John and Dean entered the patch of road where the accidents had happened and saw a pickup speed by them.
"Wonder what his hurry was?" John said.
"Who cares? You're sure these accidents only happen at night?"
"I'm sure," John said. "We're safe anyway. You're too young."
"Hey, there's a turn off to a private beach. We should check it out," Dean said.
"OK," John said. His plan had been to check out anything within a couple of miles off the road anyway, so this was as good a place to start as any.
"That's weird. There's a canoe in the middle of the lake." Dean pointed at it.
Sam heard a vehicle. Maybe this was just another of Daddy's punishments. Maybe he was coming back for him. He lifted up his head as much as he could to look. He couldn't see the shore that well, though.
"There's somebody in it," John said, "and it looks like it's sinking."
Without another word or thought, they stripped off their shoes and jackets and rushed into the water. They reached the canoe, just as it was about to go under.
"Crap. He's strapped in with a cinder block," Dean yelled.
John had gone behind the canoe to keep it up and Dean had had swum in front of it to get the guy out.
"We'll have to tow it to shore," Dean yelled.
Using all their strength, they flipped the boat on its side to get the water out and let it crash back down.
Sam cried out at the impact.
"Sorry," Dean said. "Hurry," he yelled to his dad.
Eventually they got the boat back to the shore. "I'll get the bolt cutters," John said and ran to the car."
Dean went to take the gag off the kid. He shied away from him.
"It's OK. I'm here to help," Dean reassured him. "What's your name?"
"Sam," Sam whispered.
Dean shook his head. This wasn't his Sammy. He was about the right age, but Sam was dead. It was just a coincidence, and a fairly common name.
John joined them with the bolt cutters.
Sam recognized him. He remembered him from years ago before his new Daddy had started punishing him. Apparently it was a punishment after all. This was the way his old dad was getting him back. This was the drop point or whatever.
After John had cut the chains away Sam sat up and held his hands out to be cuffed. It was the standard procedure on the rare occasions when Daddy had to take him out of the house. He had had a doctor friend who knew all about his children and treated them when they got really sick. He also had a dentist that he took them to twice a year. He said he didn't want to kiss any yuck mouths. And finally, he had a brother that he loaned the kids out to once in a while.
"What are you doing?" John asked.
Sam dropped his hands. If he didn't want to cuff him, that was fine with him.
"What's your name, son?" John asked.
Sam furrowed his brow in confusion. Why would his own father ask him his name? Probably a test. He had better answer before he got sent back. "Sam."
John looked over at Dean. He must have already asked because there was no trace of emotion on his face. "Sam what?"
Sam thought back. He hadn't used a last name in years. He could remember, though. He knew he could. He just had to think. "Winchester," he finally remembered.
"What?" John and Dean both said at the same time.
Sam scooted back on the canoe until he hit the back. They were mad. They would hurt him or send him back. "Please don't send me back. Please. I'll be good. I really will," he begged. "Please, Dad."
"You recognize me?" John asked.
Sam nodded.
"It's starting to get dark. We should go," Dean said. They had come here because something supernatural was going on. But that didn't matter right now. They had to take care of Sammy. "Come on, Sammy," he said, gingerly taking hold of his arm.
Sam started trembling. It was never good when someone touched you. Dean noticed and immediately let go, hurt.
Sam struggled to his feet and got in the back seat of the car. He laid down and fell asleep. He was still a little groggy from the drugs.
"Is that really Sam?" Dean asked. He was afraid to hope.
"I don't know," John answered. "When we get to the hotel, we'll test him to make sure he's at least human."
SSS
Sam woke up when the car came to a stop. He got out when his dad did. He realized he wasn't sure of something. "Are you Dean?" He remembered his brother. He had found it hard to believe he had been in on the whole punishment scheme. Maybe his father had tricked him.
"Yeah, Sammy," Dean said. He was hoping Sam would hug him or something but he just nodded his head.
"Come on in," John said. "Sam, would you mind drinking this salt water?" John asked. He had never gotten around to telling Sam about the supernatural, and he didn't want to right now. But if he could drink the holy water-salt drink and touch some silver, he would be human and they could get on with finding out what happened.
Sam drank it. It was gross, but not that big of a deal. John handed him a yogurt and a spoon. Sam took it and looked up for permission to eat. "Go ahead," John said. The silver hadn't bothered him.
"Where have you been all these years?"
"With my new Daddy. The one you gave me to since I was bad," Sam answered.
"I didn't give you to anybody, Sammy. They stole you," John said. If he had been brainwashed all these years to think that he was hated by his family, they needed to prove it wrong as soon as they could.
Sam didn't say anything. He hadn't been asked a question, so he couldn't speak. He wasn't stupid.
"Do you believe me, Sam?"
Sam shook his head no. This could be a test of honesty, or he could just want to hear what he wanted to hear. It was so hard to know what to do sometimes.
"Why not?" John asked.
"How did you know where to find me if you weren't supposed to pick me up there?"
Dean couldn't help but smile. Even at eight, Sammy had been a master at arguments of logic.
"We were there by coincidence. We didn't even know it was you until you told us. We thought you were…," John stopped.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Dead," Dean supplied. "That's the only reason we stopped looking for you."
"It's late. Why don't we get some sleep and talk in the morning?" John suggested.
Sam paled. He only saw two beds. Would he be expected to share one with them.
"You can share Dean's bed," John said pointing to the one furthest from the door.
Well that answered that question. Sam got up, went to the bed and took off his clothes. He lay down on the bed on his stomach and put his hands behind his back. Daddy had been tying his hands the last few years. He fought too much otherwise.
"What are you doing?" Dean asked, afraid of the answer.
"I'm sorry. Do you prefer another position?" Sam asked.
Dean put his hand over his face. "Just get under the covers and go to sleep," Dean said. If he found out who did this to Sam, he would kill him.
"I think you should sleep with me tonight," John whispered to Dean.
Dean nodded.