Chapter 9
A slow, swinging movement and the soft splashing of water was the first thing that broke through the blissful darkness Dean had been floating in before. The next thing he realized was an unpleasant tug at his arms and feet, and with a gasp he surged upright, or tried to, because as soon as he moved his head white hot pain exploded through it and let black spots dance across his vision. As soon as the worst of the pain had subsided into an unpleasant but bearable ache he rolled his head up to look at his arms and began to struggle in earnest when he saw the thick ropes wound around his wrists. A hard tug on each of his legs confirmed that he was effectively bound and tied to four stakes that stood out of the shallow water.
He let his head sink back into the small waves that just reached his ears, but pulled it right up again and began looking around frantically when the sting of the salt water in his obvious head wound reminded him of what had happened; and of the one thing he wondered how he could have forgotten about it: Sam.
As soon as he caught sight of him, his struggles picked up again: His brother was also staked out, his long frame stretched just beyond Deans own feet. But the thing that truly scared him was the complete stillness of the body, only waving ever so soft in the waves.
"Sam!" Dean grunted hoarsely while he tugged at the relentless ropes, uncaring of the painful tug on his skin. The image of his brother going down with a freaking bullet in his side earlier did nothing to soothe him either, and it was just then that he realized how completely screwed they really were: Obviously, the two women didn't want to get their own hands dirty, so they had exposed them to the elements: Even if Sedna didn't get them, they would still be exposed to the ever rising water level of the sea. Judging by how quick the water had risen even in the last few minutes, they didn't have much time left, and that let his despaired pleas for his brother to wake up and his own struggles increase in strength.
Maybe it was the hopelessness in his brother's voice, or the no longer ignorable burn in his side, but slowly Sam fought his way through the blackness and back to consciousness. He slowly rolled his head from side to side, faintly annoyed by a tickling sensation in his ear shells.
Then, Dean's voice filtered through, and with a sound from his brother that sounded an awful lot like a sob he blinked his gritty eyes open, staring blankly up at the sky for a few moments, collecting his bearings. With a stifled moan he looked down his body, eyes landing on his stained-red side and the reddish color of the water next to it. With a defended sight he let his head splash back before rolling it up to try and get a look at his brother. He had to blink a few drops of water out of his eyes but then they caught on brown biker boots only a few feet away, wandering up jeans clad legs, till finally latching onto the desperate, worried green eyes he was so desperate to see.
"Sammy, hey, hey! Stay with me, Okay?" Dean demanded when Sam's eyes began to droop again, but with his words they snapped open, and when he got a tight nod, he felt some of the tension from the last minutes fall away.
"I will get us out of here, Okay? Just… don't try to move too much, alright? I think you already lost enough blood today." He tried to calm his brother, even if Sam still looked too out of it to really understand the full extent of their situation.
The next minutes flew by with Dean frantically twisting and turning his wrists, all the while keeping his eyes on his brother and the ever so soft rising and falling of his chest, the only sign of life apart from the sluggishly blinking, glazed eyes that kept track of Deans every movement.
With an angry growl he gave another hard tug, throwing all his strength into it, and finally he felt the slightest give in the ropes. Blowing out a relieved breath, he turned his head upwards to see if there was any chance of freeing himself, but snapped back down when suddenly a gasping, spitting sound came from beneath his feet.
Sam had been floating in a place between light and darkness, holding onto consciousness with the last of his powers, when suddenly the first tickle of a wave reached over his chin, and the next second there was water everywhere, forcing its way into his mouth, his nose… Desperately, he tried to get his head up above the water, and the fraction of a second before he inhaled a mouthful of water he finally broke the surface. He heard his brother's desperate shout and gasped in breaths, coughing against the salty taste in his throat. To his horror, he looked around and finally noticed the steadily risen water: When it had barely reached his ears before, it was now tickling his chin with every gasp.
He closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing, focusing on his brother's voice above him and the burning in his side to ground himself. After a few seconds he opened his eyes again, glancing around again but now critically judging the situation. He was effectively bound, no chance of escaping. With a look at his brother he could see that he must have been working on his ropes for some time. He had to stretch his neck back to get his chin up as high as possible when another wave threatened to choke him, and with a relieved sight he realized that his brother was staked out about a meter and a half higher than he himself; which gave him at least a few extra minutes before the water would reach him.
Water splashed into his eyes and he blinked, trying to clear his vision from the salty wetness that wasn't all from the waves. He stretched his neck a little further, locking his eyes on his brother's. Giving him a small, apologetic smile he took one last, huge breath before letting his head drop back just as the next high wave rolled over him. This time he didn't have the strength to fight anymore, already knowing that there wasn't a chance to reach the surface anymore.
Dean struggled wildly, throwing his whole body from one side to the other while tears of desperation streamed down his face and mixed with the water that was now almost covering his face.
With horror he had watched his brother's head disappear in the waves, that accepting smile on his face like he was ready to- No, he wouldn't go there! He wouldn't let that happen, not now, not ever!
"Sam!" he screamed, unable to stop the sobs that escaped his lips. He twisted his hands once again, kicking his feet forcefully, but it was useless, and his desperate cry was swallowed by the wave that splashed into him, forcing his head down for one last time before the surface of the water was even again, only broken by the slowly rolling waves.
"Hey, Dean, Hey! I need you to wake up, please!" A pleading voice filtered through Dean's ear and he grumbled, trying to roll away from the annoying shaking on his shoulder, but at the next words he was wide awake:
"Come on, it's Sam! I need your help!" In an instant he was struggling to sit up, but suddenly there were strong hands holding him back down.
"L't me go" he argued, or tried to, but his mouth felt dry and his tongue didn't want to cooperate. To his irritation, there was a low, relieved chuckle right next to him:
"Maybe try that again with your eyes open?" A female voice said and Dean struggled to follow the advice. After a few second of fighting, he finally looked up into the worried face of Lenny. He frowned and raised a shaking hand to his aching head.
"What happened?" he asked and rolled his head around, taking in his surroundings. He was lying on a small, sandy beach, a few feet away from the shore. Then, when he let his eyes wander to his right, he caught sight of his brother, stretched out on the sand beside him, deathly pale except for the saturated red shirt that stuck to his chest. With a rush everything came back, and he struggled up again. This time, the hands didn't hold him back but supported his shoulders and helped him to crawl over to his brother, gently holding onto his shoulder when he swayed on his knees.
"Sammy, come on! Wake up, now!" he pleaded and cradled his little brother's head in his hands, noting the pale and clammy skin. With a sigh of relief he noticed the small, shallow puffs of air from the blue tinged lips, and his head sagged down onto his chest.
"We reached you just in time" Lenny spoke up next to him, and he turned his head slightly, indicating that he was listening but his eyes never leaving Sam's still form.
"Nanuq woke me, almost dragging me out here… You guys owe him a serious thank you. If we would have been only a little later-"She shuddered, then caught herself, eying Sam's face "He wasn't even breathing at first. But I guess the first-aid class was good for something, after all." She said with a breathy laugh. "Nanuq is getting supplies or something, I don't know…"
Dean had listened carefully, absorbing every info on his brother's condition, but then turned his full attention back to Sam, whose eyelids were fluttering, a small frown forming.
"That's it, come on, buddy." Dean encouraged, and was soon rewarded by glassy but at least coherent green eyes.
"D'n?" Sam mumbled and then struggled to sit up as a coughing fit shook him, sending stabs of pain through his side. Fisting a hand in Dean's shirt, he leaned into the supporting hand, gasping for breath.
"Take it easy, Sam." Dean said, concerned.
Once the hacking had stopped, Sam slumped into his brother, his energy spent. With his head resting against Dean's chest, he fought the black spots crawling over his vision. After a few minutes, Dean, who had been resting his chin on his brother's shaggy hair, carefully shook Sam's shoulder.
"Come on, man. I need to get a look at your side," he demanded, taking hold of Sam's shoulder and gently rolling him to his back. Sam moaned and squeezed his eyes shut, panting through the new agony.
"Sorry, Sammy." Apologizing, Dean peeled the wet fabric away and then hissed between his teeth.
"Damn" He whispered and gently pressed around the angry red and no doubt painful wound. Anger flashed through him while he carefully felt along Sam's back with one hand, the other holding his brother down when he jerked away as soon as Dean found the matching hole in his back.
"Through and through. At least I won't have to dig out the bullet." He stated, slightly relieved while he sat back on his heels and ran his hand through his brother's hair, resting it at his neck to offer at least a little comfort.
Then, with one last squeeze, he turned around to Lenny, who had been watching the whole scene with suspiciously wet eyes. He deliberately ignored it.
"Where are we?" He asked instead. "Just off the road into town." Lenny answered "But it's still a bit of a distance, I don't know if Sam-" she started, but her explanation was interrupted by the sound of an engine getting closer and closer, until finally coming to halt on the road about a hundred meters away from the shore.
When she recognized the person, she gave a loud laugh and then waved:
"Nanuq, over here!" She screamed and turned to the brothers with a triumphant grin. After the first second of uncertainty, Dean finally recognized the man that had saved them earlier and returned the smile, even though a little cautious when the man crouched next to Sam and rested a hand on his shoulder. With the other, he fumbled in his pocket and a second later he pulled out a small, leather-wrapped package. He opened it and revealed a small pile of dried leaves. With a short look at Dean's face, he handed him the small heap and said "It's a mixture of herbs; it will get him on his feet again. Not for long, but at least long enough to stop the monster." Dean eyed the leaves carefully and hesitated, but he had to admit that there were no way they would get Sam save and the job done if he didn't accept all help they could get. With a sight he softly patted Sam's cheek and urged his brother to wake up. His efforts were soon rewarded when Sam's eyes cracked open to slits and a silver of pained hazel blinked up at Dean. "Hey Buddy", he whispered, "I need you to take these, okay? Some nice drugs from our mystery man over there for you."
Sam hesitated for a moment but then gave a small nod and opened his mouth a little so Dean could push the medicine past his lips. With a grimace he chewed a few times and then choked the dry mess down.
Almost immediately, his head seemed to clear and the pain in his side subsided to a bearable dull pounding. He blinked his eyes open all the way and looked up into his brother's worried face.
"Up." He demanded and drew a relieved chuckle from Dean.
A heavy load dropped from Dean's heart when he heard his brother's voice, and with a chuckle for the child- like tone he reached behind his brother and helped him to push himself up. All the while he kept a critical eye on Sam's face, but apart from a little more loss of color, he seemed okay, so Dean tightened his hold and slowly stood up, bringing his brother with him.
By the time he had them both standing, Sam was heavily resting against him but struggled to get his legs under him. With a grateful smile he looked up when strong hands grabbed Sam's other arm and together, they maneuvered his brother's lanky form up the hill and into Nanuq's old Truck.
"So, what now?" Nanuq asked while he sped down the street back into town. "First, we bring Sam back to the Motel and then we-" Dean started, but was interrupted by Sam "No, Dean! I'm okay; I won't let you do it alone!" "Sammy, you nearly drowned, and-" And so did you!" Sam pointed out, enraged. "Yeah, but-
"BOYS!" Lenny interrupted sternly, "Sam, you really aren't up to this, but Dean, he is right! We have one shot at this, and we need everybody we can get! He can stay back, but we need backup."
Dean gritted his teeth at her but had to admit the truth behind her words. "Great," He spit, "But you stay behind in any case! No heroic acts, nothing. Understand?" He said and glared at his brother. "Okay, okay" Sam capitulated and leaned back into the seat. He had to admit, he didn't feel as good as he was pretending, he felt kind of disconnected from his body and a dull throb behind his eyes was making itself known. But as he saw the witch's house appear in the distance, he shoved all those complaints back and focused on the task ahead.
Dean raised his gun in front of his body and slowly pushed the wooden door open. With a pointed look at his brother he nodded down into the cellar from where a small light shone up the stairs. Sam took a step forward but raised his hands in surrender when Dean glared at him and took the lead. Silently they made their way down and then stopped a few stairs above the ground, listening. From around the corner, chanting sounded up to them, the two female voices rising and falling together, forming strange words and tones. Dean raised his eyebrows at Sam who shrugged: Some people just never learn.
The woman closest to the door grabbed a bone from the newly built altar, holding it over a bowl filled with a dark, creamy fluid. The strange language rolled of her tongue almost naturally as she recited the last lines of the spell, and with a self-confident smile, she raised both artifacts above her head- and froze, when the unmistakable cold barrel of a gun pressed into her neck. She heard the clicking sound of the gun being cocked and then her eyes grew wide with disbelieve as a cold voice snarled behind her. "Drop. It." Her eyes flickered to her friend, only to find the taller of the two man hovering behind her with a gun of his own. With a clatter, the bowl hit the floor, shattering into a million pieces and spilling its contents over the stone floor.
The almost blood-like substance tickled a memory in the back of her head, and a sly grin spread over her face. From the corner of her eye she saw her friend starring at the puddle and when their eyes met, she knew what to do: With an enraged growl, she ducked and grabbed a shred of the broken bowl. A sharp pain ripped through her head and she screamed as blood blurring her vision, but still, she whirled around and threw herself at the man behind her, arms wildly swinging, trying to reach any part of his body.
Dean growled in surprise and pain as the shred pierced his arm, but with a hard backhand the woman staggered back and that was enough for him. He was on her a second later, pinning her to the ground with his knee relentlessly bearing down onto her back. She struggled for a few more seconds but then realized the hopelessness of her situation and gave up, burying her head in her arms and gasping, the blood slowly turning her hear into a sticky, dark red mess.
In the meantime, the other woman had used the momentary confusion to spin around and deliver a hard slap to Sam's hand, disturbing his aim. Then, she threw her body at him, but instead of reaching for his face, she dug her fingers into his already wounded side until she felt blood begin to stream over her fingers. With a strangled cry Sam went to his knees, desperately trying to curl away from the searing agony in his side. He blindly drove his fist into the woman's face and heard something crack. A gurgling sound escaped the woman's mouth before her eyes rolled back into her head and she sank to the floor.
Desperately, Sam pressed his eyes closed and pulled in frantic breath while he pried the still clawing fingers from his side. Afterwards, he just sat there for a moment, working to slow his breaths, when suddenly a warm hand landed on his neck. His head shot up again, but when he opened his eyes that had closed without him noticing and recognized Dean, kneeling in front of him with a concerned expression, he sighted and leaned into the comfort.
"Hey" he whispered, exhausted. His eyes wandered to the women, both now laying unconsciousness on the floor, before finally coming to rest on a dark red stain on Dean's shoulder.
"D'n, you are- you have-" he started and struggled to sit up again, but his brother's heavy hand held him back.
"I'm okay, Sammy. It's just a scratch." Dean soothed "More concerned about you right now." He added with a frown.
"Do you think you can stand if I help?"
When Sam nodded, he crouched next to him and wound his arm around his brothers shoulders.
"Okay, on three. One. Two. Three." And with the last word he slowly pushed up, bringing Sam with him, who latched onto his brother to stay standing while he rode out the new waves of pain that crashed through him.
After a few moments, Sam nodded into his big brother's shoulder, and so they made their slow way up the stairs.
When they reached the threshold, Lenny, who seemed to have paced back and forth in front of the entrance the whole time, stormed up to them, her eyes widening when she took in their appearance.
"Oh my god, is he okay? And you? What did they…? Are you-?" She asked frantically while she took Sam's other arm and steadied him, trying to get a good look at them, both.
"Yes, we are fine. More or less." Dean tried to calm the frantic girl when she noticed the growing bloodstain on Sam's shirt and his own jacket. "But I need to get us fixed up, so could you-" He added and nodded into the direction of the Impala.
"Yes, sure! Of course! Come on!" Lenny answered and steered them to the sleek black car, opening the passenger door and then watching Dean maneuver his brother's lanky form into the seat.
When finally Sam was settled with his head leaned against the window and a makeshift bandage pressed to his side, Dean turned back around.
"Thank you" He said and smiled at her "But there still are two idiots to be handled and I don't know if you want me near them right now. " Dean began with a dark look in his eyes that almost had Lenny take a step back, but suddenly Nanuq spoke up from behind them:
"Don't worry. I will take care of them. I know many men of this town, there won't be a problem." He offered with a knowing smile. Dean raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." Nanuq confirmed "This is a small town, and the local police might just be a little, let's say, understanding in my case." He said with a wink. "And now get going, that young man there needs rest and some patching up. "
Dean nodded and extended his hand, grabbing Nanuq's and shaking it.
"Thanks, man. For everything." He said with a small smile.
"No problem." The man answered before he turned away "We have to thank you." And a moment later he had disappeared around the corner of the house.
When Dean turned around, he suddenly found himself with an armful of a slightly teary girl, pressing her face into his not- wounded shoulder.
"Thank you so, so much! I don't know what I would have done without you! That thing would have gotten me!" She sobbed, her voice muffled by the fabric of his jacket.
"Hey, Hey. It's okay, calm down." Dean said softly and patted her hair a little helplessly. "You did good. We wouldn't have gotten out without you, either." He added truthfully.
Lenny pulled back with a small laugh, wiping at her eyes. "Well, I doubt that. But thank you, anyway" She said and stepped back. "And now you really should get out before Nanuq's friends arrive."
Dean nodded and slowly walked around to the driver's side. He gave Lenny one last warm smile and then slid into the seat, turning to his brother who was watching him through cracked eyes.
"You good to go, or should we spend another night here so you can heal up and rest in a real bed?" Dean asked, knowing that staying was a risk but not wanting to push his brother if he didn't feel like driving for some time to put some distance between them and the town.
"I'm okay" Sam answered, "Just tired as hell."
So an hour later Dean, had checked them out of the motel and they were on the road again, heading south. While he drove, Dean kept an eye on his brother who shifted in his seat from time to time, trying to find a position that didn't feel as if someone was driving red hot pokers into his side.
„How you doing over there? " Dean asked, concerned. Sam groaned but cracked his hazel eyes open to meet his brothers worried green ones.
„Peachy" he told him with an exhausted smile and a roll of his eyes.
"Shut it, princess" Dean threatened, but turned back to look at the road with a relieved grin spreading over his face.
The END
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OMG so that's it! Thank you so, so much for sticking around till the end! It means so much to me! If you liked the story, please comment! And if you didn't – please comment anyway!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
