Chapter Three

It was like the calm before the storm as Dean slowly woke from his troubled sleep. He looked around tranquilly, taking in everything around him as he returned from the land of dreams. His gaze landed on Sam next to him and he felt a jolt of unhappiness and betrayal go through him as he observed his sleeping brother while the memories from the other day returned to him in a rush of color and feelings. He knew Sam wanted to protect him, but he wanted this...whatever 'this' truly was. He wanted the peace and completion that he couldn't get from anyone else, but that he could receive from her. He felt like he belonged with her and that it was all he could do since the one other thing that he wanted he didn't dare even grasp at.

Shifting carefully and wincing at the pain that pulsed through him with his movements, Dean pushed himself out of the cocoon of covers and away from Sam's nurturing and protective hold. He looked back as he balanced himself on the other bed and saw Sam shift and murmur in his sleep but showed no other signs of waking. Smiling sadly, Dean reached over and brushed his hand across Sam's face, though he was careful with his claws so he wouldn't hurt his brother. 'I know you meant well, Sam. But it's not enough. It'll never be enough,' he thought forlornly and brushed his lips over his sleeping brother's mouth before pulling away and hobbling silently towards the door. He opened it and went outside, smiling as he saw the sun was just starting to line the horizon with its rising, coloring the sky in a joyous burst of deep purples, indigoes, pinks, and reds. His eyes fell to the ocean which was lapping at the beach that was nearby and he felt his heart speed up in joy when he saw a figure in the water, bobbing in wait for him.

Overjoyed that she had found him, Dean began making his way towards the water, thankful that he was naked. The wind was cold to him and the sand felt a bit too gritty as he came onto it with his translucent feet, but he ignored it as both instinct and need surged through him, powering him to the water. With a splash, he entered the warm waters and cried out suddenly in joy before diving in. His body shook with the changes that were now wracking his body as the strange DNA and magic from the mermaid used the seawater to resume his transformation, but then he was suddenly held steady by her body and arms. They kissed as she pressed closer to him, twining her tail with his merging legs as she reinserted herself into his body to finish what had been started.

*~~*

A jolt of awareness and the feeling of a deep loss that was just *wrong* shot through Sam like a lightening bolt and he sat up in bed, awake and shaking with nerves and the sense of something being gone that was irreplaceable. He looked around frantically, his eyes wide with dread and the struggle to shake off the sleep fog that was holding onto his mind as he searched for his brother in order to reassure himself. His eyes fell onto the spot where Dean had been snuggled up to him in sleep and found only cold sheets and tiny iridescent green scales and he knew that his brother had left.

Struggling out of the sheets and covers, Sam grabbed some pants and pulled them on as he hopped towards the bed, intent on finding his brother before it was too late. He opened the door hastily, ignoring it as it slammed into the wall next to the doorway while he looked around anxiously for any sign of his missing brother. He stopped though when he caught sight of the footprints that were heading towards the beach that was nearby and knew without a doubt that they were Dean's tracks. Not even thinking, he ran down towards the beach, pushing aside the voice in his head that was screaming that he was too late. He wouldn't be too late...he couldn't be! He had to save Dean!

He ran into the water, slowing down only as it grew harder to push through the dominating waves. He shouted out Dean's name as he ploughed through the turbulent waters, his heart nearly exploding with its rapid pace as fear and despair rose up in him. Finally, he came to a stop about half a mile from the shoreline and tread water as he spun in the water, scanning frenetically for the only one in his life that he could not lose. After a few minutes that seemed to be forever, he dove underwater and looked around, feeling his eyes burn with the saltwater, but disregarding it in his desperate search.

Diving repeatedly until he was nearly passing out from lack of oxygen, Sam looked around as tears rolled unheeded down his cheeks. He brought his fists up and slammed them into the water as he sobbed in pain. He could feel his heart breaking as he came to the realization that he’d lost the most important love in his life and he clutched at his chest as he gasped for air. Finally, he threw back his head and screamed his agony, letting it fly into the heavens and beyond as he grieved. “DEAN!!”

*~~*

It was difficult to think, Dean decided as he floated with the mermaid while his body finished in its transformation. He looked up woozily and smiled when she smiled at him before cupping her face with his webbed hand. She shifted on him, nestling into him for a bit before pulling away and swimming backwards with a strong flick of her tail. He grinned and clumsily turned himself, grunting as he struggled and glared at her as she trilled in a giggle at his attempts. So...hard... he growled at her before he finally got his equilibrium enough to at least float upright. What’s your name?

It will take time, Dean. Don’t worry...you will get it. And my name is Naida, she replied with a gentle smile as she swam back towards him and caressed his face tenderly.  You’re strong and very intelligent. You will adjust quickly.

Sighing as he nodded, Dean looked down at himself and took stock of his changes. His legs had fused into one trunk and green, blue, and indigo scales covered it down to where his feet had become the fins, which were pale blue. His crotch was a V indent now and when he touched the area, he was surprised to find his cock was within some folds there. He ran his hand up his torso and found it scaled here and there with the same colors as his tail in a configuration much like body hair. With a couple of fingers, he brought his slightly longer hair down to eye level and found that it was still sandy blond, but with a tint of blue in it, then touched his ears and found that his human ears were gone and were replaced by fin type shapes around the holes that were all that were left. His hands and arms were also scaled, but not as much and only along the forearms and hands as well as the shoulders, much like armor would be applied to a body. He touched his neck and found his gills, but frowned a bit at that. I can’t go back up, can I? he asked as he looked over at her.

You can, but why would you want to? You’re with me now and one of us. Is that not good enough? she inquired affectionately as she caressed his body.

Sammy...I can’t... Dean stopped suddenly as he heard something both physically and mentally and looked up towards the surface that now seemed so far away. His face contorted with pain as he felt the connection he had with his brother surge with Sam’s anguish and hopelessness. He reached up an arm in entreaty before flicking his tail in an effort to get to the surface, but was stopped by her hand on his arm. He turned to her, eyes filled with apprehension and sorrow. I have to go to him! He’s calling me and he’s in so much pain! he exclaimed desperately.

You can’t help him, Dean. You aren’t a part of his world anymore, she responded gently as she floated up to his level. He looked away and she could see the trembles that were shaking his body. Tilting her head in surprise, she whispered, He means so much to you? Is he the one you long for the most in your heart?

Looking up at her, Dean opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it as he nodded sharply. He couldn’t keep anything from her and he didn’t want to. He’s all I have had until now. And I know I belong with you, but he’s my brother...my everything. He’s what kept me here in this world and... He stopped and put his hands over his eyes, fighting the sudden urge to cry. What had he just *done*?!

Go and look upon him, but don’t approach him. He must adjust and so must you. You have a new life now...with me and our people, she stated quietly as she watched him, feeling a twinge of regret in her at his pain. She felt now the strong connection and love between them and knew that it had been denied them because they were brothers. In her world, it was not so for they were very close among her people. But in the human world, incest was not looked upon favorably. She floated up to him and cupped his face lovingly before kissing him, seeking to reassure him.

Returning the kiss with gratitude, Dean smiled at her when the kiss ended before swiftly swimming to the surface with powerful strokes of his tail. He broke through carefully and looked around before spotting Sam sitting on the beach. His heart stopped as he saw how his brother was curled up in obvious misery, but a touch on his tail stopped him from going to Sam. He looked over as Naida, his mate now, slid up out of the water beside him and gazed upon Sam as well.

As the sun rose and touched the waters with its warm rays, the two merpeople watched the human on the shore, crestfallen for what had happened. But after a bit, Naida silently dove into the water and left Dean alone. Dean watched Sam as a tear rolled down his face, but he couldn’t change things. With a silent farewell, he turned and dove after his mate, accepting what had happened.

Sam looked up suddenly and saw the figure in the water before it turned and dove under the water, a tail whipping up the only sign of its passing. Heart in his throat, Sam knew that it had been his brother and realized that he had indeed lost his only family. With a shaking breath that hitched on a sob, he buried his face in his arms and wept some more, torn within by what had happened and wondering if he’d ever be able to recover.

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