The Emancipation of Heaven's Court

Disclaimer: I own nothing save for what rattles around in my rather warped imagination.

Chapter four Who's gonna save Sam?

Rose stood over Sam's inert form and stared at Ed. 'So what do you think another one to harvest?'

'Rose honey isn't this the one you couldn't affect earlier?' Ed asked crouching down he stared at Sam closely.

'Oh yes the one who lost it.' Rose nodded thoughtfully, 'what do you want to do with him?'

'Well we can't harvest him and we can't let him lose.'

'The strong one ... it is his brother.' Rose exclaimed, 'I remember now.'

'So how can we harvest one and not the other?'

'I'm not sure Ed but we have to get him inside before the others get here.' Rose said glancing around, you wanna take his arms?'

Together they dragged a dazed Sam into the hut and dropped him unceremoniously on the floor directly above Dean. Moaning softly Sam tried to open his eyes, his body felt numb and heavy but his head thumped unmercifully. 'What ... happened?' He slurred.

'Oh God Rose he's coming around already.' Ed exclaimed staring at Sam horrified.

'Quick Ed tie him up and gag him we don't need to attract any attention with his noise.' Rose snapped, 'we have to work out what is going on, if he has half of the strength as his brother ...' Rose let her words hang in the air.

Moving deftly Ed managed to tie Sam's wrists and ankles and then gagged him with an old rag, he shuddered when he saw the look of abject fear in the boy's tear-filled eyes.

'You finished yet Ed?'

'Yeah I am, something aint right with this one Rose, just gotta look in his eyes.'

'I don't care we don't need anything but his essence.' Rose snapped she could feel the effects of the harvest already starting to wane. 'Drag him over here behind our chairs.'

Together they dragged Sam's long body across the floor and hid him behind the seats carelessly tossing a tarp over him. 'Tomorrow Ed, tomorrow we'll use him.' Rose said walking away.

Ed remained where he stood watching the shaking of the tarp covered young man for a few seconds, crouching down again he tugged the tarp down and exposed Sam's face, tears tracking down the pale cheeks and the fear in the green eyes got to the older man and he sat there staring at his prisoner trying to work out a way to calm him down. 'Okay boy we can do this two ways, one you can calm down and stay conscious for the night or two I can knock you out and keep you that way until we work out what to do with you.'

Sam stared at him trying to assimilate what the man was saying it came through like white noise in his panic-ridden consciousness. His breathing hitched and he started to hyperventilate, all he could see and hear was the demon from Australia goading him before using him once again.

'Ah son I thought we might have been able to work something out.' Ed said shaking his head in disappointment. 'Rose can knock em out with just a touch but me; I have to use more conventional means.' Reaching up he grabbed a syringe from the bench and held in front of Sam's saucer wide eyes. Frantically Sam tried to move away, his gaze fixed on the needle in front of him, his terror palpable as he became completely lost in his fear and memories.

'Sam?' Dean grunted and tried to move once again, he had heard everything above him and his stomach clenched in spasms he had to get to his brother and he had to get to him fast.

Letting his fingers glide along the tubing he reached until he touched the hole in the floor it was big enough to fit a finger through, with his anger and fear for his brother fuelling him Dean pushed on the weakened wood, hearing it crack brought a quiet satisfaction to him. Placing both hands against the wood he pushed with as much strength as he could, the effort forcing his lips apart in a bloody rush. 'Sam!' he screamed as he smashed the wood above him.

Startled by the movement Ed scrambled away from Sam and turned in horror as number six broke through the floor and dragged himself from his capsule. 'No, no this aint happening.'

'Get away from my brother.' Dean snarled swiping at the blood dripping from his torn lips. 'Now!'

Ed got up and ran for the door his bravado disappearing as quickly as his strength the effects were only short term from the harvest and now his most potent one was free.

Dean pushed his aching and cramped body into action and hurried as fast as he could over to Sam. 'Hey dude I've got ya.' He muttered gently wincing with the effort.

Lost in his mind Sam didn't register Dean's presence and pressed himself further back against the wall, his soft mewls breaking his brother's heart. 'Ah Sammy I am so sorry.' Dean said cupping Sam's face in his hand. 'We have to get outta here Sam and I can't do it without you.'

'Dean?' Sam whimpered blinking furiously he tried to focus on the familiar face, 'Dean I'm lost.'

'Come on Sam before those old dudes come back and whack us with their walking sticks.' Dean undid the ropes around Sam's wrists and ankles and helped his trembling brother back up. 'You okay to move?'

'I – I can ...' Sam nodded but swayed unsteadily, 'lost Dean.'

Worriedly Dean slung his arm around Sam's waist and helped his brother out of the hut, as quickly as the two injured brothers could move they retraced Sam's steps to the car park, neither saying a word until they were safely in the impala and speeding away from the creepy old people.

'Damn that was too easy.' Dean muttered hissing as the dried blood pulled on the tender skin of his lips. 'Sammy you with me?'

'I – I feel like ... I'm f-fading Dean.' Sam wept openly unable to stop the tears, 'no more p-please.'

Slamming his foot on the accelerator Dean sped to the motel, in record time packed their things, and drove away from the town and the crazy patients at Heaven's Gate.

Sam rested his head on the coolness of the window but he continued to tremble his long fingers twisting together as his breakdown was complete.

'Fuck Sammy where do we go?' Dean asked aloud as he glanced at his baby brother, 'what do we do now?'

'S-so cold.' Sam whispered,'s-so t-tired.'

'Sammy hang in there bud, we're gonna get some help.'

'Who?' Sam muttered more to himself a short harsh giggle erupted from his lips as he traced patterns on the window, 'who wants us? We're broken.'

The distinctive ringtone of Dean's cell phone startled both of the Winchesters, 'Yeah?'

'Boy where are you?'

'Missouri?' Dean exclaimed slamming the brakes on he skidded to a stop on the side of the road and juggled to keep hold of the phone.

'Dean boy where are you?'

'On, on the way to your place.' Dean stammered.

'Glad to hear it, you need to get that brother of yours here as soon as you can Dean.'

'I already am Missouri.'

'Don't you take that tone with me Dean!'

'Missouri why did you ring?'

'To make sure that you were on the way here ... how is that brother of yours anyway?'

'Not good.'

'How are you?'

'Fine.'

'Don't lie to me boy.'

'I'm ... going to be okay.'

'I'll see for myself when you get here.'

'Yes ma'am.' Dean hung up and glanced over at Sam, 'well it looks like we're going home to Kansas.'

'Kansas?' Sam blinked and turned his head to face Dean, 'home?'

'Yeah Sammy, Missouri wants to see us.' Dean said 'do you remember Missouri?'

'Yeah I think so.' Sam nodded and then turned back to continue staring out the window and tracing patterns on the glass.

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Missouri waited on the porch for Dean and Sam as they pulled into her driveway. Worrying her lower lip she watched Dean ease himself out of the car and then wearily make his way around to the passenger side. After a few minutes of coaxing Dean managed to get Sam out of the vehicle. Missouri let out a gasp when she took in the haggard appearances of both young men, 'hey Missouri.' Dean managed to smile as he guided his near catatonic brother up the steps.

'Oh my poor boys.' Missouri exclaimed following them inside she directed them to her living room. Tenderly Dean lowered Sam down onto the couch and sat down next to him. Within seconds, Sam's hand snaked out and anchored his fingers in the hem of Dean's shirt and he kept his gaze fixed on the floor at his feet.

'Dean honey I bet you boys are hungry ... would you like some lunch? I made soup.'

'That would be great Missouri thanks.'

'Okay why don't you get Sam settled for a while and come and give me a hand.' She patted Dean's hand and then bustled off to the kitchen.

'Sammy, I'm going to go and give Missouri a hand to get lunch, why don't you get some rest?' Dean asked lifting Sam's feet up he placed them on the couch and undid Sam's shoes. 'I'm going to be right in the kitchen just down the hall.'

'Dean?'

'Yeah Sammy?'

"She's a friend?'

'Yeah dude she's going to help us.'

'Okay.' Sam nodded, 'might have a sleep for a while.'

Dean stared down at his brother swallowing deeply, he truly feared he had lost Sam this time, the abuse he suffered was just too much. They had gone back to hunting too soon, he wasn't ready. Swaying on his feet Dean turned and staggered towards the kitchen ... lifting a trembling hand he touched his temple as dizziness assailed him. 'Sammy.' Dean croaked out as he crashed to the floor unconscious, exhaustion and pain finally getting the better of him.

Sam opened his eyes in time to see Dean collapse, disorientated he pulled himself up and lurched towards his fallen brother, 'D-Dean?' he whispered cradling Dean's head on his lap Sam started sobbing, unsure of where they were or what happened to them he broke once more, his terror rising to flood levels when he heard footsteps coming along the hallway.

'Dean Winchester I thought that you were going to help me.' Missouri started to scold when she stopped and stared down at the brothers, hot fat tears ran down her face as she took in the tragic sight. 'Sam honey what happened?'

'Who are you?' Sam frowned her knew her face and voice but couldn't quite place ...'Missouri?'

'That's it chil' what happened to Dean?'

'He, he c-collapsed.' Sam hiccuped, 'why won't he wake up?'

'He's tired, that's all it was a long drive to get here wasn't it.'

'I-I guess.'

'Can you help me get him upstairs?' Missouri asked running a gentle hand down Sam's face, 'I think that both of you need a good sleep.'

'Okay.' Sam breathed, a little of the fogginess lifted in his mind with her touch. After two attempts he managed to stand and gather Dean into his arms. 'Where?'

'I'll show you Sam.' Missouri smiled sweetly and led the way upstairs to the guest room, already made up with the twin beds ready for them.

Gently Sam laid Dean down, removed his shoes and then covered him with his blankets, 'he, he looks ... his m-mouth, they hurt his m-mouth.'

'I can see that, I have some ointment that will help, what about you Sam?'

'Me?'

'Do you have any injuries?'

'No, no please don't.' Sam backed away banging his legs on the other bed.

'Don't worry sweetheart I'm not going to hurt you or touch you if you don't want me to.'

'Th-they hurt me.' Sam whispered climbing into his own bed he curled up on his side enabling him to watch Dean.

'Who did baby?'

'The demon in Australia.'

'Australia?' Missouri breathed, 'they took you to Australia?'

Sam nodded his head, 'demon ... took me and t-tried to k-kill D-Dean.' Sam spoke softly his voice devoid of any emotion. 'He, he broke me.'

'Oh baby, you're not broken I promise you will get better and stronger.' Missouri said her own voice cracking with unacknowledged emotions.

'We c-came home ... s-started to work again.' Sam continued as though he never heard Missouri, 'th-they t-take young people and d-drain them, m-makes them younger. Th-they took Dean and hurt him ... his neck.'

'What about his?' Missouri moved to look at where Sam indicated, finding under a bloodstained piece of gauze a hole the size of a coin. Crusted with blood and speckled with green pus. 'Sam?'

'Th-they put a t-tube in him and t-took his essence.' Sam muttered, 'th-they c-couldn't ... it d-didn't work on, on me.'

'Coz you have the gift child and it protected you.'

'D-didn't protect Dean ... didn't p-protect us in Australia.' Sam pointed out sleepily.

'Get some sleep Sam, we have to get you and your brother well again.'

'They're n-not g-going to l-let us g-go.' Sam said as sleep finally claimed him, 'n-not g-gonna l-let us go.'

'Oh Sam.' Missouri sighed sitting on the edge of Dean's bed she watched the brothers sleep and tried to calm herself down, then she went and found the ointment, clean gauze and other first aide supplies. If anything, at least she can help with the physical problems to start with.

The shrill ringing of her phone startled Missouri and she hurried to answer it before it woke the boys. 'hello? Who ... oh why are you ringing me now of all times?'

TBC