The First Cut is the Deepest Ch. 8
Disclaimer: Kripke and the CW owns the Winchesters. I only wish I were making a profit from this story!
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Previously: Luke raised a hand to swipe the tear trailing down his face, all the while silently vowing that nobody would be allowed near enough to hurt the kid beside him again as long as he had anything to say about it.
As Luke sat and watched the kid sleeping, he wondered what could have been so bad at home to force the kid to run away. Was he hooked on drugs or alcohol? Was it that nobody understood him? Or even worse, was he being neglected or abused by his own family? It irritated him to no end to think that someone would even want to lay a hand on the kid when it was obvious he had a heart of gold. He was drawn out of his questioning thoughts as he watched the kid becoming restless. The teen was beginning to toss and turn in his sleep and had started to lowly whimper. Moving over to sit beside him, Luke reached out and brushed his long brunette hair from his eyes. "It's okay kid. You're safe with me. I won't let anything near you, rest now." He pulled the worn and frayed blanket back over the sleeping youngster that had slipped off with his movements.
How's he doing?" asked Ben with a yawn as he pulled his own blanket in closer around him. He had been awakened by the soft sounds of the kid's whimpering as he slept only a few feet away. He watched in fascination as Luke soothed the kid back into a deep sleep with just a gentle touch.
"Nightmare, I think" Luke answered as he tucked the blanket in around the kid to keep him as warm as possible. "And who can blame him after what he went through tonight. If I ever get my hands on those bastards again…"
"Luke you shouldn't get too attached to him man. You know sooner or later the kid's going to leave and we'll have to let him" Ben stated worriedly for his friend. He could see the emotional bond that Luke was beginning to form with the kid and didn't want to watch him get his heart broken at a later point. He couldn't stand to even think about Luke becoming the despondent man he had been so long ago after his own child's death. It had taken him years to recover and become more than just an empty shell walking around.
"I hear you Ben, it's just this kid is about the same age that my son Cameron would have been. I can't just abandon him without knowing that he'll be able to take care of himself. Once I know that he's recovered from the attack and able to look after himself again, I'll be able to let him go—I promise"
"I hope you're right Luke, because I just can't stand by and watch you go through that hurt all over again" Ben said honestly as he rolled back over to try and go back to sleep. He knew there wasn't anyway that Luke would be closing his eyes tonight since he was in protective mode for the kid's sake.
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Early the next morning, Dean awoke with the rising sun in the morning sky to find Bobby already awake and drinking a cup of extremely hot coffee from the looks of the steam rising out of the styrofoam cup. "Morning" he said as he pushed himself up off the bed. He was more than ready to start the hunt for his brother and Bobby promised to help him.
"Morning Ace. Soon as you get something in that belly of yours, we'll hit the road" Bobby said in reply knowing that he wouldn't be able to get Dean to hold off any longer than that.
"M'not hungry Bobby" Dean said as he eased off the bed ready to look for his clothing and get the hunt started.
"Don't care if you're hungry or not, we're not leaving here til you eat something boy."
"But Bobby..."
Don't but Bobby me, I ain't having your ass pass out on me from starvation so do as I say if'n you wanna go find that brother of yours." Bobby stated with a stern look.
"Yes Sir" Dean replied quickly knowing Bobby meant every word he had said. He soon heard the door open and looked over to see a candy striper carrying in his breakfast tray. After she set it on the small table beside his bed, Dean lifted the lid to see scrambled eggs with sausage, hash browns and a piece of toast. "Well, at least it looks edible" he thought as he picked up the fork and stuffed some of the eggs in his mouth. The sooner he got started, the sooner he would finish. Suddenly realizing his dad wasn't in the room, Dean looked up at Bobby and asked "So where's dad?"
"He's talking to the doctor about getting your prescriptions. He knew you were leaving one way or another today whether he liked it or not so he figured it was better to be safe than sorry. He should be getting your AMA papers right about now."
"Wow, how'd you manage that? I thought the stubborn ass would fight me all the way on this" Dean said incredulously.
"All I said was that he was going to lose both of his sons if he didn't get his shit together and start acting like a father. The rest was up to him" Bobby answered as he heard the door open once again and saw John and Dr. Early walk into the room.
"Dean, before I give you these papers, I want you to know how unhappy I am with the decision you have made. You really should be in here for another forty eight hours of observation so that we can keep an eye out for possible blood poisoning or septicemia" Dr. Early stated with a frown upon his face.
"I'm sorry doc, but I've got to get out of here and find my baby brother, make sure he is okay. Just tell me what to watch for and I'll be careful" Dean informed the doctor as he opened the drawer beside his bed and pulled out his clothing.
"I've already talked with your father and uncle about the things they should be watching for. Basically you should be wary if you find yourself running a fever or you become listless, those could be the first signs of an infection. Don't ignore them Dean, get yourself back here--especially if you notice red streaks snaking out from the wound and the area becoming even more tender."
"Yeah doc, I will" Dean stated as he pulled on his jeans and zipped them up. He held his hand out for the AMA papers and signed them quickly before handing them back over. "What can I say doc, I hope I don't see you again soon" Dean replied shaking the man's hand before walking out the door with his dad and Bobby following.
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Sam woke up early in the morning to sunlight streaming in his face. He slowly opened his eyes to peer around wondering how in the world he had ended up sleeping outside with only a cardboard box providing him shelter from the wind. As he sat up and became more alert, memories suddenly assaulted his mind of the gang that had viciously attacked him for no reason. He drew in a swift intake of breath and began to shiver. As he remembered the feeling of his jeans being pushed from his hips, his breathing became even more rapid knowing just how close had had been to being raped. He could feel his mouth, hands and feet starting to tingle and he was becoming lightheaded.
Luke had just finished adding some more scavenged wood to the burning barrel and returned to Sammy's side when he saw the panicked look in his eyes and saw him struggling just to breathe. He quickly dropped down to his knees and applied a comforting hand to the nape of the kid's neck as he pushed his head between his knees. "Whoa, take it easy kid, you have to calm down or you're going to pass out. You're safe here. I won't let anything happen to you kiddo, I swear" Luke stated as he began to rub the kid's back.
Sam saw a man approach him with a worried expression on his face as he fought to breathe. He could feel pain building in his chest as his lungs refused to allow him to take a decent breath. He felt a large hand clasp his neck as his head was gently pushed between his knees. He began to breathe easier as a tranquil voice encouraged him to calm down. He soon felt a large hand rubbing up and down his back providing the comfort he needed to begin to pull himself together. As his breathing calmed considerably, he looked up to see the distressed look on the face of one of the men who had helped him last night.
"That's it, you're doing great kid" Luke stated as he smiled while gently massaging Sam's neck with the hand that was still held there. "I know you're probably wondering where you are. After we found you last night, Ben and I brought you back here to our humble little abode to watch over you since you weren't really in the frame of mind to do it yourself. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like or we could try to contact you're family for you if you'd like."
"I don't have a family anymore" whispered Sammy as he lowered himself back down onto the mat he had been lying on and allowed himself to silently cry. He wanted to see Dean right now more than anything, to have his brother hold him close and tell him that things were going to be okay. He knew if Dean was saying those words then they would be true because Dean never broke a promise to him.
Luke's heart clenched at the sight of the silently crying young teen before him. Something had happened to hurt the kid to his very soul where his family was concerned and it pained him to see the kid in such torment. He wanted to tell the kid that he had a family with him and Ben, but he just didn't think the kid could take hearing those words right now with the ache so strong in his heart.
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As they walked out of the hospital and over to the parking garage where the Impala was now parked, Bobby discussed his plan for finding Sammy with the Winchesters. "From what the doctor said about Sammy's state of mind, I don't think he would have been able to get too far on his own. I think we should start with the surrounding towns, towns that are big enough to get himself lost in, yet small enough that he won't be overwhelmed by the size of them."
John rolled his eyes as he listened to Bobby. Why couldn't he and Dean see that they were just wasting their time with looking for the little pain in the ass. Sammy was probably already back at the house they were currently renting pouting like a big baby. "Well I think you're wrong. Knowing Sammy, he's already back at the house and waiting for Dean to come home and baby his poor defenseless ass. I swear he's nothing but a damned big baby."
Turning around and looking at his dad in anger, Dean forcefully said "If you say one more nasty word about my baby brother, I swear I will knock you on your ass so hard you won't be able to get up for a week. You've done nothing but ride hard on the kid for the past couple of weeks and I'm sick of it. I should have seen what was happening and stopped it before you finally pushed things too far and made him run away." Taking a deep breath, he went on to say "If you don't want to help us find Sammy, then find yourself a ride home. Bobby and I will be just fine without you."
TBC Will John finally pull his head his head out of his ass and help Bobby and Dean look for his youngest? Will Bobby be able to break the spell on John? Find out soon!
