Supernatural Death Note

Chapter Sixteen: Aftermath

Summary:  The return of Castiel and a decision is made.

There were a few burns, but most of the fluids had been on his clothing and had barely eaten to his skin. What was of great concern was a large needle like something off a porcupine embedded into the base of his skull near the spinal cord. Dean's face was pale even for his skin. He was not responding to anything.

L carefully pulled the quill out, having Near keep fingers on Dean's pulse. They should be at a hospital for this but given the situation, field treatment would have to do.

For a while, there was no response, but slowly, Dean's pulse rate picked up, and his eyes fluttered a little, but nothing else.

"Dean, open your eyes. Let us know you are still with us." L looked concerned.

The hunter was struggling to open his eyes, and he was gasping for air. His heart rate became erratic.

"Come on, Dean." His voice was low.

Dean tried to speak, but his words were badly slurred, "Can't breathe. God, my chest hurts. I can't move."

L sent Near for Watari, who came in a few moments later. After hearing the description of the fight, he looked at Dean. "I don't have time to find someone to do a chemical analysis. Can you tell me what's on the quill?"

Dean tried to open his eyes and look at Watari, "Think it's...the word was mumbled but Watari got the gist of it and went looking for the kit Dean had put together after he came back from town and went through what Cas had left him.

Within moments, the syringe was injected into Dean's arm. "This should do it."

Slowly, Dean began to breathe normally, and the heart rate began to return to normal. Dean tried to inhale air too fast and choked and slowly rolled to his side, holding his ribs, Watari looked at the bruised and bleeding face. "What happened to his face?"

Dean's eyes opened and he looked up, with a slightly glazed look, "My face?"

"It's bruised," he answered. "Mello, ice pack to reduce the swelling."

Mello scrambled to follow orders.

"The thing hit me in the face while I was out? There's nothing in the clearing to do that?" His unsteady gaze found L, "Did something else happen?"

L gave him a full report, leaving nothing out.

"The mountain trail? Then it was taking me to her! I wouldn't have been able to move. Hell, that's not good. She wants me immobilized, which means Ruby's been talking about me. Watari, I need an antidote I can take to prevent the chemical on the quill from doing this to me again. We got to figure something out, cause I have got to be able to cut her head off. At least be able to slow it down."

Near shook his head. "The plan should be sure proof though. Dean had no time to move after being hit with the quill. The antidote would not be able to be administered."

"No, I'm not saying this right. I want something to prevent it from working, at least for a while. Give me time to cut her head off. If you can't find something that will work permanently, at least give me an hour or more."

"That may take more time than we have. I'll send the quill to a lab and see what we can come up with," Watari said, bagging the item in question.

"They know where we are, Watari, and Sam can't defend himself, when Ruby comes after him. It may be a combined front next time. The demons must have some of our defenses figured out. It would be easy for the creatures to destroy them and let the demons in too. Damn, I don't feel good."