Title: What evil lurks…
Author: Disasteriffic Kaz
Info: What's the world coming too when even a simple salt and burn can't be simple anymore? Post 5x05 "Fallen Idols" hurt/limp/awesome!Sam/Dean with a dash of awesome!Cas for taste.
Author's note: Yes, I am an evil and cruel mistress. Heh heh heh heh MWahahahahaha. :D But that's why you love me.
Do please Review once you've read. :D Every comment and vote of support helps keep me writing. Not to mention if I've pooched anything, someone can always tell me. :P
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"Every artist considers his work to be his children." The man bowed and grinned again. "You should be honored I've decided to add you to my collection. I was going to take the other one." He sighed and shook his head. "Alas he was simply too big, too heavy for me to carry. I'm not as spry as I used to be you know."
Dean was never more glad in his life that his little brother had grown into a giant.
"Even getting you here was a strain." He stretched, resting a hand at the small of his back. "I'll need a chiropractor after this." He chuckled. "So, let's make this last as long as we can, hmm?"
Dean renewed his efforts to free himself as the Strangler walked out of his line of sight again. He knew what was coming now. "You son of a bitch!" He shouted. "I'm gonna enjoy killing your ass, you sick twist!"
The Strangler chuckled from behind him. "I'm afraid my death won't be on the menu today. Now, deep breath." He flipped the switch on the modified car battery he'd set up and watched cheerfully as his newest toy jerked and strained in his bonds, head arched back and frantic eyes staring at the ceiling as fought and failed to breathe. "That's my boy."
CHAPTER 4
Sam was floating. He felt as though he were floating and opened his eyes as he felt himself come to rest on a soft surface. He was lying on a beach, waves rolling gently in in front of him and stretched out on a comfortable beach chair. He sat up in surprise and looked over to find Lucifer beside him in another chair. The Devil raised a ridiculous coconut drink, complete with umbrella and smiled at him.
"Sammy. You do have a knack for getting yourself in trouble." Lucifer took a sip from the drink and hummed appreciatively. "You should try this. It's actually quite good."
Sam felt a drink appear in his hand and looked down at the coconut. He tossed it into the sand. "What are you doing here?" Sam glared at him. "Where am I?" He hoped his anger would mask the fear running through him.
"Oh you're still in whatever dank, dark tunnel you were in." Lucifer shrugged. "Since you're taking a nap I thought I'd check in on you. I do care about you, Sam. You understand that, don't you?" The Devil smiled sincerely at him. "You're very important to me."
"Get out of my head and send me back!" Sam clambered out of the chair and stood over him, fists clenched and wondered if he could hurt the Devil in his dreams.
"Sam. You shouldn't be so angry with me." Lucifer smiled gently. "I'm really not the monster they make me out to be. They betrayed me Sam. Not the other way around. All I wanted…"
"I don't care what you wanted. Get out of my head!" Sam leaned in and aimed a punch at his face. He stumbled when the Devil simply wasn't there anymore, the chair empty.
"Temper, temper, Sam." Lucifer's voice came from behind him and Sam jerked away from the hands on his shoulders. "You do need to go back now. Your brother needs you. I do care, Sammy and because I care, what matters to you matters to me and right now…I think your brother could use your help." He reached out and laid a hand on Sam's temple before he could move away. "Well talk again, Sammy. Oh, and follow the rails. Back you go."
Sam jerked awake on a gasp. Castiel's impossibly blue eyes watched him from inches away, his hands holding his arms in a firm grasp. "Sam? Are you well?"
"Cas." Sam stared in confusion around the tunnel before settling on the Angel once more.
"You were…dreaming I think." Castiel frowned down at him. He raised a hand to Sam's temple, his frown deepening. "The wound on your head has healed. Sam, how has this happened? Tell me?"
"Dean!" Sam jerked to his feet in a rush. "He needs us."
"Sam, this is important!" Castiel took his arm again, trying to hold his attention.
"No, It's not. We've gotta find Dean, Cas. Now." Sam tried to walk away but the Angels' grip on his arm was steely.
"Lucifer was in your dreams, wasn't he?" Castiel searched his face and nodded when he saw the answering flicker of terror in Sam's eyes. "Does he know where you are now?"
Sam shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I didn't tell him."
The Angel took a deep breath. "Good."
"Follow the rails." Sam scowled into the dark. He retrieved his flashlight from the floor and shined it ahead. "He said follow the rails."
"I thought you said he didn't know where you are?" Castiel's eyes flicked around in the tunnel as though he expected Demons to begin materializing.
"He doesn't. He just knows it's a tunnel." Sam started off again. "Could be any subway in the country as far as he's concerned, Cas. Come on." He couldn't afford to dwell on Lucifer invading his dreams again or he'd end up a gibbering wreck in the corner, he was sure. He needed to find his brother.
"I don't like this." Cas remarked softly as he followed Sam.
Neither did Sam. Lucifer had healed him and sent him back to save his brother. His skin crawled with owing any sort of debt to the Devil but if it saved Dean… "This way." Sam turned the corner and led Castiel back into the subway tunnel itself. "Watch the rails."
Castiel didn't bother explaining to him that as an Angel, he saw in the dark as well as he did in the light; certainly better than Sam with his flashlight. "There are ghosts." He commented, feeling the weight of active souls pressing around him.
"We noticed." Sam retorted dryly.
"No, I mean…they're here." Castiel darted a hand out and grabbed Sam's elbow. He pulled him back a step as a spirit erupted out of the wall beside where he'd been standing.
"Cas! Shotgun!" Sam stumbled out of the way as Castiel raised the gun and pulled the trigger. The rock salt blew through the ghost, sending it away.
Castiel looked curiously at the gun with a small smile. "That was…very satisfying."
Sam gave a soft chuckle and started ahead again at a faster pace. His thoughts were all ahead somewhere with his brother. He felt a burning need to find him and knew something bad was happening. He wouldn't have been able to explain it if asked but he knew with certainty; Dean was in trouble. He hoped the sound of the shotgun hadn't alerted who or what had taken him.
"Why are there so many ghosts here?" Castiel asked, easily keeping pace with Sam at his elbow.
"They're victims of a serial killer." Sam told him. "Their bodies are down here somewhere."
"You think the ghosts have taken Dean?" Castiel hefted the shotgun and thought he would like to shoot more of them.
"I don't know. Something." Sam shook his head. "It wasn't a ghost that kicked my head in."
They ran into the darkness. Twice Castiel's night vision saved Sam from a tumble over rails set askew by time. The only sounds were the distant drip of water and Sam's breathing. The ghosts seemed to have realized they were dangerous and, for now at least, were leaving them alone.
"Sam." Castiel whispered and took his arm again, pulling him to a stop. "There's a light up ahead."
Sam flicked off the flashlight and tucked it into his jacket. "How far ahead? I can't see it."
"I can." Castiel took the lead and felt Sam take the back of his coat in the inky blackness. He went swiftly and silently and knew when Sam had finally spotted the light; his hand dropped away from Castiel's coat, no longer needing it. As they neared the small doorway of light they could hear someone chuckling and a strange sort of gasping sound. They drew even with the door and Castiel didn't wait. He entered the small room and took everything in in a glance; Dean strapped to a chair, his face red and straining even as his lips turned blue, wires running from his chair to a car battery behind him and a strange, old man laughing and rubbing his hands together as he watched.
Castiel said nothing as the man looked up at him in shock. He raised the shotgun and fired. The rock salt round took him in the chest and sent him flying back into the wall, leaving him gasping in agony on the floor. Castiel looked at the gun. "This is not as effective on humans."
"Dean!" Sam ran in behind him and went to his brother. He put a hand on Dean's chest and jerked it back with a short cry as the electricity arced to him. "Turn it off!"
Castiel went to the battery and tore the wires from its side. As he did so Dean gave a great gasp and then shouted hoarsely in pain as he slumped forward. He wheezed in air like a starving man.
"Dean?" Sam tipped his brother's face up. His lips were still disturbingly blue but he was breathing. He ripped the copper wires from around his chest as Castiel bent and started untying his arms. "Dean. Look at me."
Dean thought he heard his brother's voice but knew that couldn't be true. His whole world had shrunk to the current and the brief respites when he was allowed to breathe. He felt a hysterical giggle building inside him when he thought that Hell could have taken some tips from the Strangler on torture but it was stolen away when the current started again. The Strangler had laughed when smoke had begun to rise from Dean's clothes; the electricity drying the water. He had been especially amused by the ragged burns appearing on his chest and thanked him for giving him something new to try next time; wetting his victims. He strangled on the power, close to begging for another gasp of air as his chest constricted. His heart would surely be crushed soon, he thought and found he didn't mind that thought so much anymore except for…Sam.
"Dean! Look at me!"
Sam's voice again and this time Dean opened his eyes as the power cut off and he could breathe once more.
"Sammy?" Dean peered up at him through bleary eyes. "Izzat you? You ok?"
"Yeah, Dean it's me. I'm fine." Sam choked on tears for a moment and swallowed them back as they freed him. "You're ok. We're here."
"We?" Dean slumped forward into his brother as his arms were freed, unable to hold himself up. He was still wheezing in air and felt like he'd never get enough again.
"Hello, Dean." Castiel came around where Dean could see him and knelt to unbind his legs.
"Cas?" Dean let his head drop forward, unable to hold it up any longer. "Think…I'm gonna just…close my eyes for a sec."
"Dean?" Sam leaned him back as he went boneless to see his face. "Dean, wake up. Come on."
"Let him sleep." Castiel rose, having freed him and looked angrily down at the man still rolling on the floor, moaning. "I believe this is what wrath feels like."
"Leave him for the ghosts." Sam spared the Strangler only a murderous glance. "They may not have known he was here but I'll bet they followed us." He struggled to his feet, pulling Dean with him.
"Justice for his victims." Castiel nodded. "That is…acceptable." He could feel the souls gathering nearby and turned back to the brothers. "We need to go. Let me." Castiel took Dean's weight from his brother and easily put him over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
Sam watched anxiously and checked Dean again before turning away; he was out cold, exhausted from his ordeal. He grabbed the shotgun from the floor and led the way out the door, fishing his flashlight out of his pocket as he went.
"I'll find you!" The Strangler shouted at them as they left him. "No one ever escapes me! I will find you!"
"I don't think so." Sam said softly as the temperature in the tunnel drop. A moment later he heard the Strangler scream and smiled a small smile of satisfaction.
"Hurry. They won't be distracted long with him." Castiel passed Sam, his night vision allowing him once more to see the way clearly.
They raced along the tunnel as fast as Castiel could go with Dean's weight. It was faster than Sam would have been and he was grateful the Angel had come when he'd called. Sam turned often to play the light along the tunnel behind them and growled when the first spirit appeared. It was the woman who had led them into the trap earlier. He fired into her, dissipating her and bent to hastily reload the gun.
"Keep going." He told Castiel, following behind as he shoved fresh rounds into the gun. Sam clicked the barrel closed in time to shoot a second ghost as it speared toward him from out of the darkness.
Castiel picked up his pace to put distance between danger and his burden. Dean was dead weight on his back. The explosive sound of the shotgun rang in the tunnel and in his ears. It sounded again and then Castiel slid to a stop as he felt the press of souls around them ease.
"Sam. I think they're gone." He turned back and stared in surprise. He was alone in the tunnel. "Sam?" Castiel couldn't see him, couldn't even hear him. It was as though he'd never been there except for the flashlight gleaming on the floor. The Angel stared at the empty tunnel unsure what to do. If he went after Sam with Dean in this condition, Sam would never forgive him if he got hurt yet if he left Sam behind to get Dean to safety, the older Winchester would conceivably hurt him. There was no way to win and he growled in frustration, the sound carrying down the tunnel.
"Why is nothing ever simple with a Winchester?" Castiel made up his mind and turned away, heading for where he'd first found Sam. He would get Dean out of the tunnels until he was awake and able to help. He jogged quickly through the blackness and found the side tunnel. He reached the arched wall and climbed through, carrying Dean awkwardly up the embankment to lay him down against a small retaining wall. He scowled and pulled Dean's shirt apart, the undershirt had been sliced open. Beneath the fabric were rough, ragged burn lines across his chest.
"I wish I could heal you." Castiel said quietly and looked up into the night sky at the stars winking above them; the moon hanging silently in the blackness. He pulled Dean's amulet from his pocket and studied it. It was such a small thing to pin such large hopes on. "There is no choice." He whispered. He looked again at the sleeping man and put the amulet away again. "I need you to wake up now, Dean." He put a hand to the side of Dean's face. He couldn't heal him but he could at least be sure he wasn't dying. He wasn't. Castiel could feel Dean's lifeforce, his soul, pulsing strongly and only wounded.
Dean groaned weakly and flinched away from the hand he felt on his face. He opened his eyes expecting the face of his tormentor and instead found Castiel staring down at him. "Cas." Dean raised a shaking hand to his chest. "Sam was here. Where's Sam?" He looked around, not seeing his brother and the look on the Angel's face did nothing to reassure him.
"I…lost him." Castiel admitted finally.
"You lost him?" Dean asked, his voice rising and he pushed himself up higher, gasping as it sent pain through his chest. "What do you mean 'lost'?"
"I believe the ghosts have taken him." Castiel watched Dean stare back at the arched windows in the tunnel as if he could see his brother through the miles of rock.
"Better be a damn good reason you left him in there." Dean growled and staggered to his feet. It was the slimmest thread of control that kept him from shoving off the hand Castiel put on his shoulder to steady him when he would have gone down to his knees.
"He told me to get you out." Castiel said simply. "Had I gone after him with you in this condition, there is every likelihood I would have found him only to lose you and suffered the same wrath from your brother." He shrugged and tried for a small smile. "I believe Bobby would say I was…screwed either way."
"Cas…dammit." Dean shook his head at the Angel. It irritated him that the Angel was right. "Ok, let's go. Where's my shotgun?"
Castiel sighed. "Sam was carrying it."
Dean growled again and turned to the embankment. A dark shadow in the corner drew his attention. He went over the side and ended up on his knees, his legs refusing to hold him. "Dammit." Castiel was instantly at his side and moved past him. He reached into the shadows and pulled the object out.
"Sam's bag." Dean said and reached for it. He pulled it open and took out a smaller, sawed-off shotgun they kept for backup. It would only hold two rounds at a time but it was all they had. "You carry this?" Dean handed the bag back and the Angel tossed it over his shoulder before grabbing Dean's arm and pulling him to his feet. "We're going after him."
"Of course we are." Castiel sighed and helped him back down through the window and into the tunnel. As if there was ever a choice about leaving his brother behind. Dean swayed as he walked and Castiel had to keep a hand at his shoulder to keep him upright. "Dean…"
"No, we're not waiting. We're not going and coming back. We're not leaving him in here with that psycho!" Dean ended on a shout and had to stop, breathing heavily through his burning his chest.
"I am fairly certain the ghosts of his victims have dealt with him." Castiel informed him. "They came as we were leaving with you. There was a very satisfying scream."
Dean looked over at him in surprise and smirked. "There's hope for you yet, Cas."
"Vengeance is not something Angels have ever had a problem with." Castiel said quietly and Dean let it go.
"I can't friggin see down here." Dean groaned as the moonlight was left behind them. He felt Castiel slide up under his left arm.
"I can see and Sam's flashlight is near. Lean on me." Castiel didn't wait for his agreement. He started them moving again and kept his senses alert for the spirits return. In less time than he expected they had reached the spot where Sam had vanished. Dean dropped to his knees and scooped Sam's still lit flashlight from the floor.
"Where'd they take him?" Dean turned the light on the Angel and saw him frown.
"I don't know. I didn't see it happen." Castiel held his hands out helplessly. "One moment he was here firing at the ghosts and the next he was gone."
"Son of a bitch." Dean turned and started into the tunnels. He felt Castiel come up beside him and silently admitted he was glad he was there. Dean stumbled again and again Castiel's hand was there on his shoulder to keep him upright. "Thanks, Cas." He said gruffly and quickened his pace. His brother was in there somewhere.
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Sam fired again as another ghost came out of the tunnel wall at him. He glanced over his shoulder, reassured that Castiel was far enough away with Dean. He looked back and gasped as a dozen spirits shot out of the walls to surround him. He felt himself picked up as all the air was sucked away from him. Sam swung out at the ethereal forms to no effect. He realized he still held the shotgun and pulled the trigger. The sharp report echoed and he was dropped to the ground. He gasped, panting and looked up but there was nothing to see in the blackness. It felt wrong to him somehow. He swung a hand across the floor beneath and frowned when his hand made no contact with the subway rails that should have been there. It felt bigger, wherever he was.
"Dean!" Sam shouted and his voice bounced back to him. "Castiel!"
He felt the temperature drop, his skin chilling with the touch. Sam tightened his grip around the stock of the shotgun and shouted in surprise as the spirits returned and lifted him, once more pulling the air away from him as they swirled about him. The Shotgun was torn out of his hands to clatter off into the darkness. He tried to call for help again but there was no air to do it and he couldn't stop it as his eyes closed and oblivion took him.
Sam jerked awake, a cry on his lips and opened his eyes. The darkness around him was complete and disorienting as he tried to see something; anything. He tipped his head back and found a wall behind him. When he tried to move he found his arms and legs wedged in to…something. He put his head forward and again it banged into brick. He could feel the rough edges against his forehead. The air was close, musty and a feeling of claustrophobia came over him.
"Dean!" Sam shouted as loudly as he could. He was walled in. The ghosts had buried him alive inside a wall. "Help! Castiel!" He tried to get his hand to his pocket and his phone but there was no room to move. His fingers brushed something soft beside him and he flinched but couldn't get away. "Hello?" He asked softly. The air froze again. A spirit appeared beside him and Sam looked down in horror at the desiccated remains of a body; it was the corpses sleeve resting against his hand. He looked to his other side and found yet another body and beyond that another in the pale light from the spirit. He had found the Strangler's victims.
"DEAN!"
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To Be Continued…