thought of it. The child had pulled him into her world and life and even though he knew he shouldn't become attached to her, he had. Deanna had an innocent, openness, caring, kind, gentle spirit and was much wiser than her tender years. He had a deep respect for this child and was becoming very fond of her.

"Think you could maybe drink a little broth?" Dean asked seeing that Sam seemed more alert and awake.

"Yeah, maybe." Sam agreed not able to take his eyes off his daughter.

"I'll go heat ya some up." he replied heading out of the room.

"Daddy, I saw Momma." Deanna told him as she raised her head to look into his eyes.

"You did?" he asked looking at the angel for a moment and back to his daughter.

"Yes, she's so pretty and she loves us so much."

"I know she does honey. She sent you your very own guardian angel to watch over you and keep you safe."

"I knew you would find me and save me. I really wasn't scared, but I knew I had to make them think that. I trapped one in a devil's trap I drew with crayons." she giggled. "She didn't like that. Then the one called Alastair, he was really a bad one, he tried to make me drink something that smelled awful and looked nasty. I wouldn't and threw it at him. That's when he tied my hands. He didn't like that and I think he wanted to control me but he couldn't. What Cas did to me saved me and I remembered what Uncle Dee taught me about not eating or drinking anything from strangers and when the bad demon starting hurting Grandpa I knew I had to help him..." she rattled on to her father telling him as much as she remembered.

Sam listened in disbelief that she could be this calm and rational about what happened. He just let her talk, thinking that was the best thing for her to do. Sam glanced at Cas when she mentioned his name and saw a loving look pass over his face as he watched her. When he felt stronger, he would ask the angel what he did to Deanna and if she really saw her Mom or only dreamed it. He was also going to ask him about her powers and what had happened during the fight.

"Ok chatterbox, let's let your Daddy try and drink this and start getting some food into him. Grandpa has you something fixed downstairs. Why don't ya run down and eat with him and Papa Bobby?"

"Ok Uncle Dee. I can read to you Daddy when I come back, if you want."

"I'd like that." Sam said smiling at her as she got off the bed and heading downstairs.

"Let's get you propped up a little, so you can drink it easier." Dean said sitting down the cup and helping Sam slide up in the bed.

"Here's an extra pillow." Castiel said positioning one behind him trying to be helpful.

"Thanks." Sam grunted as he got settled.

"I cooled it but be careful." Dean instructed as he held the cup until he was sure Sam had a good grip on it.

Sam sipped slowly on the liquid feeling it warm him as it hit his stomach. He didn't realized how cool he felt until his shivered slightly. Ever watchful, Dean pulled the blanket back up over him and tucked it in slightly. Sam smiled his thanks and continued to drink the broth thinking how good it tasted. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he ate or for that matter what day it was.

"How long was I out?" Sam finally asked.

"Longer than I want to think about. You scared the crap out of me so don't ya do that again. Do you remember anything?"

"Not really. I remember fighting with the demons, Deanna crying out in pain and things kind of go blank after that." he replied knitting his brow together as he tried to pull memories from his mind. "Things are really fuzzy after that, but I think I remember you and Deanna calling to me from far away...I don't know...It's all really hazy and hard to grasp." he replied rubbing his temples for a moment to make the pain subside.

"Hey it's all good. Don't worry 'bout it. All you need to think about right now is getting better. Ladybug's safe and the demons were destroyed without anyone getting seriously hurt. You're back and we're home with family where we belong. And we made a new friend. Ain't that right Skippy?" Dean asked Castiel in a cheerful voice as he gave him a look that dared the angel to contradict him or the nickname he gave him.

Sam looked at the angel to see his reaction to Dean's nickname and saw him quirk his mouth in a quick smile before answering. It seemed hel had accepted the new name Dean had bestowed on him without much fuss.

"Yes, that is right Dean."

Sam couldn't help but smile too. Everyone was safe and he had control of his darkness, with a little help from his family. He could still feel it within him, but it didn't seem as strong and there seemed to be something else there that was helping to contain it, but he wasn't sure what it was. Dean was right, all in all, everything was good. Hopefully they wouldn't have to deal with anymore demons, but if they did; he knew his family was here to back him up and fight right along beside him. Plus, they had an angel on their side now to lend a hand. Sam relaxed and half listened to his brother and the angel talk to each other as he sent a silent prayer to his wife telling her how much he loved her and missed her and for sending Deanna her own guardian angel.

THE END