Hidden.
Summary. . . . . . . "I'm fine Dean!" It was their motto after all, hide the hurts, suck up the pains, tell a few white lies; but this time will those white lies come back to haunt them. As they take on a hunt, with multiple spirits, will Sam's failing health become an issue, as he hides the truth from his brother?
Disclaimer. . . . . . . Still not mine, but I have my fingers and toes crossed. Until then I'll just continue to play with Kripkies toys.
A.N. . . . . . . . . I'm so sorry for the wait on this chapter, I put all my thoughts into achieving a promotion at work, and all else kinda drifted to the back ground. Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, added to favs, or alerts. I hope that you find chapter 9 just as enjoyable as the rest of the fic. Peanut x
Dean cautioned Joshua to be quiet as he re-entered the room some time later, the look on his face indicating that he had found out new information; new information Dean had a feeling he wasn't going to like to hear. He pointed over towards where Sam rested, well if you could call it rested. Finally after numerous more bouts of vomiting, in the end his stomach having depleted itself of it's contents resorting to painful dry heaves, his brother's body had succumbed to exhaustion, Dean only just managing to get his brother back to the bed before his six foot four frame had become boneless. Yet again though Dean could tell from his brother's posture that he was very much still pained, his head firmly planted once more into the confines of his pillow ,an arm yet again placed across the one eye Dean could see blocking even the smallest ray of light from breaking through and damaging the fragile balance his body was teetering upon; causing Dean to wonder if he had missed something. Was Sam hiding even more than he had originally thought?
Turning his attention back to the older hunter, Dean motioned for him to move to the small kitchenette the motel room provided; as far away from Sam that they could get short of leaving the room, something Dean was reluctant to do. Once they were both there, he poured them both a cup of the brown sludge the motel coffee maker produced, figuring he would need the caffeine boost for what he was about to hear. Hesitantly he asked. "What did you find out? Did the guy see the omen?"
Joshua gulped down some of the vicious liquid, stalling for time before giving Dean an answer. He knew what his words would do to his friend, knew what they would behold for the young man on the bed, and he hated that he was about to be the bearer of those words. "He saw it. Four days ago, he spoke to his friend about seeing an owl in daylight, but when his friend looked it was gone. The friend put it down to drunkenness, they had both been partying hard since being laid off." At seeing Dean's confused look, he added. "They both worked for the construction company that were building the new houses. It seems Chesterville's residents don't mind outsiders when it comes to manual labor, they deem that type of work demeaning to themselves, so they hired everyone they could from the surrounding area. When the attacks started in the town, the shut the whole process down."
"But why would the spirit attack him, kill him? It's changed it's motives, it's never killed before." Dean wondered out loud.
"I can only presume on this Dean, but I'm guessing he committed a sin higher than any of the others. The townsfolk disturbed the graves, releasing the spirits of the long since dead, and wreaking havoc upon themselves. This guy though went one step further." Joshua stated, his eyes and posture blazing with unbridled fury the more he spoke. "I didn't notice before, but when I returned to question the wife and the friend I saw it. The wife was wearing a turquoise and bone necklace, a necklace that is given to a chiefs daughter on her coming of age, a necklace that is rare and never given away."
Dean, not for the first time in his life, cursed the stupidity of men and wondered if they were in fact more evil than anything else they had ever hunted, a question burning in his mind, a question he needed answers too. Allowing Joshua a few minutes to simmer down, he asked. "But what about Sam? We've never been here before. Why would Sam witness the omen?"
"I wish I could tell you Dean, but I'm at a loss here. I can tell you this though, if we don't find and lay those spirits to rest, Sam will die."
Both men jumped as Sam spoke softly from the bed, neither man having seen him awaken, or heard him slowly sit himself up. "What's going on?" He whispered, as though anything louder would cause him pain, his body leaning heavily against the headboard, his eyes fighting desperately to stay open. He watched as a look passed between his brother and his friend, his ire rising as neither man answered. He pushed wearily to his feet, ignoring the room as it tilted and swirled, reigniting the rolling in his stomach and asked again. "What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"
Both older men shared a look once more before Dean answered. "Nothing, we were just discussing the hunt." He stated barely able to look his brother in the eye. After badgering and fighting with Sam for the past few days about hiding truths, he had himself just openly stood there and lied right back at Sam. As he finally glanced back up at his brother, he could see that Sam knew what he had done too, and the guilt at doing so tore deep within him.
"I guess I'm not the only one keeping secrets then Dean?" Was all Sam would say as he took teetering steps towards the bathroom, a sudden need to be alone overcoming him. He closed the door forcefully behind him, ignoring Dean's protests as feelings of being kept in the dark, of being pushed out of the loop took a hold. He crashed heavily to the rim of the tub as nausea and exhaustion once again ran rife throughout his body, leaving him feeling vulnerable and weak. He ignored the banging on the door and his brother's shouted words as the pain in his head, that had crippled him ever since the graveyard returned with an intensity that took his breath away, and faded everything around him. He bit back a groan of agony as spikes fought to be released from their imprisonment within his head, his hands grasping desperately at his skull in a vain attempt to alleviate the pain, one trailing down to his face as he felt something tickling beneath his nose, panic rising inside him as he pulled his hand away to see it coated in crimson, this was bad, this was really bad. He had to tell Dean he told himself; but at the same time, he thought, why should he? It was just a nose bleed. He was stressed and run down and this was his bodies way of telling him, but he could still finish this hunt. He had to finish this hunt, if only to prove to Dean that he was still worthy.
Pushing to his feet, he ran cold water into the chipped basin, washing his face with it and running some through his hair, feeling a tad more refreshed after doing so. Repeating the process, he waited until the chill of the water eased the pain somewhat in his head, and the for the nausea to once more wane. He turned as the door opened behind him, thankful that the nosebleed had stopped and he had thought to wipe the blood from his face. Looking up into Dean's eyes he waited for the older man to speak, hurt and annoyed when he finally did so.
"There's some food on the table, coffee in the machine. Josh and I are going to the library to see what else we can dig up. We'll be back later, you'll need to be ready for when we get back." Dean turned from the small bathroom after his final word was uttered, unable to take the look of dejection written all over Sam's face. Grabbing his jacket he made his way over towards where Josh stood at the open door, and without another look back left, leaving Sam alone, hurting, and feeling totally abandoned.
To Be Continued. . . . . . . . . .
A.N. . . . . . . . Will try and not keep you waiting too long for an update this time, catch you soon, Peanut x
