IT'S ALL IN THE CARDS

DISCLAIMER: The usual, not mine to own but I love to play ... no money passes hands for this story or any other I write. I wish but nope not yet. No Laundromat washers or dryers were harmed or destroyed in the writing of this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the combination of three story ideas, and thanks and LovinJackson for the wonderful input and ideas for this story.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: Sam is 18 and Dean is 22 – 23 (set between new years day and Dean's birthday to begin with.) Before Sam goes to Stanford.

S—D

Chapter Ten

Then:

'No, no Father ... Not Father told me.' Sam weakly pushed himself away from Dean needing to get him to understand, he knew what he wanted to say but it wouldn't come out right. 'He comes with ... spidery webs ... glides in ... shadows ... then Sammy go bye-bye don't wanna go bye-bye De, want stay home with you and pala.'

'He's not gonna get you Sammy, I'm not gonna let him.' Dean promised desperately trying to get through to Sam when he felt the chill form in the air, the bedside light flickered, 'ah fuck! Sammy we gotta go.'

'You can't leave now Dean, I have just arrived.'

'Not Father.' Sam cried out and tried to hide his six feet, five inch body behind Dean, 'no, no go way, don't want you, no you make Sammy go bye-bye.'

Now:

Dean glared up at their captor, his wrists burning with the burns from the acid soaked ropes, blood dripped down his chin from his split lower lip and fractured nose but still he glared. His green eyes blazing with anger, and his demeanour giving nothing away except a chilling cold rage that could or rather would kill without compunction.

'That all ya got?' Dean batted cockily, spitting a globule of blood onto the boots of the man in front of him, 'I dunno seems a little lacking if ya ask me.'

'Yeah well I'm just gettin' started.'

'Enough Sid, I want him alive.' The man's voice came from the doorway, in two strides he was at the side of his latest manservant and head torturer Sid, a stilling hand placed on the man's hand. 'You see my son will not survive without him, I allowed you to have some fun with him but that is all, I need our young guest here.'

'What makes you think I'm gonna go anywhere with you?' Dean asked watching the two men carefully.

'Your connection to Samuel is stronger than even I expected, I want my son to grow strong he needed to be punished for disobeying me and for running away however, in order for him to be strong again it seems that his punishment must come to an end.'

'I was his punishment?' Dean spat the question out, his anger building again, though outwardly he appeared calm and almost – subdued.

'Yes, oh I can physically hurt him but it seems that the most effective form of punishment is not allowing him time with you.' The man shrugged slightly and indicated for Sid to undo the restraints around Dean's ankles first and then his wrists, 'I know our young guest here won't do anything ... untoward as he knows I can simply deny him his brother.'

'What have you done to him?' Dean asked unable to hide the sigh of relief when the acidic ropes were removed from his wrists.

'Nothing yet but ... do anything to disturb my plans for Samuel and ...' The man let his voice trail off leaving the unfinished threat hanging in the air.

The man led Dean down two long corridors and a flight of stairs before stopping in front of a locked door, 'please do not disappoint me Dean, I would hate to have to punish Samuel again.'

Dean had a well-worded retort on his tongue ready to unleash when the door swung open and he got to see his brother, 'Sammy?' he breathed before pushing past the man Sam called Not Father and went over to his brother who stood staring out a window, his shoulders slumped and forehead pressed against the glass. 'Sammy?'

Sam turned and Dean finally got to see his brother's face and more importantly his eyes, his heart clenched tightly when he took in the gauntness of Sam's features and the bloodshot and swollen eyes.

'Dean?' Sam cried out and limped towards his brother arms outstretched, 'Dean?'

'Yeah it's me kiddo, let me look at you.' Dean ran his fingers over Sam's face and down his arms, wanting to make sure that his brother was at least, 'look at you walking.'

'Don't want to ... we gotta warn dad Dean.' Sam whispered as he pulled Dean into a bear hug, 'we have to get outta here.'

'You with me bro?' Dean asked pulling back slightly, 'it really you?'

'Kind of,' Sam nodded burying his face against Dean's shoulder, 'I can still feel it ... in here,' he hit the side of his head, 'but I'm feeling ... me.'

'What's going on Sammy?' Dean risked a glance at the door but found it shut and most likely locked again. Gently he led Sam over to the bed pushed against the wall and sat down with him still pressed against him, 'you hurting anywhere?'

'No, not more than before anyway ... he said it was more punishment taking you away from me,' Sam sighed and gave Dean a quirky grin, 'told him I wanted to die if he didn't bring you to me.'

'That's mah boy.' Dean patted Sam's chest.

'Dean what's wrong with your wrists?' Sam asked when he saw the acid burns on each limb.

'Nothing Sammy.'

'What please tell me?'

'They are used ropes soaked with acid to tie me up with, they knew that I'm batman and nothing can hold me.'

'Yeah right Dean,' Sam winced and rubbed his temples with his fingertips, 'gotta make the red web go way.'

'Hey Sammy just relax and focus on me,' Dean placed his hands on the sides of Sam's face and locked gazes, 'that's it ... you just have to stay calm little brother and the red haze will stay away.'

'Web Dean,' Sam muttered as he felt himself calm down, 'it's red web.'

'Okay, geeze fussy much.' Dean groused good naturedly happy to have his geeky little brother back with him. 'So we gotta get outta here and get to dad.'

'Dad danger ... argh head hurts ...' Sam cried out and blindly reached out to connect physically with Dean.

'Sammy?' Dean paled as he watched his brother struggle with something only he can see, 'what is it ... talk to me Sammy.'

'Dad ... we have ... we have to ... hurts Deanie.' Sam sobbed his eyes snapped open and he stared morosely at his brother, 'I'm scared Dean, what's happening to me?'

S—D

John paced the kitchen impatiently, staring at his cell phone as though it was something evil that needed killing, the boys were now officially overdue at Bobby's and no one had heard from or seen the two brothers since they left the rectory four days ago.

'Car's packed and we're ready to roll,' Jim came in from outside rubbing his hands together, stopping in his tracks when he saw the thunderous look on John's face, 'what is it?'

'The boys never got to Bobby's, I just got off the phone from him, they should've arrived yesterday, Marcus is there but they're not.'

'Maybe ... maybe they decided to stop at a motel and let Sam rest?'

'No, no Bobby tried their cells last night and both are turned off,' John ran his fingers through his thick dark hair and sighed deeply, 'my boys Jim ... I shouldn't have let them go off alone.'

'They are together John ... and ...' but for once the Pastor had nothing to say to try and placate the big man, 'let's get on the road.'

'Bobby's gonna meet us at the motel the boys were last seen at, the Desert Glow inn or something like that.'

'Okay, so will Mark will be with Bobby?'

'Yeah we thought it might be best to have a medic nearby, I hate this Jim.' John muttered slamming his fist on the table, but then he looked up when he heard a soft gasp from behind them, 'Tess?'

'S-sorry I – I didn't mean to interrupt but ... I just cast a spread with the cards.' Tess started and then stopped when she saw the scepticism on John's and Jim's faces, 'please just ... trust me.' She said simply before disappearing back into the living room, hoping that the two men would follow her.

S—D

Dean sat on the floor next to the bed where Sam was currently sleeping, restless and at times vocal but sleeping nonetheless, with his back against the wall and knees pulled up against his chest he watched his brother sleep. 'I am so sorry Sammy,' he whispered, 'it's my job to look after you ... bang up job I've done of that.'

'Dean?' Sam opened his eyes and panicked when he couldn't see his brother, 'Dean where are you?'

'I'm right here Sam, I'm right here.' Dean unfolded his legs and moved as quickly as he could to Sam's bedside, 'it's okay Sam go back to sleep.'

'Kay Dean,' Sam yawned and tried to get into a semi-comfortable position, 'don't go.'

'Not goin' anywhere Sam.'

'I wanna go home to the impala.'

'So do I dude so do I.' Dean rested his head against the rim of the bed and waited until he heard his brother's breathing even out before he finally let his pent up emotions out and sat there sobbing into his hands.

S—D

Dean opened his eyes and suddenly, keenly felt the absence of his brother, moaning with the raging headache in his head he tried to remember what happened but it was all a whirling mess in his mind.

Turning slowly he managed to climb to his hands and knees before propping himself up on the side of the bed, it still felt warm, Sam had not long gone. 'Sammy?' He mumbled his mouth and throat feeling as though they were filled with cotton wool. 'Damn, worst hangover I've ever had without drinking.' He swayed drunkenly but finally managed to climb to his feet, his stomach roiled uncontrollably but somehow he managed to keep it from erupting.

'Please sit down and relax Dean your brother is in the shower,' the man's voice came from behind him, turning slowly Dean squinted and tried to focus on the face in front of him.

'Who are you?' He asked thickly.

'I am your father, I am Sam's father.' The man shrugged nonchalantly, 'you may call me Father.'

'Yeah right, how about bite me instead.' Dean groaned, 'what did you do to me?'

'Just a little something to calm you down.'

'When? I don't remember anything to eat or drink ...' Confused Dean sank down on the edge of the bed and held his aching head in his hands. 'What the fuck is going on?'

'I am allowing you to see what has always been the truth.' Pitts smiled but his eyes remained coal black and cold.

'Bullshit, tell me ... what ... did ... you ... do ... to ... me?' Dean ground out lifting his head just enough to try to focus on the man's face. 'I don't ... remember.'

'Ah my boy, do not fret so, you and Samuel will come to enjoy it here and under my tutelage you will both thrive.'

'No, no we have a father ... J-John.' Dean stammered, 'he's ...'

'He is dead ... I am afraid to do this to you so soon after you came to live with me and your brother. John Winchester died in a regrettable accident, he was killed instantly when he collided with a semi-trailer, I see by the look on your face you don't believe me, I am – hurt.'

'You tried such tricks with Sam, it didn't work with him and it won't work with me.' Dean croaked out, silently praying for something cool to drink and for his brother to come back.

'Hmm I thought you might say that,' Pitts stood up and brushed a tiny piece of lint from his shoulder, 'rest Dean Son, you need it.'

'Where's ... Sam?'

'He'll return momentarily,' Pitts turned to leave and then appeared to hesitate, his fingers brushing a small panel fixed into the wall next to the door. 'I will have clothes for the two of you brought up I cannot have my sons looking like any riff-raff.'

'Whatever rocks yer boat but aint no use calling us something we're not.'

'D-Dean?' Sam asked softly as he limped oh so slowly into the room closely followed by Sid.

'You okay Sammy?'

'Yeah m'fine,' Sam nodded but still shuffled painfully slow across the floor to sit on the bed next to Dean, keeping his gaze low he refused to make eye contact with Not Father.

'Samuel it is rude to come into a room and not to greet everyone.' Pitts reprimanded the teenager.

Sam lifted his head, he felt Dean move next to him but this was Sam's fight so he gently nudged his brother's foot and shook his head just enough for Dean to understand. Then Sam slowly let his gaze rise until his eyes met those of Not Father's, 'Mister Pitts.' He said in a clear strong voice.

'Samuel what have I told you about that? You will call me father.' Pitts snapped he stared at the two boys, both with deep seated anger burning in their eyes, perhaps it was time to speed things up a little more. 'As I have informed Dean, I have organised clothes for the two of you to wear to dinner, and remember what happened last time Samuel so do not even entertain the idea of trying again to goad me.'

Dean risked a glance at his younger brother, pride shining in his eyes, 'I will have both of my sons looking respectable and acting like gentleman at the table.' His tone brooked no argument and he turned on his heels and left the boys alone once again.

A cool breeze filled the room sending shivers down both the Winchester's spines, 'is that air conditioning?' Dean muttered but there were no vents or anything that indicated a cooling system. 'Sammy what did ya do at that dinner?'

'He wanted me to call him father, I refused and told him that my name is Sam not Samuel.' Sam shrugged, 'Dean don't feel so good.'

'Yeah I – I know Sammy, me neither.' Dean felt lightheaded and nauseous just as an overwhelming exhaustion swept through him, 'so tired, Sammy ... hey Sammy stay with me.'

'He's ... doin' again.' Sam whispered as he slumped against his brother, 'drugs.'

The cool breeze subsided as the two brothers fell back against the mattress, a slight blue tinge around both of their mouths.

TBC