A/N: Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing. I am still trying to catch up on replies! I'll get to everyone. For those of you curious about Galen and Rob, the first two chapters of my book are up at muffymorrigan(dot) com.

The Apothecary

Chapter Two

Sam followed Rob into the huge living room of the apartment. A cup of coffee actually sounded good, the herbs he'd tasted before he'd allowed Galen to give them to his brother left a bad taste in his mouth. Sam sighed as he looked around the living room. It was sparsely decorated, a couch and several chairs sat close to the kitchen, in one corner there were several guitars, and bookshelves lined one whole wall. On another wall, all by itself, was a shelf with photos, above it a frame with a long list of names and over both sat a heraldic crest with the words Custodes Noctis on it. Sam walked over to look. Two men in one of the photos looked a lot like Galen and Rob, although all the men in the pictures bore a strong family resemblance. He glanced at the list of names, the last two were Paracelsus and Robert Emrys.

"My father and uncle," Rob said, coming up beside him. "They were killed a few years ago."

"I'm sorry," Sam said automatically. "Custodes Noctis? Guardians of the night?"

"We say Keepers, but yeah. How do you take your coffee?" Rob asked, walking back towards the kitchen, Sam followed.

"It translates as people who actually protect the night?" Sam said. "Cream and sugar is fine."

"That's the translation. Here." Rob handed him the cup of coffee. He leaned against the counter. "Is he your older brother?"

"Yeah."

"What happened to him?"

"I don't know." Sam glanced towards the room where he could hear Dean and Galen's voices. "We were hunting and something grabbed him."

"What were you hunting?"

"Werewolf."

"It wasn't the werewolf that got him," Rob said. "It was something else."

"Yeah, I think the werewolf actually saw what it was, it took off running."

"The werewolf took off?" Rob raised his eyebrows. "Oh, that's never a good thing. When scary things run, it's bad."

"It is," Sam agreed. "I got him back to the motel, and tried to wash the wound with holy water, that was a mistake." Sam glanced towards the room again. "He got worse all night, I think about three he woke up and couldn't see."

"Where were you?"

"Northeast of here, in the Cascades."

"Where exactly?" Rob walked over to the bookshelf and pulled a folio down, he carried it back to the table in the kitchen and opened it. It was full of topographic maps. Sam sat down at the table. They flipped through the maps until they found the one that covered the area where he and Dean had been hunting. "This is where the werewolf was?" Rob pointed to the map.

"I think so," Sam followed the contour of a hill. "Yeah, this is where we parked the car, so we chased the werewolf along here, then the thing grabbed Dean about here." He pointed to a low spot on the map. "It dragged him along here." He traced the path with his finger. "I found him about here."

"It was gone?"

"Yeah." Sam stopped, he hadn't thought about that. "Why did it drop him?"

"Maybe it wanted you to find him?" Rob looked at him.

"But why?"

"If we can figure that out, maybe it will help us figure out just what it was," Rob said.

"And how to kill it," Sam said.

"Yes. Want more coffee?" he asked, picking up their cups. Rob's face suddenly paled. "Galen, no," he whispered, dropped the cups and turned towards the room. A cry of pain from Dean had Sam on his feet and they sprinted to the bedroom.

Sam quickly took in the scene. Galen was on the floor, curled in a ball. Rob raced to the healer and gently turned him over, blood was trickling from Galen's nose. Sam turned his attention to Dean. His brother's eyes were closed, his face drawn in pain. "Dean?" he said, laying his hand on his brother's arm.

"Sammy?" Dean opened his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Sam huffed in frustration. "Yes. What happened?"

"I'm not sure. He was trying to heal me. Is Galen alive?" Dean asked quietly.

"What?"

"Is he alive?"

Sam looked over to where Rob knelt beside him. He had one hand on Galen's forehead and the other on his chest. "Breathe, come on, Galen, breathe," Rob said. He closed his eyes, a moment later Galen coughed and took a shuddering breath. Rob opened his eyes and glanced at Sam. "What the hell happened?" he growled. He kept one hand on Galen's chest.

"He tried to heal me," Dean repeated.

"And?" Rob's tone was accusatory.

"And what?" Sam said in the same tone. "This was your idea."

"This wasn't my idea. I didn't know this would happen."

"What did you think would happen?" Sam snapped.

"I…"

"Headache, Rob," Galen murmured.

"Sam," Dean said at the same time.

"Galen? What happened?" Rob said gently.

"It's a little worse than I thought," the healer answered. "Help me up." Rob stood and offered Galen a hand. Once he was on his feet, he closed his eyes for a moment, then walked over to the bed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Dean said. "Are you alright?"

"I will be, I need to sit down for a minute and maybe have a cup of coffee, assuming Rob hasn't made a poisonous brew again. You'll be okay?"

"Yeah."

Sam watched the two leave the room, Galen walking slowly, Rob keeping one hand on his shoulder. Sam waited until they were in the kitchen before turning back to his brother. "Dean?"

"I'm okay, Sammy."

Sam sat on the edge of the bed, repressing the urge to strangle his brother. One of these days, Dean… "How long have you been blind?" he asked bluntly.

"I'm not," Dean answered quickly.

"Sorry," Sam said. "I just assumed you were since you didn't notice that dent I put in the Impala."

"You did what to my car?" Dean demanded. Sam waited. "Okay, since last night sometime. I was watching the auction and dozed off, when I woke up I couldn't see."

"Were you going to mention it?"

"I didn't want to worry you."

"Dean," Sam huffed. "I get to worry."

"Did you really dent the car?"

"No."

"So you just… Bitch." Dean reached for his hand.

"Jerk."

"Sammy, Galen said if he can't heal me, he can help…"

"No, oh hell no, Dean." Sam cut his brother off before he could finish the statement. "Not an option."

"That's my line."

"Yeah, well… No. No way, Dean, don't even think it."

"Sammy…"

"No."

"But…"

"What part of no are you having a problem with, Dean?"

"Fine," Dean said with a little smirk.

"Fine." They sat together in silence, each lost in thought. Sam kept trying to think of something to talk about, but nothing came to mind. Oh, god, Dean, what do I do if…?

"Can we talk?" Galen said from the door.

"Sure, come in," Dean said.

"I think I know a way around what happened before. If you let me put you out first, I think it might work."

"Put him out?" Sam said suspiciously.

"Yeah, I'll just guide him into sleep, then a little deeper. I think I can move the poison then."

"Will I wake up?" Dean asked.

"Yes, no matter what happens, I'll make sure you wake up."

"Okay," Dean said. "I want to make sure I can…"

"I understand," Galen said. "You'll wake up, I give my word."

"I don't like this," Sam and Rob said together. Sam glanced up at the other in surprise. Rob's jaw was clenched and he was looking at Galen with a worried frown. "I'm staying."

"Me, too," Rob said.

Galen and Dean sighed. "Fun," the healer said.

"Yeah," Dean said with a smile.

"You ready?" Galen asked as he approached the bed.

Dean nodded and tightened his grip on Sam's hand. Sam put his other hand over Dean's. "Let's do it."

"You'll hear the sound of a heartbeat. Just relax," Galen rubbed his hands together and put them on Dean's forehead and chest. The healer's eyes drifted closed, Dean followed suit a second later. Sam felt Dean's hand slowly relax, his brother's breathing evened out, then became shallow. Sam noticed Galen's hands were trembling where they rested on Dean.

"Rob?" Galen said softly. Rob put his hand on the healer's shoulder. His eyes closed. Sam watched Galen's face. A small trickle of blood made its way out of his nose and down his face.

"Galen," Rob said.

"A little longer," he whispered. Sam was startled by the strain in his voice, it sounded like he was nearly out of breath.

"Galen, no." Rob's eyes snapped open, he looked at Galen. "Stop."

"Just a little…" he gasped out.

"Galen! No! Break contact."

"Have to…"

"Get his hands off Dean, break contact," Rob said desperately to Sam. "Please! I can't, he won't release me. Please." Sam let go of his brother's hand and pulled the healer's hands off Dean. Galen slumped against Rob. "Galen?"

"Sam?" The healer opened his eyes, looked at Sam, and smiled. "It was enough, he should be okay. We'll know for sure in a few hours." He coughed, then collapsed against Rob, who drew Galen's arm over his shoulder and helped him out of the room.

"Dad!" Rob called as he walked through the house.

Sam checked on Dean, his pulse was strong. A thought wormed its way into Sam's brain. Didn't Rob say his father had been killed? He got up and slipped out of the room, following the sound of Rob's voice through the apartment, he stopped outside the door to what he assumed was Galen's room.

"Dad!" Rob called again. "Hang on, Galen." A figure shimmered into existence beside Rob. "Thank gods."

"What happened?" the figure asked, another appeared beside him.

"He was healing someone. It didn't go well the first time, the second time he put the guy out, but still this happened." Rob sighed in frustration, Sam recognized the sound, he made it himself when his brother did something particularly dangerous or annoying. "He wouldn't stop."

"Why not?" the second figure asked.

"I don't know. Can you help, Dad?" Rob said, laying his hands on Galen. The first figure put his hand on Rob's shoulder.

"He's stable, Rob," the shimmering figure said gently a few minutes later.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll stay with him till he wakes up, will you come back and check on him?"

"Of course. Rob, I recognize this poison."

"You do?" the second figure asked.

"Remember that thing we chased six years ago?"

"Do you mean the thing we were chasing when I almost lost you and Galen?"

"What are you talking about?" Rob asked.

"Six years ago Parry, Galen and I headed out in search of something in the forest. It killed another pair of Keepers and we wanted to stop it. I ended up nearly losing Galen and Parry. Do you really think this is the same thing?"

"I recognize the feel of the poison, I think that's why it affected him like this. He should be okay, Rob. When you need to sleep, let us know, we'll sit with him."

"Thanks, Dad, Uncle Bobby," Rob said quietly and the two figured shimmered out. Rob dropped into a chair beside Galen's bed with a sigh. Sam turned away and walked back to Dean's room. The appearance of the two spirits was a little disturbing. I have to find out more about that. He settled himself beside the bed, put his hand on Dean's and leaned back in the chair. He was asleep a few moments later.

XXX

A soft sound pulled Dean from a deep sleep. He shifted in the bed, something warm was on his hand and the bed was far more comfortable than the usual motel fare. Opening his eyes, he looked up at the high ceiling over the bed. He watched the lazy sweep of the fan for a few seconds before he realized he could see it. Dean glanced to the right, Sam was asleep in a chair beside the bed, the window behind his brother was still dark. With a happy sigh, he moved a little to get comfortable without waking Sam, and went back to sleep.

The next time he woke, the room was lighter. He opened his eyes, Sam was still beside the bed. Dean tightened his hand on his brother's. Sam shifted, muttered a little, sat up and blinked several times. "Sam?"

"Hey, Dean," Sam said, looking at him. "How do you feel?"

"Better than you look."

A slow smile spread across Sam's face. He reached out and pulled Dean up against him for a moment. Dean leaned into his brother. "You don't look so good, either, you know," Sam said softly.

"I always look good," Dean said, letting go of Sam. And so not a hug, Sammy. Sam reached behind him and rearranged the pillows so he could lean back. "Thanks."

"Yeah. Dean, I think Galen might know what attacked you."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard them talking last night, and I think they know what it is."

"Are you sure?"

"That's what I heard. He said it attacked Galen and his father a few years ago."

"We'll ask them," Dean said.

"Ask them what?" Rob said.

"Whether I can have coffee or not," Dean lied smoothly.

"I don't see any reason why not," Galen said, coming into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks."

"Good. Rob, why don't you and Sam head over to Becci's and get us all some coffee?" Galen said with a smile.

"No," Sam and Rob said together.

Galen looked at Dean and rolled his eyes. "Rob."

"Sam."

"Fine," Sam huffed.

"Galen?" Rob said. "Okay, we'll be right back. Come on." Sam followed the other out of the room. "I think it's scarf day," Rob said as they left.

"Scarf day?" Sam asked, the door closed cutting off Rob's answer.

"Protective," Galen said.

"Yours, too," Dean replied.

"I was dead for awhile, now that I'm back, he worries."

"Dead?" Dean asked. "Is that where you got that scar?" He pointed to the deep purple scar on Galen's neck.

"This?" He ran his hand along it. "In a way, this was the end of it. But no, I died when he was thirteen."

"How long were you dead?"

A fleeting sadness crossed the healer's face. "Ten years."

"What happened?"

"It's a long story, maybe I'll have a chance to tell you later." Galen sighed. "You need to know something."

"You know what attacked me?" Dean said, meeting the other's eyes.

"Congratulations on the effectiveness of your spies," Galen said with a laugh. "I might, I think it's something that very nearly killed my father and I six years ago. I looked at the map where you were attacked and the placement is right, it could be the same thing."

"Okay."

"There's more."

"There always is," Dean said grimly.

"Until it's dead, the poison might come back, and it acts like a beacon for the thing, it's marked us so it can find us later."

"Why didn't you finish it off?"

"My father and uncle were killed not long after this happened, and I knew I couldn't go after it alone. I was going to bring it up to Rob one of these days…"

"I understand." Dean grinned. "When can we leave?"

"Are you planning to go after it?"

Well, what do you think? Duh. "Maybe."

"That's not a good idea, it took out a pair of trained Keepers and then…"

"No, your translation's wrong, that's a medieval variant of the Latin," Rob's voice came from the living room.

"I don't think so, if you look at the declension, it clearly says…" Sam said indignantly.

"That's assuming the monk translated it correctly from the Old English."

Dean looked at the healer and sighed. "Sounds like they're having fun."

"Rob loves to discuss translations of the old works, your brother just fell into a trap." Galen grinned. "Which means you and I escaped. Before you two start pulling books off the shelf, can we have our coffee?"

"Sure," Rob said as they walked into the room. He handed Galen a cup.

"You have to check out that coffee stand before we go, Dean," Sam said with a grin, handing Dean a cup.

"Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah." Sam chuckled. "When can we go?"

"I think Dean should stay here today, just to make sure everything's alright," Galen said, looking at Sam. Dean saw his brother tense.

"Galen, can we talk for a minute?" Rob wandered out of the room. When they were gone, Dean turned to Sam. His brother was still watching the door.

"Sammy?"

"Huh?" Sam sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not sure I like that idea, Dean. How do you feel, honestly?"

"Better, Sam." He smiled. Of course lying to him all the time kind of hurts my credibility now. Sam dropped a hand Dean's. "Really."

"You nearly died, Dean," Sam said, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

"I didn't, Sammy."

"I know." Sam swallowed. "I want to make sure you're okay before…"

"Before what?" Dean demanded, sitting up. He didn't like the look in his brother's eyes. "Oh, no, Sam. You are not hunting that thing alone."

"Dean…"

"No."

"But…"

"What part of no are you not hearing, Sam?"

"Fine," Sam snapped.

"Fine," Dean shot back, then grinned. "We'll head out tomorrow, okay?"

Sam smiled. "Okay."

"You're not hunting alone, Sam."

"Okay."

"We agree," Galen said quietly.

"What?"

"If—and I don't think it's a good idea—but if you decide to go after that thing, we're coming." Galen held up his hand to stop Sam's protest. "We have a stake in this, too."

"Yeah," Rob said.

"Right now, however, I have to open the shop. There are clean towels in the bathroom, the washer is in the pantry, make yourselves at home."

"Thanks," Sam said with a smile.

"Come on, Brat, time for work." Galen headed out of the room, his brother behind him.

"What do we do, Dean?"

"We stay today, catch up on our sleep…"

"Get another coffee," Sam said, grinning.

"What's with the coffee stand?" Dean asked curiously.

"I'm not ruining the surprise."

"Fine. We'll worry about the hunt tomorrow."

"Okay." Sam stood. "I get first shower."

"Sure," Dean said, leaning back in the bed and sipping his coffee. He sensed the very edge of the something in his body. Huh, I wonder if that's the beacon part? I'll ask someone when I get up. This was a little close, I wonder if Sam knows just how close? Dean sighed, letting go of the thought for a moment, for once content to sit back and worry about the hunt later.

The End

A/N II: I fully intend to send them out hunting this thing, but this story was about healing Dean and not the hunt, look for the next installment coming soon.