Chapter 4—Saving Sammy…I Think

Ding-dong. For the hundredth time that day Dean wobbled toward the front door.

"Maybe you should let someone else answer," called Jo from the kitchen as he bobbed passed.

"I need to learn how to walk again," answered Dean, steadying himself, "or I'll never be able to find Sammy."

"Mmmm, well then, you might have to do that with a walker," commented Ruby as she laid down a card on the table. "Ha!" she continued, with a victory punch. "I beat you!"

"How do you lose at Go Fish?" asked Jo, throwing her cards down as Ruby got up and did a funny dance around the room. The doorbell rang again. Dean launched himself from the kitchen doorway and slowly edged his way down the hallway using the wall. When he got to the door, he jerked open the door and sagged with relief against the entryway.

"Wow, Dean, you look…um, well, just awful."

"Thanks for the compliment, Lenore," replied Dean. Lenore smiled and stepped inside the house.

"Here," she said, pulling his arm over her shoulder, shutting the door with her foot, "let me help you into a chair or something."

"No, no," Dean gently nudged her away. "I need to learn how to walk again."

"Yeah, or he'll be using a walker to go rescue Sammy," said Ruby, walking into the hall, grinning at the tottering Dean.

"I'm so going to bust your ass when I find Sammy," countered Dean. "And don't call him 'Sammy'!" he snapped. Ruby held up her hands in mock surrender.

"I give!" she pretended to beg. "Lenore, he's all yours!"

"If I have to come tell you two to…oh, Lenore," stormed Bobby, stopping mid-sentence. "Didn't know you were here."

"Um, I just came in the door," giggled Lenore. "I didn't get very far when these two," she indicated Dean and Ruby, "started to go at it."

"Uh-huh," grunted Bobby. He glared first at the demon, who was trying to look innocent, then at Dean, who was still clinging to the wall.

"I think you can take care of these two," said Bobby, returning his eyes to Lenore. "You have my permission to bite either one, if they rouse up anymore noise."

"Ooo, kinky," Ruby cocked an eyebrow. "Sorry partner, but I don't swing that way."

"You're a dirty enough bitch," muttered Dean.

"Stop it," sighed Bobby, exasperated. Jo came out of the kitchen.

"How do you lose at Go Fish?" she asked.

Sam opened his eyes carefully. He moved his arms and legs cautiously, wincing slightly when the bandages shifted.

"Well," he thought dryly, "at least I'm not tied up anymore." He sat up, but then quickly sunk back down. His head spun around and black spots danced in front of him. Laying back down, Sam closed his eyes slowly and counted silently in his head. He opened them again and let a few seconds pass before he sat up, this time more slowly. Cautiously, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and rested his feet on the floor. Standing up, he stumbled at first, but managed to get his legs moving across the wooden floor. He slumped against the door when he got there, tugging on the doorknob. It was locked.

"Damn," he cursed silently. "Of course it's locked, Sam. Besides, where would you go?"

"I don't know!" he answered himself. Sagging against the door, Sam blinked back tears that had surprisingly sprung to his eyes. His wounds throbbed against the bandages, a pulsating reminder of where he was and what had happened.

With each painful step, Sam dragged himself back across the room, and being mindful of his injuries, flopped down onto the bed. It wasn't as luxurious as the other one, but it was still comfortable. Rolling his head to the side, Sam saw another bed across from him. He then sprang upright in the bed and took a gander at the room.

The room was small. It was styled much like the cheap motel rooms he and his brother rented, but this room had a little class. A small kitchenette lay behind a flimsy, decorative screen; the bathroom door was off to the side of his bed. There were no windows, but curtains hung on the wall where a window might have been. Sam had no idea what to think of these things.

"Why put me in a room that looks almost exactly like the one I just left?" he asked himself out loud. "Great, now I'm going crazy," he continued.

Dean surveyed the map in front of him. He glanced at Lenore.

"Are you sure this is the right address?" he asked her. She nodded, sipping from her Styrofoam cup. He looked down at the map.

"What?" she asked.

"Um, it's just a bit…you know…fancy," he ended lamely.

"Yeah, well these girls are a bunch of hoes," she commented, drinking a long draught from her cup. He shook his head.

"Do they honestly work a street corner?" he asked. Lenore nodded.

"Used to," she replied, dumping the empty cup into the waste basket. She folded her arms and leaned against the counter. "That is, until they killed their pimp and stole his business. They worked the girls and guys for awhile before selling that project, and then continued to bring in the drug money while working as exotic dancers for awhile."

"So, they were whores and strippers," stated Dean, sitting down in a chair and cracking his knuckles. "Did they ever quit the drugs?"

"Nope," said Lenore, sitting down in the chair perpendicular to his. "But, most of the drug lords are vampyres. It makes it that much more easier to not get caught when you can just mesmerize the cops with your body."

"Or just rip out their throats," mumbled Dean. Lenore inclined her head.

"That too," she added. They both sat in silence for awhile. Dean cleared his throat.

"So what do I have to do?" he asked her, almost sounding fearful.

"Well, I could try and buy Sam, but that would take awhile," she offered.

"Why?"

"Cause they're so stingy."
"Maybe you should try a trade," said Ruby from behind Dean. Dean looked up at her, quizzical.

"That would get us nowhere," replied Lenore, now focusing her attention on Ruby. "We would all be in the same positions as before."

"No we wouldn't," stated Ruby. "Sam would be sitting where Dean is." Lenore stared at her, shocked.

"What?" asked Ruby, trying to sound innocent.

"I don't believe you. I really don't get you," sighed an exasperated Lenore as she rubbed her temples.

"Don't try to," said Dean. "Ruby's a demonic bitch who wants to take over the world." Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, that's my plan," sniffed Ruby. "World dominance. Seriously, I can't be helpful anymore."

"That wasn't helpful."

"Don't start!" snapped Lenore. "Gosh, it's so darn hard to do anything around here with you two bickering with each other."

"Exactly my point," joined Bobby as he entered the kitchen. He got a beer out of the fridge and offered one to Dean and Lenore.

"Aww, I don't get one?" Ruby pretended to whine.

"Sorry kid, must be at least thirty to drink in my house," Bobby took a swig from his bottle.

"Mhm, Dean, you can't drink that," commented Ruby.

"Fuck off."

"Feisty."

"Dean, what time can you be ready to leave tomorrow?" interjected Lenore.

"Anytime. Let's go now," replied Dean, glowering at Ruby.

"Why so early?" asked Bobby.

"So I can plan in silence," responded Lenore. Bobby nodded.

"Go get packed, Dean," Bobby kicked Dean's chair on his way out. Dean stood up. Lenore followed him.

"Be down here at six forty-five," instructed Lenore.

"So early?"

"Yeah, cause I'll still be asleep," joked Ruby as she sauntered out of the room. Lenore stared after her.

"Does she ever just walk?" she asked.

"Nope," answered Dean, "she has to make sure you see her butt as she leaves." Lenore shook her head.

"Well, I'm going to find a cheap motel to stay in," she said as she pulled on her coat.

"Why not stay here?" asked Dean, following her as she walked down the front hallway.

"I do not want to be kept up all night by you and Ruby," she stated simply.

"Do you need someone to stay with you?"

"No, Dean. Besides, Ken's with me."

"Ken? Whatever happened to Luthor?"

"Hunters got him."

"Oh. Sorry."

"S'okay, I guess. Ken's a great guy, but that's it. He's just a guy."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, nothing. He's really awesome, but he doesn't like women."

"Doesn't like…women?" choked out Dean.

"He's a homosexual, Dean," Lenore laughed at Dean's expression. "Bye Dean," she added as she laughed her way out of the door. Dean shook his head and wandered into the living room.

"Get so sleep, hon," said Ellen from the couch. Ellen's attention was caught up in the poker game before her. Jo studied her cards with an intent expression, and Ruby lazily fanned herself with hers.

"Yeah, probably should," was all that escaped Dean's mouth.

When he was upstairs and out of the shower, Dean finally felt an invisible weight crashing down on him. He stared up at the slow moving fan, even though it must be at least thirty degrees outside. He made a decision then, and wondered if his plan would work. All he needed was for Lenore to get him inside. The rest was his story.