Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters. I and am not making any money on this…I'm just having fun!

Night Shades

Chapter 7 – Escape!

"Sammy…damn it Sammy you need to fight this. Can you hear me Sam?" Dean struggled once again to break free as he waited for his brother to open his eyes. The problem was, what would happen when Sam woke up?

Dean watched as his brother's chest rose and fell. "At least he was still breathing, but what the hell was a shade? And what the hell did the yellow eyed demon want to accomplish?" Dean struggled against the bindings that were holding him to the wall. He could feel them loosening. He looked back towards the doorway, hearing low murmurs from the other room, he knew he didn't have much time if he was going to save them both.

Dean winced as his wrists reminded him that he had done this once before. But Dean refused to give up. As he continued to work the ropes, his eyes began scanning for a way to escape. He could take care of the shape shifter with the gun that was lying on the table, but the demon…he knew that neither him nor Sam were ready for that battle yet. So escape was the best plan. Dean smiled as his wrist came free…luckily for him, the sons of a bitches didn't know how to tie a proper knot.

Dean stood, but the room began to sway dangerously. The pain in his head began to increase as his vision began to swim. "Not now!" Dean ground out as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to get Sam out of here before the others came back. Opening his eyes, he moved to grab the gun and place it in his waist band before moving quietly towards is brother. "Sammy?" Dean said softly, not wanting to alert the others that he was free.

Sam moaned softly before his eyes opened. Dean sucked in a breath at the empty look in his brother's hazel eyes. There was no spark of recognition in their depths. "Sammy, can you hear me? We have to get out of here…can you stand?"

Sam's eyes closed for a moment before opening again, this time there was fear and pain reflected on his face. "Dean? What……what's wrong…it hurts…" Sam gasped.

"Shhh Sammy, let me help you." Dean gently pulled Sam up until his brother was sitting on the edge of the bed. He didn't like the heat he was feeling from Sam's skin or the paleness of his brother's face, not to mention the wounds on his chest and back. "Man Sam, you really are a mess. But we have to get out of here…just lean on me."

Dean put Sam's arm over his shoulder and began to move to the only exit in the room, the window. He quickly opened the window and helped Sam outside. His brother fell to the ground as Dean jumped through the window, silently closing it before getting Sam back on his feet and moving towards the Impala. "I don't suppose…" Dean wondered if the car would work now. Moving quickly he opened the passenger side door and placed Sam gently inside. He climbed into the driver's seat and put the key in the ignition. "Come on baby…no time to rest!" Dean smiled as the engine turned over. He gunned the engine and took off down the road, gravel and dust spitting out from the tires and he headed for the entrance of the park.

"Ok Sammy, you just relax. As soon as we get back to the motel, we'll figure out how to handle this Shade and then patch you up good as new." Dean turned to see Sam was leaning against the window, his eyes already closed. Turning back to look out the rear view mirror, he smiled for the first time that night. Whatever the yellow eyed demon had planned to do with Sam, he hadn't been able to complete his plan. And Dean was not going to let him get anywhere near his little brother again anytime soon.

Dean was still running on pure adrenaline, but he knew that he needed to get some rest as well. The problem was he wouldn't be able to rest until he figured out just exactly what the Shade was doing to his brother. So far, it appeared that Sam was still in control, but for how long? He knew that he might have to restrain Sam, putting him in a protective circle of salt while he figured it out. But for now, he just wanted to get out of the park.

As he approached the entrance to the park, he heard Sam moan softly. "Don't worry Sam; we'll be out of her in just a …what the hell!"

Sam's eyes flew open, his back arched against the seat as his brother began to reach for the door handle. "Sam!" Dean grabbed his brother and pulled him from the door. "Sam, what's wrong!"

"Argh…can't….Oh God…Dean…can't leave…can't" Sam's breathing became erratic and the veins in his neck were extended. Dean pulled the car over just inside the park entrance and turned to his brother.

"Sam…can you hear me…we won't leave ok…just calm down." Dean watched as Sam's breathing began to slow and the spasms that had been wracking his brother's body began to subside.

"Dean…won't let me leave…have to stay in the park…have to…no…I won't let you…this is my body!" Sam groaned as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell unconscious once more.

Dean was worried. The Shade would obviously kill Sam if he left the park and yet if they stayed, the shape shifter and the demon might find them. "Great…this just keeps getting better and better! Well Sammy, looks like we are camping out until we can figure out a way to get rid of your little passenger. But first we need to make sure that you can't hurt yourself."

Dean got out and quickly went to his bag in the trunk; he grabbed some rope and a set of handcuffs. Opening the passenger side door carefully, he quickly but gently pulled Sam's hands behind his back and cuffed him. He then took the rope and gently tied Sam's feet together. Patting his brother on the shoulder he closed the door and got back into the driver's seat. "I'm sorry Sammy, but until we figure this out…I think it's best for both of us if you are restrained." But Sam never opened his eyes.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

The shape shifter came running from the bedroom and stopped in front of the demon. "They're gone!"

The demon smiled. "I know, it's going as I planned…don't worry, while the Shade possesses the boy they won't be able to leave the park."

"Fine, but then my business here is done…I'm leaving this cursed place…" The shape shifter turned to leave, but found itself pinned to the wall. "We had a deal…I got you the boy and his brother…"

"Wrong, the deal was to separate the wolf from the lamb. Sam has to believe that the only way to be free from the Shade is if he chooses to follow me…but first he needs to understand that the Shade will make him hurt the one person who has always been there to save him. Once that happens, we need to capture the wolf…the protector before he convinces the boy that there is another way. That is where you come in…you will handle Dean when the time comes."

"So you wanted them to escape? That's why you had me untie the boy? Why not just untie Dean as well? Why not just kill Dean and take the boy?" The shape shifter was having trouble following the demon's logic.

"Because…we have to follow rules…it's a pain in the ass I know…but Sam has to choose to follow me of his own free will. I can't force him…at least not directly. The key to Sam is his brother…If I kill Dean, Sam will fight me until he dies…which would be a waste…but if Sam believes that he will kill his brother, he will leave to save him. Without his brother it will be easier for the Shade to drive him insane…just before he goes over the edge, I'll have him."

The shape shifter shook his head. It had been so close to that edge…if the demon had not removed the Shade, the shape shifter would have lost itself. "Ok, so once I take care of Dean, I can leave right?"

"Once you take care of Dean, you can go where ever you want." The demon let the shape shifter down from the wall. "Better get some rest, because tomorrow you will need to begin the hunt."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sam was floating in a gray fog, the pain in his body and mind forgotten as he tried to figure out a way to contain the presence that was trying to push him aside. He had heard Dean call it a Shade, which he thought was some type of ghost, but having never run across one before, he was at a loss as to how to fight it.

"You can't fight me…through you I will continue to get my revenge" a soft voice whispered in his mind.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kathryn Willows, but my husband called me Katie."

"Your husband died a long time ago Katie…you killed him. You need to let go and join him."

"Why would I want to do that? Besides, killing is the only thing that takes away the pain. I'm so tired of being in pain."

"My brother and I can help you…we have a friend who can help you leave this plane and find peace…argh!" Sam felt a white hot pain in his mind as he felt the strong emotions of hate and fear building until all he felt was uncontrollable rage. He pushed back at the feelings fighting for control of his own emotions.

"Enough, no one can help me! You will learn to do what I want or suffer as I have suffered."

"I'll never let you hurt anyone…I will fight…you won't win!" Sam ground out as he felt himself falling further into darkness.

"Now you see that is where you are wrong, because when you are unconscious…I can play and I think I'll begin with that brother of yours…I owe him for interrupting my fun earlier." Katie said with an evil sneer.

"NO!" Sam screamed as he fought his way back towards consciousness

"NO! I won't let you hurt Dean!" Sam yelled as his eyes opened to the concerned face of his brother.

"Whoa there Sam, no one is going to hurt anyone." Dean knelt beside Sam, gently pushing his brother back onto the sleeping bag.

Sam blinked as he took in his surroundings. They were in a small clearing in the woods. "Dean…where are we?" Sam whispered.

"Well, I tried to leave the park, but you had some kind of seizure. I'm guessing that the Shade is tied to this place and can't leave. So until we can figure out a way to expel her, we are stuck here. But on the plus side, there is no sign of the demon or our friendly neighborhood shape shifter. So just relax." Dean carefully stood and stepped over the salt line.

Sam noticed for the first time that his hands were cuffed in front of him and his legs were tied. He could see that Dean had placed him in the center of a salt ring. He realized that Dean was being cautious, but it scared him to be helpless. What if the shape shifter showed up? "Dean, you need to untie me man, what if the demon or the shape shifter attacks?"

"Nah ah…don't think so Sam. I've been looking through Dad's journal trying to find out what we are dealing with here. But other than a description, it's not very helpful."

"What did it say Dean?" Sam sighed as he tried to get more comfortable.

"Well, I think I figured out why the rock salt didn't work…I'm just hoping that the salt ring will help contain it if your friendly Shade decides to exit your body and take a little walk. The last time that happened the Impala decided to try to add me as a hood ornament." Dean shook his head and winced as he was reminded that he was far from healthy as well.

"So Katie can leave if she wants to?" Sam said, thinking that maybe if he could reason with her.

"Wait, you're on a first name basis already…what else did she tell you Sam?" Dean was worried.

"Not much, just the usual…she wants to get revenge…her hate is so strong Dean…I've never felt such hatred before…I tried to tell her that her husband is dead, but it didn't seem to matter…she wants to control me Dean…she said if I'm unconscious, she can take control…you have to keep me awake Dean…don't let me sleep!" Sam blinked tiredly, his eyes already threatening to close.

"Don't worry Sam, even if she takes control, you won't be able to hurt anyone…I promise I'll keep you safe." Dean stepped back in and propped Sam up against his chest as he held a water bottle to Sam's lips. "Now drink this while I tell you what I read in Dad's journal."

Sam nodded slightly, trying hard to focus on Dean's words, but there was a strange buzzing in his ears and he was finding it hard to stay awake. "Sam are you with me?" Dean said as he gently shook his brother.

"Yeah Dean…I'm trying." Sam mumbled. "What did Dad's journal say…can we exorcise the spirit?"

"Well unfortunately I don't think an exorcism will work Sam…according to Dad's journal…a Shade is not exactly a spirit. It is a spiritual or emotional imprint left on a person, thing or in this case a place. Shades can evolve from many forms, anything from a deceased (or living for that matter) person's or animal's imprint left on something or someone, to something invoked into the "possession" of an object and even sometimes a person."

Sam's eyes opened as he heard the description. "So you mean it's like a part of a person's emotions and had to be invoked?"

Dean nodded, pursing his lips. "The question is, who invoked this thing and how do we get rid of it?"

Sam sighed. "So it was probably invoked and tied to this park…Dean?"

"Yes Sammy?"

"You need to leave me here…if it gets control…it wants to kill you. You can leave and find help…maybe Bobby or even Nick can help find a way."

Dean shook his head. "No way Sam…you don't get rid of me that easily. I've already left a message for Bobby and I'll try to get hold of Nick in a moment…but he's a ghost whisperer so I'm not sure how much help he will be."

Sam sighed. He knew Dean would never leave him…that meant that some how he needed to figure out a way to leave Dean…something he swore he'd never do again…but he couldn't be the cause of his brother's death. He decided to try to reason with his stubborn brother one more time. "Ok Dean…but you have to promise me…promise me you'll do whatever you have to do to protect yourself…even if it's from me!"

"Don't worry Sam; I don't intend to let you hurt anyone, including me. You just relax and try to get some sleep. The Shade won't be able to make you kill me…not while you are tied up."

Sam shook his head…he now knew he had no other choice. Dean would die before hurting him. He would have to find a way and he would because Sam would do anything to save his brother, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

TBC

Raven524: Well I hope this wasn't too long of an update. So now the boys are free…but are they really? As a side note, Nick is a character that I created in one of my earlier stories; he has the ability to guide spirits to the next plane. He has helped the boys a few times in the past. Once again thanks for all the reviews…they help to make writing fun!