Mature themes and references made to non-graphic/non-consensual sex.

The Price of Living

The man held the knife to Dean's throat but his eyes stayed on Sam.

"What will you do to keep your brother?" he asked, his dark eyes appraising the young man standing in front of him.

"Anything," Sam said, holding the gaze though a shiver ran through his body.

The man grinned lewdly. "Okay," he agreed and nodded to his two friends. They took his place holding Dean, the knife bit into the hunter's soft flesh in warning when he tried to make a break for it.

"No, Sammy," he gasped, terrified of what this man might want.

The man moved to stand in front of Sam and then nodded. "Back room." He turned and walked away, indicating for the youngest Winchester to follow him.

Sam exchanged a long look with Dean and then left.

The men holding him never once spoke a word.

Two hours later the man came out of the back room, his face flushed and his shirt undone. He moved towards Dean and light a cigarette, blowing smoke in his face.

"Your brother," he grinned, "Damn fine piece of ass."

Dean lunged at him but couldn't break free. "I'll kill you," he vowed.

The man just laughed. "I doubt it," and then tipped his head towards Dean's captors. The young hunter felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. He was out cold before he hit the ground.

"Dean?" someone was shaking him. "Dean? C'mon man, wake up."

Sammy…

As memory slammed into Dean he lurched up, his head pounding and the world swirling. Crouching beside him, his face a mottled mess of bruises was his younger brother.

"Oh God, Sammy," Dean clutched desperately at his brother, forcing his eyes to focus on Sam's face. "Are you… are you okay?"

Sam offered a weak smile and pulled away. "I'm okay." Was all he said.

The man's words came back to haunt him and he swallowed hard wanting to ask but being afraid of knowing.

The younger hunter stood stiffly and then extended a hand down to him. "Can you stand?"

Dean couldn't find the words to ask as he accepted the extended hand and was pulled slowly to his feet. He used his brother to steady himself, noticing, even in his own tempestuous state that the younger man was trembling badly.

"Sammy," he forced himself to ask, "Did he… ah… he said…" the words fought him. Steeling his breath he just blurted out, "Did he rape you?"

The younger man flinched and pulled away, his eyes hooded as they darted to look anywhere but at Dean. It was more of an answer than the older man could stand. Guilt consumed him. Sam never wanted to stop at this fucking bar. Sam begged him not to try and hustle these guys. Sam –

Sam had been raped because Dean was too proud and stubborn to listen to him.

"Oh Sam," his voice was anguished.

"Dean," Sam finally looked at him and Dean inhaled sharply as he realized that the man had badly used him, "it's okay."

"What the fuck?" Dean was shocked, his own headache forgotten. "How can you say its okay?"

The younger man shrugged. "It was a small price to pay."

Dean shook his head in denial. "No," he insisted. "How can you say that?"

"Because," Sam sighed and licked gingerly at his split lip, "the cost of losing you would have been worse."

And then before Dean could say anything, his brother turned and moved stiffly towards the exit. Shaken to the core, the older man moved slowly, his breath hitching as he realized what his brother had done for him.

Sam had said on more than one occasion that he would die for Dean. And in a way, he had.

Catching up the younger boy outside the run down biker bar, Dean reached out with his hand, stopping when he saw a brief flash of fear on Sam's face. "I'm sorry," he offered. It was pathetic but he had nothing else to offer.

"I know."

Sam sighed heavily, "please Dean," he asked, "Can we just never mention this?"

Dean frowned as he shook his head slightly. "We can't, Sammy. Not this. You need to be checked out – that bastard might have -"

Sam snorted and pulled open the Impala passenger door. "The bastard wore a condom," he said softly and then gingerly slid into the car.

The other hunter felt like he had been sucker punched.

"What can I do to make this better?" it was a hollow offering, but heartfelt nevertheless.

He saw his brother's head drop.

"Drive Dean. Just drive. Get me the fuck out of here."

Sam never had to ask twice.

They didn't go after the man who had hurt Sam but from this time on if Sammy said 'no,' Dean listened.

TBC