The Emancipation of Heaven's Court
Disclaimer: I own nothing save for what rattles around in my rather warped imagination.
Chapter nine: Please see me, hear me, feel me.
He laid so still he felt dead, dead inside and out. He bled from wounds that were not visible but he felt the pain just as much.
His eyes closed permanently, but he still saw everything, the look in her eyes, the fear in his heart he saw it all. The revulsion came next and it made him want to cut it out, to find a blade and cut it all out but he couldn't, he was trapped in a dead body, already in the ground. Worm food but the worms wouldn't even touch him. Tainted and twisted he decided that was what he felt and he knew.
He could no longer hear, see or feel and yet he could hear his thoughts, see the darkness and feel his own pain. The depth of his new found coffin, soft, dark and moist was immeasurable to him. He knew it was deep but not that deep, he could feel movement above him and below him. He could feel the earth breathing.
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Dean slowed his frantic search to a slow methodical one. He had to concentrate and not go off half-cocked. He thought about driving back to the home and digging up the grounds but he knew that they were too far away from there for the demon to transport Sam, no he must be here somewhere close by, somewhere just under the earth.
Checking his watch for the third time Dean felt his heart break a little further, Sam disappeared three hours ago, three hours of entrapment in the earth. Three hours without oxygen, without contact and without Dean.
'Damn it Sammy don't you give up on me.' He kept the mantra going, as he meticulously searched the area where Amy said Sam vanished beneath the earth. The rains and winds gone as quickly as they came but did nothing to help, in fact they hindered his search. The ground now a dark brown sludge, the grass slippery and debris from the winds lay scattered everywhere. 'Concentrate Dean.'
Back-tracing his steps Dean dropped to his knees and felt the ground, centimetre by centimetre he pressed his fingertips along the earth searching for that crack, that tiny fissure to indicate where Sam was.
'Dean?' Lizzie ran towards him carrying two shovels and a bag slung over her shoulder, 'let me help.'
'You need to look after Amy.'
'She's sleeping.'
'Damn it Lizzie I should've gone with them, I shouldn't have let him out of my sight.'
'You couldn't do anything Dean, he's an adult not a child you can't watch him twenty-four-seven. I know I learnt the hard way with Amy.'
'He's all I have Lizzie.'
'I know, I know exactly what you're going through Dean.' Lizzie put her hand on his and made him look up at her, 'I know.'
'No, no you don't understand ...'
'Dean ... Amy and I up until she got sick we were hunters, just like you and Sam.'
'How?'
'Our mom died in a house-fire when Amy was six months old ... the only thing was that she had a twin sister Andrea she died along with our mom.'
'Ah Lizzie.'
'Our Dad went off the rails, our Nan she knew what happened with the demons and stuff but Dad wouldn't believe it. He went out got drunk and crashed the car into a tree and died. Nan took us in, and trained us both her and Pop were hunters that's how they met.' Lizzie stopped speaking and smiled at Dean a slight look of surprise filled her pretty features. 'Wow I haven't told anyone ... not so openly.'
'I know it's hard isn't it.' Dean matched her smile, 'our mom died in a fire too, above Sammy's crib he was six months old. Our Dad became a hunter there and then I think, I was only four, and he raised us as hunters and soldiers.'
'This is so weird.'
'Isn't it.'
'Dean we're gonna find Sam and put an end to this.' Lizzie gave him a wink and started to search next to him, the painstakingly slow process of pressing and feeling for any breaks in the surface of the earth.
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'So Precious one I hope that you are comfortable.'
'Leave me alone.'
'Why so sad, oh don't you like your accommodation?'
'Leave me alone.'
'Tsk, tsk, pouting does not become you, Precious.'
'I am not your precious one.'
'No, no you are much more, you are my salvation, my saviour.'
'Get a life.'
'Oh I will, I will and you will give it to me.'
'Sorry bit tied up at the moment.'
'Oh that is funny, no you see I don't even need you here just yet, I can feel and feed from you just as easily through the earth.'
'What are you on about?'
'Your essence, your life belongs to me now, as I feed I gain your strength and your gifts.'
'You are deluded.'
'Such sarcasm I don't know Precious, it really does not become you.'
'Hey you lie in the ground unable to see, hear or do anything and see how you like it.'
'Just give in to me, I can make it very pleasurable for you.'
'Sorry but you're not my type.'
'Enough, sleep now Precious, sleep and dream, I need to feed.'
Sam felt the heavy pull on his eyes and consciousness, fighting it with all his worth he sent a prayer up for Dean to find him and heard the caustic laughter echo in his mind.
'Silly boy no one will find you, no one is coming for you. You are forgotten already.'
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Dean glanced up at Lizzie when their fingers met and found the same crack line at the same time. 'Yahtzee.' He grinned, 'looks like we might have a winner.'
'Hope so.' Lizzie smiled back.
Dean started to dig carefully along the crack, small but definitely there. Lizzie kept an eye on where he dug and for any signs of Sam beneath the shovel's blade. After digging for ten minutes, Lizzie signalled for Dean to stop, 'I can see some cloth.'
Dropping to his knees Dean started scooping the dirt out with his hands, 'I can feel something.' He said as he frantically scooped at the earth. 'Sam?'
'Careful Dean.' Lizzie looked at him, 'you're close but don't injure yourself.'
'I can feel his hand.' Dean declared brushing the dirt from the large hand following it up he soon reached a shoulder and then. 'Oh God Sammy.' He breathed as he brushed the dirt from Sam's face. 'Oh God he's not breathing.' With renewed energy Lizzie and Dean managed to dig Sam free, pulling his lifeless body from the ground Dean looked down at his baby brother and saw the hole in his neck, matching the one he still bore.
'Damn it Sammy.'
'We have to resuscitate him Dean.' Lizzie shook Dean's arm trying to rouse him from the fast forming shock.
'Yeah, yeah can you do the breathes and I'll do compressions.' Dean shook his head and then checked for a pulse and any signs of breathing before they started the life-saving technique. 'Breath Sammy, breath.'
A harsh coughing echoed through the silent grove as Lizzie and Dean stopped to check Sam, his face screwed up in pain, Sam coughed again this time bringing up lumps of dirt and mud.
Rolling him onto his side Dean thumped him carefully on the back helping to dislodge the rest of the muck, periodically Lizzie checked his mouth and airways until it sounded as though he was finally breathing clearly.
Tears of relief shone in Dean's eyes as he stared down at his brother who still struggled to breath comfortably, bit-by-bit Sam's eyes opened and Dean's tears fell.
'Sammy.'
'D-Dean?' Sam rasped, his voice sounding scratchy and faint, he stared at his brother for a few minutes before closing his eyes again as another coughing fit assailed him.
'Hang in there Sammy, hang in there.' Dean sat back on his haunches and looked over at Lizzie, 'we need to get him to a hospital.'
'I've already rung 911,' Lizzie held her cell phone up, 'we can't move him until they get here.'
'Thanks.' Dean shifted his gaze back to Sam's face, taking in the pallor of his skin, the bruises and cuts from the fall and that hole in his throat. 'We need to clean and cover that.' Dean muttered already pulling his shirt off and ripping the sleeves. Lizzie scrambled over to her bag and pulled out a small first-aid kit and handed Dean a bottle of water. Carefully he cleaned the wound as best as he could and then used a sterile patch to cover it and tape it down then he cleaned Sam's face a little, gently wiping the dirt and grime away. 'Damn it Sammy, why you?'
The next hour passed in a whirlwind for Dean, he accompanied Sam in the ambulance with Lizzie promising to meet them at the hospital after she checked on Amy. Sam hadn't regained consciousness and if anything looked, worse than when dragged from his impromptu grave.
Pacing the waiting room restlessly, resembling more a feral wild animal than a worried brother, with a primal growl whenever he looked at his watch, it was taking too long.
'Family for Samuel Sole?'
'Yeah I'm his brother Dean.' Dean looked up at the doctor standing in the doorway, with greying red hair and bright blue eyes she looked more like a mother than a doctor, her soft curvy body and broad smile immediately helped Dean feel better.
'Hello Dean, I'm Doctor Beth Wilson, I've been looking after that brother of yours.'
'How, how is he?'
'Well all things considering he's doing a lot better than he should be.'
'What, what does that mean?'
'No broken bones, no internal damage or bleeding, aside from the hole in his neck, a few bruises and small cuts and lungs full of muck he's in good condition.'
'You sure?'
'Yes, I would like to keep him in overnight for observation and keep him on oxygen for the night, if he's responding well, I'll release him tomorrow.'
'Thanks Doc, that's great news.'
'I take it you're staying with Liz and Amy?'
'Yeah, yeah we are.' Dean's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
'Wonderful girls, I see them on a regular basis.'
'Oh, are you Amy's doctor?'
'Well GP yes I am, do know you about Amy's condition?'
'Yeah she and Sam got on really well. That's one thing Doc Sam's blood pressure?'
'I saw that he's on medication for that and we are still administering it and doing regular checks, it's a little high but considering what has happened I would expect it.'
'What, what about ... he ah has trouble letting people near him Doc, he was badly assaulted a little while ago and has had trouble since.'
'He's still pretty much out of it, but I will write it up in his notes so that the nurses will be aware ... was he treated medically for his injuries after the assault?'
'Yeah he was, he was a mess Doc but he's getting there, the hardest thing is trust and letting people touch him.'
'That's perfectly understandable.' Beth smiled and patted Dean's arm gently, 'did you want to see him?'
'Oh yeah, listen I know it's not normal but ... can I ...?'
'Stay? Oh yes of course, we take a very hands on approach to patient care here and I believe a big factor is the support from family, I'll make sure that there's a fold-out there for you to sleep on and some food for you as well as Sam. Actually in light of what you told me I would have probably insisted on it anyway.'
'Wow, I mean thanks Doc for everything.'
'No trouble at all, so I will get Rachel to take you to Sam's room and I'll pop in later to check on him.'
'Thanks again Doc.' Dean sighed and looked at the nurse who appeared at his side, 'Rachel?'
'In the flesh.' The young woman grinned, 'so ready to go and see your brother?'
'Sure am.' Dean said without preamble, he was suddenly so tired that he never even gave a thought to flirting with the pretty nurse. Petite with soft curves and a sway to her hips that would normally take his breath away, her black hair cut short in a fashionable bob framed her oval shaped face. Long dark lashes complimented her wide grey eyes and a tiny diamond stud glittered from the side of her nose.
'Oh the stud? Yeah I'm supposed to cover it up, which I forgot to do this morning you won't tell will you?'
'Nope secret's safe with me.' Dean paused as they reached the door to Sam's room, 'thanks Rachel.'
'My pleasure Dean ... let's go in and see how Sam's doing.' She smiled prettily and pushed the door open waiting for Dean to step in before closing it behind them. Sam lay in the bed closest to the window, another bed closer to the bathroom remained empty. The smell of antiseptic and something else, irritated Dean's nose, scratching it absently he let his well-honed gaze roam over the room, looking like he was curious but instead he memorised everything, making sure he knew the layout exactly before he stepped into the room further and closer to Sam.
His brother lay in the bed with a nasal cannula resting between his nose and upper lip the tubing disappearing behind the bedhead. An IV ran down into the port in his right arm, two tubes from two bags dripped their individual medications into his bloodstream. The bruises now dark and stormy looking decorated his upper body contrasting with the pallor of his flesh. Tiny cuts already scabbing looked ineffectual and nothing to worry about, just another collection to add to the rest.
The hole in the left side of Sam's neck dressed with a fresh pad of gauze and waterproof covering. 'Hey Sammy,' Dean said softly ignoring the nurse as she checked all of Sam's vitals. 'Geeze kid you're a mess.'
'D-Dean?' Sam whispered his eyes still closed but his fingers twitched and moved seeking his brother.
'Hey Sammy.' Dean took Sam's fingers and held his hand tightly gently stroking his thumb over Sam's palm. 'You gave me a bit of a scare kiddo.'
'S-Sorry ... Amy?'
'She's fine.' Dean frowned and bent closer to Sam, running his free hand over his brother's forehead, 'dude can you open you eyes for me?'
'D-Dean? They are open.' Sam started to panic making the beep of his monitor increase in volume.
'Hey, hey calm down Dude, listen to my voice and calm down.' As Dean spoke Sam visibly calmed down.
'Dean I can't ... I feel like my eyes are open but...'
'Rachel can you get the Doctor for us?' Dean asked briefly glancing up at the nurse, 'we need her to take a look.'
'Sure thing, don't you worry Sam I'm sure that you'll be fine.' Rachel said laying her hand on Sam's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
'No, no don't.' Sam screamed and tried to launch himself off the bed, 'Dean? Dean?'
'Hey, hey Sam calm down it's okay, just the nurse that's all.'
'S-sorry.' Sam curled in on himself, shaking violently as he tried to pull back from the terror crippling him. 'So sorry.'
'Sam, it's okay, please don't worry about it.' Rachel said leaning closer but not touching him at all, 'don't worry bout it, so I'll go and get Doctor Beth and you rest okay.' She smiled apologetically to Dean but it didn't reach her eyes as she fled the room visibly upset.
'She's gone Dude.' Dean whispered conspiratorially, 'just us now.'
'I am sorry Dean, so sorry I didn't mean to freak out like that.'
'No drama at all Sammy, so wanna tell me what happened after you disappeared?'
'I-I wasn't sure how long ... so dark and quiet, I couldn't see anything, hear or fuck Dean it was like I was dead but my brain wouldn't die. I could hear my own thoughts and it wasn't pretty.'
'Hmm kind of ... geeky porn? Eww that is gross.'
A small grin tugged at the corners of Sam's mouth, 'nah just lots of nothing, silence really is deafening man.'
'And what else? What aren't you tellin' me?'
'That thing from Heaven's Gate, he called ... he called me his Precious.' Sam spat the words out, scrunching his face up he looked fragile and more childlike than ever before as the memory of his most recent ordeal came back in a flood of ... nothingness. 'He wanted me to ... feed him.'
'Ah shit Sam.'
'Dean he told me that no one was coming and that I was already forgotten.'
'Dude you listen to me, no one can ever make me forget about you.' Dean said brushing his hand through Sam's sweat-soaked hair, 'sorry Sammy you're stuck with me.'
'Ah think I can cope with that.' Sam settled his head on the pillows and enjoyed the comfort coming from Dean's tender ministrations.
'So what's going on with the two of you?' Beth came in and broke through the brotherly soothing connection.
'Hey Doctor, I ah have a problem with my eyes.' Sam said a sound of resignation in his voice.
'Okay, so we talking total black, shading and shadows or blurriness?'
'Black I guess, it feels like my eyes are open but all there is ... is darkness.'
'Okay let's see what's going on ... Dean would you mind pulling the curtains and turning the lights off please?' Beth settled herself next to Sam, 'Sam I want you to lie still and let me do the work for you.'
'Dean?'
'Right here man.' Dean finished turning the lights off and went to his brother's side taking the long fingers in his own. 'Right here.'
'Thanks.'
'Right, boys we ready?' Beth smiled noting the connection they had, it was beautiful. 'I'm going to shine a light into each eye Sam, now just lay there and don't move okay?'
'Kay Doc.' Beth lifted Sam's right eyelid up and shone the bright pencil torch into Sam's eye, flicking it slightly and gauged the reactions with his pupil, then she repeated the same process with his left eye. Switching the torch to one with a fine beam of light and did the same test with both eyes but this time she leant closer to Sam until their noses almost touched.
'Dean can you turn the lights on again please.' She asked giving Sam a gentle massage while he did so, her fingertips rubbing his temples and brushing over his closed eyes bringing instant relief with her light touch. 'Thanks Dean, now Sam I'm going to repeat the same tests okay?'
He nodded slowly and took a deep breath, as Beth shone the light in his eyes once again. He tried to swallow down on the panic rising but he couldn't see anything, he felt her lift his eyelids and that was it. No lights nothing, he could hear her soft sighs and knew that she realised it too.
'How long were you underground Sam?'
'I-I'm not sure.' Sam spoke so softly that Dean barely heard him, 'Dean?'
'Just over three hours from what we can work out.'
'Sam do you remember hitting your head at all?'
'Ah I remember going down feet first and then ... nothing just coming too and I'm lying flat, thing just get worse after that.'
'Any headaches? Pain in your eyes?'
'Yes and no.'
'Okay Sam I'm going to get a Doctor Levi to come and see you he's our Ophthalmologist on staff.'
'An Ofth... what?' Dean glared at the woman deciding that he didn't like her as much now.
'An Ophthalmologist ... an eye surgeon, a specialist, I don't think Sam's blindness is permanent but to be prudent I would like Doctor Levi to take a look at him just in case.'
'I dunno Doc it sounds expensive.' Sam spoke letting his head fall back onto the pillows, 'damn.'
'What is it Sam?' Beth asked immediately checking his blood pressure and breathing.
'Headache.'
'On a scale of one to ten how bad?'
'Twelve.' Sam muttered screwing his face up he gasped as the stabbing pain attacked his retinas, 'argh my eyes, stop the pain please.'
'Do something please Doc.' Dean hated sounding like he was begging but it was killing him to see Sam in so much pain. 'I thought that you said he was going to be alright.'
'I'll be right back.' Beth retreated from the room quickly ignoring Dean's barbed question.
Dean moved to the bed and tried to calm Sam down, rubbing his temples gently, he spoke in soft soothing tones of nonsensical subjects while he waited for the doctor to return.
'Here we go.'
'What's that?' Dean eyed the syringe in her hand suspiciously.
'Just a mild pain killer and sedative, it will work faster than tablets.' Beth explained as she injected it into the IV port, 'it will help Sam.'
'Thanks.' Sam pushed the word out through his clenched teeth.
'I paged Doctor Levi and he will see Sam first thing in the morning,' Beth continued without looking at Dean, 'oh you have a visitor waiting ever so impatiently to see you guys.'
'Lizzie?' The brothers spoke in unison.
'The one and only.'
'Send her in Doc thanks.' Sam said stifling a yawn.
'Okay, I'll be back in a while to check you Sam, get some rest ... that's Doctor's orders.'
'Yes ma'am.' Sam frowned slightly as he listened intently, 'Dean? You still here?'
'Yeah I'm here.' Came the tired sounding reply.
'Dean?' Sam tried to push himself up in search of his older brother, 'Dean?'
'Hey, hey it's okay Sammy I'm here just tired.' Dean said unable to meet the enquiring gaze from the doctor.
'Doc can you check Dean out please?' Sam said stifling another yawn.
'Yes certainly.'
'No, no Doc I'm fine.' Dean protested shooting Sam a dirty glance and found himself glad that Sam didn't see it.
'Please Dean for me, I'll rest easier knowing that you're alright.' Sam pulled the injured baby brother card from the deck knowing that Dean would be unable to refuse him.
'Damn you Sammy ... ah alright to keep you happy.' Dean shot another pissed look at his brother and then turned his gaze on the subject of his growing temper tantrum: Doctor Beth Wilson.
TBC
