Legalities: Supernatural does not belong to me, although I wish it did. I am simply playing in Kripke's sandbox for a bit. All rights and ownership are the property of Kripke and the CW network. I am not making any money from this; it is for my own personal pleasure.
Idea: This little fiction has a story line, but it is unabashed hurt!Dean with extremely angsty!Sam and worried!John. This is purely a selfish little piece that I decided to share. I wanted to focus on Deans recovery and how one would come back from this type of situation. Especially when Dean would internalize everything...
Also, this is a very dark little piece of fiction, so please read all warnings at the start of the chapters and don't read it if you're not into that.
Synopsis: Third part in a trilogy, Dean has defeated the Pandora evil but he has lasting physical limitations as a result of the trials. Sam has graduated from high school and their father will be sending them on a hunt that will bring Dean full circle with where this trilogy started. Through this last hunt Dean will struggle to repair the damage to his body and Sam will struggle to save both of them from a creature that none of them saw coming.
Warnings: This story will contain everything from intense emotional situations, graphic depictions of present and past torture to intense angst. If you don't like this type of thing….don't read this story. I would suggest reading 'Gone Missing' and 'Missing the Hunt' first as they will set the scene for this story.
Please Review: Thanks to any guests and others that can't sign in...I really appreciate that you guys continue taking the time to let me know what you are thinking about the progression of the story.
WARNING...Mentions of violence and gore throughout, this might bother some people so consider yourself warned...there is quite a lot of ANGST in this story...as a matter of fact...I think all my chapters have a large helping of angst...and some hurt Sam and Dean...so be prepared...don't like...don't read.
Chapter 7
Mirror-image Room
Sam was stalking back and forth inside his cement cell like an enraged, yet completely, caged animal. His fists were now a bloody mess from pounding on the concrete walls and his voice was hoarse from screaming to be released. He stared at the ceiling of the room…and it's one light with a diminishing hope that he'd find a way out of this place. He'd been trying to keep track of how long he'd been separated from Dean and so far it appeared as though they'd been spilt up for the last two hours.
A sudden flickering in the mirror thing had him stomping over to stand directly in front of it. It shimmered and then changed into a viewing window, much like he'd seen earlier when Dean had been dropped into the river. Only this time there was no river…just a field with five enormous and angry beasts…and one injured and bloody older brother.
"Dean!" He cried and surged closer to the window. His palms spread along the surface and he stared with unblinking eyes as his brother struggled to survive a one on one battle with one of the animals. The other's seemed to be hanging back…like they were waiting their turn to go after Dean. The oldest Winchester was naked from the waist up…and bloody gashes were torn into his chest and back. Sam's eyes flashed to the weapon in the hands of the beast and he understood the wounds…the thing was carrying a large whipping chain…it was attached to a long, thick wooden handle that was firmly grasped in the beast meaty fist.
Dean on the other hand was struggling to maintain his grip on a long metal trident, with a wicked looking set of prongs on the end…and…was that a net? Sam thought as Dean's twisted and threw the woven piece out. He managed to snag it around the cloven hooves of the animal and it stumbled, but didn't fall. Sam thought he saw Dean swear as he tried another tactic…but even as he threw his body in and out of attacks, Sam could see his brother was losing steam fast. The energy that he'd had when they'd started this hunt had been leeched out through injury and emotional trauma. And it had Sam worried about whether or not his older brother could realistically fight three more versions of this beast. One of them lay dead not too far from where Dean was trying to take down the second one…a large gaping hole evident in its neck, where Dean must have skewered it with the trident.
Sam held his breath as Dean fainted and then spun, catching the huge animal off guard and slamming the butt of his metal staff into the things side. It howled in pain and then, in a move that Sam hadn't seen coming…and judging from the ferocity of the attack…neither had Dean…it rolled its enormous head and caught Dean in the thigh with one of its vicious looking horns. The agonized expression on his brothers face, told Sam everything that he needed to know when Dean went down. His legs effectively cut out from beneath him. "No…Dean. Get up…please get up." Sam said in a strained voice as Dean struggled to get his arms beneath him and tried unsuccessfully to claw his way back to his feet.
Sam's eyes widened as the animal saw the weakness in Dean's defense and took the advantage. It rushed him and Sam was just starting to yell at the mirror, when Dean rolled onto his back and thrust the spear head up and through the animal's neck. The primary point on the trident severing the center of the beast's neck, while the two lesser points pushed easily through the large scapular muscles of the things upper body….it fell to the ground…on top of Dean. Effectively pinning his brother to the ground, as another of the beast rushed forward, a wicked looking set of swords in its hands.
"No! Dean…" Sam cried. He slammed his fists against the surface again as anger and frustration raged through his body at the unfair task that these bitches had thrown Dean into. If his hero-obsessed brother would have let him go out into the field like was originally planned…then Dean wouldn't be injured…again. Sam could feel himself losing control the longer he was faced with the inability to help his brother. The surface of the mirror-thing shifted again and Sam found himself watching his own reflection. He screamed his rage and frustration at the viewing device…though it remained stubbornly reflective.
Sam's hands clawed their way up and through his hair as he slid to the floor, his eyes falling shut as he tried to get the image of Dean going down beneath the beast out of his brain. He licked his lips and tasted the dried blood that had been left there after his earlier encounter with the sisters.
Dean, how do we keep getting dragged into these situations? Oh yeah…that's right, we kinda go around 'looking' for them…I swear to you, Dean, we are getting out of this…we are 'both' getting out of this. Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of breathing that un-expectantly mingled with his. His eyelids shot open and he surged to unsteady feet. The dark haired sister…Kokoi…his brain reminded him, walked into the room and leaned against the wall. She was picking at her fingernail and staring at him in slight interest.
"Sam…how are you feeling?" She asked. It was almost as if she was interested…although, Sam knew that that wasn't the case. These sisters didn't give a rat's ass about him…or Dean…they were only interested in getting their bloody souls.
She grinned and pushed off the wall, closing the distance separating them. "That's true, Sam." Kokoi walked around him and looked over his body with an appraising eye. "You're almost as pretty as your brother…given a few more years and some more time in the gym…you can probably give him a run for his money." She hummed her appreciation and Sam wanted to cover his naked torso with anything…he was feeling more than a little objectified. He remembered the comments that these women had made toward his brother and he suddenly understood why Dean hadn't responded to the women's beauty as he would normally…there was something really disturbing about this whole situation.
"I'll give it my best shot." Sam said derisively. He glared down at the woman as she stared up at him, she shifted her weight and raised her eyebrow.
"You do that, Sammy."
"You don't get to call me that." He said in an icy tone.
"Oh…okay then." She shifted her weight again and then walked toward the wall. "I was going to take you to Dean…but if you're feeling this snarky, perhaps I should just leave him out there alone."
Sam's head shot up at that and nearly stumbled as he started toward her, his hands raised in a plaintive gesture. "I'm sorry…please, take me to Dean." He asked as he slid to a stop in front of the woman.
She tilted her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulders as she grinned up at him. "Okay, Sammy…let's go."
Sam clenched his teeth, the muscle in his jaw jumping as he bit back an angry retort.
"Good thing, you didn't say that…but you might want to remember that I can read your thoughts…" Kokoi walked through the wall and Sam sprinted to follow her through the solid structure. He was surprised by the sudden blast of cold air as he found himself outside, in the waning sunlight.
XXXX
Dean felt the beast slam into him and then the mind-numbing pain as its horn tore through the muscle on his thigh. He bit back the cry that rammed its way up his throat and tried to turn the attack into one of advantage. He managed to pull his eye line up, just as the thing saw his weakness and took off in his direction. Son of a bitch…he thought. Dean grabbed the trident and rolled just in time to thrust the lethal points into the skin of the beast. It howled its rage in a dying scream that made Dean want to cover his ears as it penetrated his skull. The sudden immense weight of the animal falling forward and effectively pinning him to the ground had Dean struggling to breathe. He rasped a sound that might have been mistaken for a plea….but since no one was listening…
Dean's head was twisted in the direction of the other three beasts. He knew his time was nearly up as another one of the enormous Minotaur's rushed in his direction. He struggled to move beneath the dead-weight of the one he'd just killed and found that he couldn't push the thing off of himself. His thoughts turned to Sam and he could feel the failure welling up inside him like a volcano. He couldn't die out here…not with Sam next on the execution list. Dean bit his lip and clenched his teeth as he pushed the pain in his body down, ignoring the flashing fire that raged along his side. He stretched his fingers out and felt the cool metal, he grabbed at the trident until he was able to close his hand around the staff.
It took a moment for the pain that had built up in his body to dissipate to a degree at the he could use his head and try to angle the long metal piece beneath the animal and push. Dean had never been so grateful for being forced to pay attention in science class as he was when the use of the weapon as leverage paid off and the beast rolled to the side. He was so busy pulling in great gasps of air into his starved lungs that he nearly missed the first attack of the third beast.
The shadow of the first sword caught his attention and had him shifting into a roll before he was fully aware of the danger. Dean pulled his knees into his chest and then came to his knees as he surged upward from the ground, using the trident as a crutch. The thing howled its anger at the thwarted attack and realigned itself to attack again. Just as Dean was preparing to counter-attack he saw another shadow looming in the distance. He wanted to look over and see what new threat had been launched at him, but the dual swords of his current attacker caught the sunlight and glittered lethally in the setting rays.
A resounding cry of anger and defiance broke the stagnant air of the field and Dean's eyes shifted to the right…there off to his left, looking like an angry avenging angel, stood his little brother. His blue-green eyes were flashing raging waves at the two remaining beasts…below him was the bloodied body of the third. Dean's eyes narrowed when he saw a long razor sharp dagger sticking out of its temple where Sam had apparently buried the blade moments earlier. "Sammy…" He whispered as he struggled to his feet. The lightheaded rush, that nearly sent him back to his knees, totally unexpected as he tried to close the distance between himself and his little brother.
"Dean!" Sam called as he turned toward his brother's fallen form. The thundering sounds of the two remaining beasts caught both of their attention simultaneously as their eyes flickered to where those things had been. They were now a hell of a lot closer and the speed with which they were closing the distance wasn't enough for any sort of reunion.
TBC…
Author's Note: More to come…Sam's introduction to the field and then the twists as the brothers are tasked with yet another set of challenges. Bobby is on his way and will be making an appearance soon. Thank you to those that took the time to review. Though the response to the last chapter was not what I'd hoped for.
Please Review: Keeps me motivated.
