Last Breath

Chapter 7

Throwing the cell phone across the room angrily, Dean gripped his brother tightly, hauling him to his feet. He scanned Sam's pale face and glassy eyes before leading the younger man to the nearest bed. As he laid his baby brother on the bed, his thoughts went to the woman that had called, remembering the words she spoke so calmly. You can't always protect him. There will come a time, in the very near future, when you won't be able to save him. I kill people when I'm bored. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he looked at his brother."Hey, Sammy….You ok?" Dean said softly.

Sam looked towards Dean unable to focus on his brother's face. His head was pounding, and he felt sick.

"It's okay, Sam." Dean said. "Take a few minutes to get yourself together."

"No Dean, we need…." Sam took a breath, "We need to go, now."

"Go where?" The elder hunter didn't think Sam should be going anywhere, but also heard Sam's side of the conversation. Something was up, and Bobby was in trouble. Standing, the youngest Winchester wobbled slightly, before reaching for his duffle and gathering his belongings.

"Sam, you ok?" Dean asked yet again.

"I will be." Sam answered. "It's just been so long since I've had a vision, I forgot how it felt."

"Okay….let's get going." Dean helped Sam pack then gathered own stuff. The good thing about living out of a suitcase was you could be ready to go in minutes.

As they walked out to the car ten minutes later, Dean noted that the color was starting to return to Sam's face. A good sign, he needed Sam alert, and he needed to be able to focus on the job at hand. "It's going to be at least a day of straight driving." Sam said as he opened the car door. "I think we better take turns resting, we don't have time to stop."

Sitting in the passenger seat Sam closed the door waiting for his brother to stow the bags into the trunk and slide behind the wheel. He had given Dean a general idea as to the address, unsure of the exact location himself, but he was sure they'd find it. Leaning back into the seat, he closed his eyes. Man, his head hurt, there's no way he'd be able to go to sleep. Within minutes, he was snoring softly.

Dean stared at the road, occasionally turning his gaze to his sleeping brother. That was one hell of a vision, Sam hadn't had any visions since they had killed the yellow-eyed demon, and now, it was starting all over again. History repeating itself. Except it was Bobby missing this time, not their Dad, and they knew Bobby wasn't missing by choice, as their father had been. This time, no one else was going to die…Just the demon.

Dean glanced again at the sleeping man beside him. Turning his attention back to the road ahead of him he started to wonder. Could Sam be right…Could it really be Cori doing all of this? Shaking his head, the hunter fought with his own loyalty - loyalty to a woman he realistically didn't know. It couldn't be Cori - she wasn't like that. However, it did seem plausible, and unknown to Sam, Dean had told Cori some about their current case. But she didn't have any reaction. She didn't act as if she knew anything. No. Not Cori, it had to be someone else.

Driving down the dark road, Dean continued his silent argument with himself. Becoming more and more unsure of the girl he thought he knew.

~snsnsnsnsn~

Bobby's shoulders and arms were numb, he didn't know how long he had been hanging, but he knew he had to find away down before the loss of circulation in his arms and hands caused a serious problem. He could feel the girl in the room before he actually saw her stepping in to his view. Looking down he saw the small form standing below him, peering up at him with a knife in her hand.

"Well Bobby, Do you think you could be a good boy, and behave yourself? I'd like to cut you down, but only if you promise to be good." Her yellow eyes glinted, in the glare of the bare bulb lighting the room.

The old hunter merely stared at her, refusing to answer.

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes. Besides, if you don't behave, I'll just have to kill you sooner than I planned."

Grabbing a chair sitting near by, she climbed up on it and stretched to reach the rope. As she cut through the rope, she smiled at Bobby. "I think this will be deliciously fun, don't you?"

Bobby pursed his dry lips, glaring at the girl while she sawed through the final strands of the rope letting Bobby drop to the floor when the hemp let go. He crumpled to the floor, legs unused for so long were too weak to hold his weight. Lying still on the earthen floor the grizzled hunter waited for the burning-tingling sensation to come, telling him that the blood was circulating through his limbs once again.

The girl stepped down from the chair to stand at Bobby's side, gently patting the man's shoulder. "That's okay… you take a minute here, regain your bearings and all that." Kneeling, she cupped Bobby's face and looked into his eyes. For the briefest second, he could've sworn her eyes were green - just a slight flash - then they were yellow again.

"I really must thank you Bobby. I never could've done this without you." She turned and flashed a smile. "Those couple of days at your house? Priceless, I was able to find out where the boys were going, where you were planning to go. And Elroy? He didn't even see it coming. Silly, silly boy. I only had to walk over a little salt, and he…well, he thought he had nothing to worry about. Isn't that a riot?"

Gritting his teeth Bobby rode out the pins and needles in his arms as the circulation returned, watching the girl pacing around him. "You have got to be the worst hostage in the history of hostages, you know that?" she asked, spinning around to face him again. "A little conversation…that's all I asked for and you just sit there like a bump on a log. Really, I don't know why John's boys are so eager to risk their lives to save you. No matter, there about a half a day away. They should be here by morning, if they don't get lost."

Bobby tried to sit up, testing the mobility of his hands and arms, they were still burning, but he was able to use them to push himself into a sitting position, "They aren't gonna walk blindly into a trap." Bobby croaked.

"My goodness, it talks….but it is rather hard to hear you. Maybe a nice cool drink would help." Turning, she left the room.

Bobby slowly stood up, not quite believing that she had cut him loose, and left the room. Tentatively, he stepped forward testing his ability to stand, then he began to walk slowly around the room, searching for something he might be able to use as a weapon. Unable to find anything, the old hunter grunted knowing he would have to use his own hands.

"I see you're getting some movement back." Turning quickly, he watched her approach berating himself for not paying attention and allowing the girl to sneak up on him. "Are you planning to take me out, so you can get away? So sorry, but it's not going to happen. Glad to know you still have some spunk." She walked closer, and raised her hand.

Bobby felt a force pushing him back, when it stopped, he was in front of the chair. "Please, sit." she nodded her head to the chair. Bobby made no move to do as she asked. "I insist…." With a flick of her hand, Bobby found himself sitting in the chair, unable to move.

"There now," she said standing in front of him holding a bottle of water. "I didn't get this far being stupid you know. I know hunters, and you're all the same." Putting the bottle to his lips, she tipped it for him. "You kill what you don't understand…just for the glory of killing….if it's different; you hunters track it and kill, without thought. Now the tables are turned. The hunter is now the hunted, and I will wipe you all from the earth!"

~snsnsnsn~

Sam woke up when Dean had pulled into a service station to refuel. It was late afternoon, and Dean had been driving for hours, and quickly agreed to switching positions letting Sam drive for a while. After getting their gas and something for them to eat on the road, they were on their way.

Dean sat quietly in the passenger seat, arms crossed over his chest, and eyes closed. Although he wasn't tired, and he couldn't sleep, he didn't want to talk. He had so much going on in his mind, and he wanted to sort it out before trying to put it into words.

Deep within his own thoughts, Sam drove silently, respecting his brother's need for privacy - for now. As he drove he started having the strangest feelings of déjà vu, turning down roads, as if being guided. Guided by what he wasn't sure. All he knew was that they had to get to Bobby, and soon.

Dean was thinking about Cori, and what she was like back then. The day that Sam had gotten hurt… that's when she became more than a friend - she became family…

It had been his fault, he wasn't supposed to leave the motel, but by the second day of the heat wave, he had to get out, and so did Sam. He had seen a park within walking distance when they first came into town, and he knew his Dad wouldn't be back before dark, figuring he could take Sam to the park to play and be back in plenty of time.

They had been at the park for about twenty minutes when Cori and Ashlyn showed up. Ashlyn ran off to play with the younger Winchester and he and Cori sat on a bench under the trees, talking and watching the younger ones.

That's when Sam had fallen off the slide. There had been so much blood and Sam was so still - not making a sound, while blood pooled around his head. They had run over to him, Cori reaching into the backpack she always carried bringing out one of her t-shirts, she had told him to hold it against the wound. She then ran to the nearest payphone, calling a friend of her father's that lived nearby.

Sam had needed four stitches in his head, but he was okay, before he even had all the stitches in, their Dad showed up. After talking to the doctor, he pulled Dean aside, demanding to know what he thought he was doing, disobeying him and leaving he motel. It was the angriest he had ever seen his father, he actually thought that his dad was going to hit him.

Then Cori stepped in, telling his Dad that it was her not Dean that had disobeyed. She had told him that as soon as her father dropped her off at the motel, she came up with the idea of going to the park. She then told John that she had told Dean that he had said it would be ok as long as they stayed together. John had been very angry with her, and told her that he would deal with her and her lies later.

When John walked away, Dean had asked why she had lied to keep him out of trouble. She had smiled, throwing her arm around his shoulders affectionately. "Because you and Sam are like my brothers…. maybe not by blood but in the heart… where it really matters. No matter what, I'll be there for you; I will always protect you and keep you safe. I would die for you, Sammy or Ashlyn."

Then her dad had entered the room yelling at her threatening to send her and Ashlyn away. Dean had wanted to tell her Dad the truth, he didn't want her sent away, but when he had stepped toward them, Cori ever so slightly shook her head. So he had stood, not saying anything, until her father stopped yelling and stomped off.

By this point, Ashlyn was crying, because her Dad was yelling at the older girl, so Cori scooped her up in her arms soothing her until she fell asleep. Dean then told her that he didn't want her to be sent away, and that he would tell their fathers the truth. She had just smiled and asked him to just let her do this for him, saying everything would be ok.

That night back at the motel, Jake was apologizing to John for Cori's behaviour. Then John had asked Cori to take a walk with him. Dean never knew what they had talked about; he only knew that they were gone for a long time.

When they came back, Cori had sat next to Dean, "Remember, I will always keep you safe, all of you. I promise. You are like my brothers. Your Dad and I understand each other now….It'll be ok."

Dean had looked at her, and said, "You promise?" And she had answered, "With my life"

8-year-old Dean smiled.

Almost two years later, she proved it wasn't an empty promise.

Dean suddenly realized that the car had stopped moving and Sam was shaking him. Opening his eyes, he looked at his younger brother, briefly seeing a flash of the little boy Sam used to be. "What are we there?" he mumbled, stretching and looking around.

Taking a deep breath, the younger man answered. "Yeah, I think this is it. The building is up the road a bit. We should probably go in by foot." Dean nodded, and they got out of the car, worried about what and whom they'd find in the building.

~snsnsnsn~

Hearing the door open, the gruff hunter raised his head, glaring defiantly at the girl. "Now what the hell do you want?" he growled. "You already got me tied to this damn chair."

"Well, the boys are here….They're sneaking around outside like a couple of rats. And I don't want you givin' them any warning…." The smile she flashed sent shivers down Bobby's spine.

"So what? You're gonna gag me now?"

Walking around him, she chuckled. "No Bobby, gags can be removed. I think it's time for you to 'move on'. Isn't that what you hunters call it?"

Bobby stared at her, "So you kept me alive just to kill me before they even enter the building?"

"Of course I did." She gently laid her hand on his face, "You see, Sam would've known if you were dead. He will feel when you die, and …well you know how emotions can cloud your judgement. You get all clumsy in the fight….Just another advantage for me."

Trying to pull away from her touch, the grizzled hunter clenched his jaw. "What are you talking about? How the hell is he supposed to be able to 'feel' me die?"

"Oh, I'll make sure he feels it." She slid her hand to his forehead. "I'll just project some ….let's call them happy thoughts….yeah, happy thoughts."

Bobby felt an immense bolt of pain, coming from her hand and slamming into his head, jumbling his thoughts and filling the seasoned hunter with fear. Throwing the weight of his body back, he tipped the chair freeing him from her touch.

"Oh, this is better than I thought it would be." She sighed, happily. "I really thought your fight would be gone. But this is so much better."

Feeling the wooden arms of the chair crack under his weight Bobby quickly started to wiggle his tied arms back and forth. Each time applying more pressure, trying to break the arms and get free.

"Oh yes, much more fun this way." She stepped towards him.

Suddenly, the right armrest gave with a splintering crack and Bobby tightened his grip, waiting for her to approach. Hearing the crack, the girl paused. "Yes, such fight. This is so worth the wait."

She stepped closer to Bobby and smiling, she kicked, knocking the wind out of him.

Bobby fought for air, keeping his eyes on the girl, willing her to step just a little closer, hoping she would lean towards him. At that moment, she did just that. Kneeling down to place her hand on his forehead again. Using every ounce of strength he had, Bobby swung the armrest, connecting with the girl's temple and knocking her to the floor.

She quickly jumped to her feet. Rubbing her fingers across her temple, she felt blood. "Son of a bitch!" She screamed, "That really hurt!"

Keeping an eye on the girl, Bobby managed to get his right arm free and struggled to untie his left. He finally got his arm free and was trying to reach his legs when she walked up to him.

"I was going to try to make this as painless as I could….but after that; well you are going to suffer!" Reaching down, she placed her hand over his heart.

Bobby couldn't breathe, the pain in his chest cutting off all thoughts. The girl smiled at him, placing her other hand on his head. The hunter screamed at the sudden, blinding pain, then blackness surrounded him, and he felt nothing.

~snsnsnsn~

Sam and Dean circled the building, checking all possible entrances finding all windows and doors were locked. They found a door in a secluded area, where they couldn't be easily seen and Dean leaned in to pick the lock. Sam cried out, grabbing his head. Dean spun around, catching his brother before he slid to the ground. "What the hell? Sam….Sam?" He shook his sibling gently.

Sam could hear his brother's voice, but he sounded vague, as if he was miles away, the pain in his chest and head kept him from answering. And the thoughts…He was sure the thoughts he was receiving were Bobby's. Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.

Sam swallowed, "Oh God!" He didn't even feel the tears as they slid from his eyes.

"Sam, what was that? What just happened here?" Seeing the tears on Sam's face, the elder hunter raised the younger man's head gently. "What did you see?"

"It's Bobby…..Dean, I think…I think he's dead."

Dean stared at his brother. "No…No! He isn't dead, he can't be…we're going in there, and we're going to find him. He'll be fine." Returning to the door he quickly picked the lock, reassuring Sam that Bobby was not dead.

Slowly opening the door, Dean quietly slipped inside and waited for Sam to follow. The room was dimly lit with a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. Dean pulled the colt from the waistband of his jeans. Sam followed close behind his brother, scanning the room for any signs of Bobby. Looking to the right side of the room, Sam stopped, reaching out and grabbing his brother's arm. Dean turned, and seeing Sam staring to the right, not speaking, he turned to look.

A girl was kneeling over Bobby, her auburn hair covering her face. Dean felt like the world was spinning and he looked at Sam.

"Give me the gun….I'll do it." Sam whispered.

Swallowing the older Winchester licked his lips before replying. "I got it."

He stepped forward. "Get away from him!" Dean yelled, pointing the colt at the girl, she raised her head, green eyes gazing at him under the auburn fringe.

Dean's hand shook ever so slightly and took a calming breath. "I said get away from him, Cori!"