Chapter Nine: A Finished Hunt

"Louis Trent." John mumbled as he looked over the signed named at the bottom of the letter.

"You knew him dad?" Sam asked.

"Heard of him." John dropped the letter on to the end table near Dean's bed. "He was a good hunter but fell off the map about a month or so back. I guess this was where he was holed up." John looked to Sam. "You said you knew where the altar was?"

"Well, Lou mentioned something about hide and seek in his letter."

"Yeah." John pressed for the answer. He hated seeing Dean strapped up to machines that were breathing and beating his heart for him.

Sam shot his father a glare. "What's the one thing you want to do while playing hide and seek, dad?"

John let out an irritated breath. "I don't know Sammy, what?"

"Find the best hiding spot." John went silent. "The furnace room is one of the least likely places for anyone to find the altar. Only a few people go down there and if Loathen moved the altar out of plain sight it would go unnoticed."

"Then that leaves getting the stones from Susan and the doctor." John looked back to Dean. He looked bad. Real bad. Dr. Loathen's story was that Dean's body had rejected the medication he was put on. Lying bastard. John was ready to rip his head from his shoulders right there. "Alright, you stay here. Find the altar, get that stone from Susan and take care of your brother. Pastor Jim will stay behind to help. Bobby and Caleb will come with me." John grabbed his jacket and threw it on. "You make sure nothing else happens to Dean. It's bad enough we've let it get this far." Slamming the door behind him, John left.

Letting out a sigh Sam turned to look to his brother. "I don't see how it could get much worse than death." Sam pulled a chair up to the side of Dean's bed. "He's already comatose."

XxXxXx

10:35 pm

John and Bobby sat outside the Loathen residence. Their youth snatcher had yet to show his mug. The house was quiet, Susan having left for her night shift already. Dr. Loathen was nowhere in sight. The spot where he parks his expensive sports car was empty. Still empty just like it had been an hour ago and the hour before that and the hour before that. "Where is he?" John muttered under grit teeth. He was getting a little anxious. His boy was dying and he was sitting here waiting for this prick to show his face. John was going to tear him a new one.

"Take it easy John." Bobby warned as he glanced at his watch. "It's Friday night. He's a doctor. Been busy saving lives and all that jazz." Bobby got a glare for that one. "You know what I'm saying." Bobby shot a glare back. He had to keep John's emotions under control. He was a glory to hunt with but when his boys were involved John couldn't keep his thoughts clear. He had almost gotten Bobby killed countless of times when the boys were young. Dean and Sam would go missing and John's hunts would turn into a mess. "I'm just saying that we shouldn't be getting ahead of ourselves. We'll catch the guy and make him pay for what he did to Dean but we're going to screw it up if we act too soon."

John scoffed. Bobby was right and he hated that. He would rather run in there half cocked, shoot the SOB, break the stone and returns to Dean's side in hopes he'll pull through. Ripping his eyes away from the quiet house John looked ahead. He could see Caleb parked a few cars down. 'Be careful Sammy…'

XxXxXx

10:35 pm

Sam sat at Dean's side. His half eaten burger was discarded to the trash. Susan had yet to come in to check on Dean and when she did Sam would get moving. He didn't want to leave Dean yet. Didn't want to leave his brother. Scared that the next time he came back Dean wouldn't be breathing anymore.

A gentle knock came to the door. Turning to look behind Sam smiled to Pastor Jim as he walked in. It was a half smile. Maybe it was a smirk. Did he even smile at all? "You alright Sam?" Pastor Jim set a hand to Sam's shoulder. "You don't look well."

Sam nodded. "As alright as I'm going to be. Have you seen Susan?"

Pastor Jim shook his head. "No. The nurses downstairs said it was unusual for her to be late like this. They were certain she was going to arrive soon." Pastor Jim looked to Dean. "It's odd though…" Sam looked up. "…I thought for sure I saw her car in the parking lot."

XxXxXx

11:00 pm

Finally the doctor had come home. He was staggering to his doorway. Bastard drove drunk. John really couldn't blame him for that one. He had done it several times. Never with his boys in the car but nights when he was on his own he would drive a little intoxicated back to the motel. "Now?" John muttered low. Bobby grabbed his arm.

"Not now." John was losing it and Bobby didn't think he could keep him still for too long. "Wait until he's settled. Until he's sure he's alone." John glared at Bobby. "Dean isn't going to get any worse with Sam there now take it easy John." Bobby could see his friend's knee bob up and down quickly.

"Susan could get to him."

"Sam's there to stop that."

"…" John looked down to the pistol in his hands. He wanted to end this. "Now?"

Bobby sighed. This was going to be a long night.

XxXxXx

11:00 pm

There was still no sign of Susan. Was she really half an hour late? Sam was getting worried. Standing up he looked to Pastor Jim. "I'm going to go find the altar. At least I'll get one thing out of the way." Feeling the back of his waistband he brushed against his gun before leaving the room.

The stroll down the hall seemed to last several minutes. Each step he took away from his brother was another step back. Maybe he could take bigger strides? It would at least make him feel a bit better. Standing outside the elevators Sam closed his eyes. He felt sick. Something wasn't sitting right and he worried for Dean. What if this didn't stop it? What if his brother was meant to sit in a coma like this? Fuck! If Dean's insides hadn't been aged so much he would have made it! He wouldn't be comatose right now!

The elevator dinged open and Sam looked up. "Sam?"

"Susan?" Sam gulped. "I was wondering when you were going to show up."

Susan smiled. "Running a little behind. Had a couple of car problems. Had to call a tow truck. How's Dean doing?" Sam was quiet. Susan merely shook her head. "I'm sorry. If we had known that your brother would have reacted so badly we wouldn't have changed his medication."

"Right…" Sam stepped on to the elevator. "…would you mind…holding off on your inspection of Dean until I get back? I just…with what's happened I find it hard to trust anyone in there without me."

Susan blinked in confusion. "Umm, alright. Hurry back though, he's near the top of my list." Stepping off the elevators Susan headed down the hall.

Once the elevator doors were closed Sam caught himself glaring daggers in his reflection. Had he been looking at Susan like that? It didn't matter. Right now he had to find the altar and destroy it. He smacked the bottom floor button.

XxXxXx

11:30 pm

John had already gone through several of Bobby's declines to go ahead until the hunters finally agreed to move in. John was first. Pistol gripped tight, jaw clenched and hand on the door. Bobby and Caleb stood at the ready shotguns in hand. They would probably kill a man tonight.

Turning the knob slowly John pushed it open silently before slipping in. Caleb and Bobby hot on his trail. They could hear the TV blaring from the living room. A comedy was on, laughter was pouring from the TV speakers. With a few quick hand motions Bobby and Caleb were splitting from John and searching the house. John took the living room.

Sneaking in closer he kept glancing behind himself. He was sure they could outsmart this man. He didn't know the things John did. He didn't know how to detect an intruder or even fight of a military tactics. He turned the corner. His shotgun pointed to the easy chair that sat in front of the TV. He slipped closer. Closer. Heart thumping in his ears. Reaching out he grabbed the corner of the chair and turned it around. Empty.

"Uagh!!" John turned as Dr. Loathen struck him upside the head.

XxXxXx

11:30 pm

Sam had finally found his way to the furnace room being undetected. Each time he tried to move in a nurse or doctor would walk past and he was forced to do another circle before attempting to pick the lock again. Smart move. Closing the door behind him Sam pulled his pistol from the back of his pants. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. He didn't bother with the lights. Lights meant unwanted attention. Sam could see fine with just his flashlight.

The room was large. Filled with metal pipes and contraptions. Furnaces and water heaters and everything else you'd find in a boiler room. Now he had to just keep his eyes open for anything out of place, which in a boiler room…meant everything!

"You shouldn't be down here." Sam turned abruptly. Susan stood behind him. Her face scrunched in annoyance. "This is staff personal only Sam."

"I'm sorry." Sam mumbled as he hid the gun behind his back. "It's just…it was cold and I thought I could turn the heat up down here."

"Bullshit." Susan growled as she crossed her arms. "You came down here to destroy my altar."

"!" Sam stiffened. "Your…"

"What? Didn't think nice sweet Susan could ever harm the children? Ha!" Susan walked closer to Sam. "Please. I hate children. I did a good job of acting though right? Those tears? I really should have gone for an actress. Now." Susan held out her hand. "You're going to give me your gun or your brother goes bye bye."

XxXxXx

11:45 pm

John crashed to the ground for what felt like the hundredth time. His face was cut and bruised, blood already trailing where he had been thrown. Where the hell was Bobby and Caleb? "Friends can't help you now John." Loathen taunted as he rested the fireplace poker on his shoulder. He had been using it on John for the last fifteen minutes. "Knocked them both out before I went after you. Knew you would be a hard target." Dr. Loathen struck John's side. The poker left another bruise.

"You're killing my son." John sputtered through grit teeth. He was hurt, bad.

Dr. Loathen sneered. "Not killing, using. The fact that his body can't handle it is his own problem." Dr. Loathen stabbed John through the knee. The hunter let out a wail of pain. "And after I'm done with your eldest I'm going to go after you youngest. Sammy should last a lot longer. He isn't weakened by a cold."

"So then there was no infection?"

"Oh there was, but it was an easy treat. A couple of pills and some rest and he would have been fine. But I couldn't let Dean escape. I knew they were going to start hunting me if I did."

"We started hunting you anyways."

"True but…" Dr. Loathen stabbed John's shoulder. "…you see now…" He leaned on the end as it broke through the skin. "I have the upper hand." Pulling the poker free Dr. Loathen pressed it gently to John's throat. "And I intend to keep it that way."

BAM

XxXxXx

11:45 pm

"You killed those kids…you killed Lou and you're killing Dean." Sam glared daggers at Susan. His wrists were cuffed behind his back and around a metal pole. "Why?"

Susan lit the candles on the altar. Sam's gun was now sitting on top. "Why?" She chuckled. "Because it meant I was beautiful forever darling. I mean…this body is frickin' gold now. I want it to stay that way."

"So you and Loathen are just going to steal youth all your life?"

"Ha!" Susan tossed the lighter down. "Please. That dick's only good thing is his fucking money. After I milk him for all he's worth I'll be tossing him aside like my shit faced father."

"So it's all you? Everything?"

Susan chuckled. "Yes Sammy…all me. You see. He likes to think he knows everything. Likes to think he's in charge…he doesn't know the first damn thing. This altar. I made it. The patience. All mine. That stone? I stole it. It was all me. A big elaborate plan to screw him over and get me everything I wanted. Now with my soon to be departed fiance taking the whole wrap for everything all I have to do is kill you and I'll get off scottfree. But…" Susan strolled her way to Sam's side before taking a seat on his lap. "I think I'll have a little fun before I kill you." Pulling on Sam's hair Susan placed a fierce kiss on his lips.

XxXxXx

11:50pm

Dr. Loathen began to cough and sputter as he crawled his way to the door. He had been shot. He had been shot in the back by the one he knew as Bobby. Fucking hunter must have been faking to be knocked out. He glanced back. Bobby was helping John to his feet. John leaned on his good leg.

Wiping the blood from his lips John took the shot gun from Bobby and pointed it at Loathen. "Where's the altar?"

Loathen coughed again. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"

"Don't lie to me!" John snapped. He shot Loathen in the knee. "Where's the damn altar!"

"You son of a bitch!" Loathen screamed as he clawed at his bleeding knee. "I don't know. I really don't! I didn't know there was even an altar that was needed. Fuck!"

John glanced at Bobby before back to Loathen. "Bullshit."

"I really don't!" Loathen whimpered. "It was Susan who told me about this fucking stone in the first place ask that little bitch."

John was silent. "Susan?" He looked to Bobby. "Go help Sam." Bobby nodded before leaving Caleb and John alone. John glanced up to Caleb. "Wait in the other room Caleb." As ordered the hunter did so. No one denied John when he had a gone in his hand. Aiming the shotgun at Loathen John frowned.

"What are you going to do…" Loathen spat blood. "…kill me? It won't save your worthless son!"

"No…" John cocked the gun. "…but I'll feel a hell of a lot better." He pulled the trigger.

XxXxXx

12 am

Susan hungrily kissed at Sam's lips. Her fingers trailing over his chest and stomach as she ravishingly ate at Sam's mouth. The short moment she pulled back for breath Sam took a chance to speak. "So…" She began to kiss at his neck. Biting and sucking looking for those tender spots. "…what are you going to do? Fuck me then kill me."

Susan chuckled as she leaned back. "That's the idea yeah." She kissed his mouth again. "Or I may keep you as a pet. You taste really good." Her lips when to his collarbone, sucking and biting, fingers prying his shirt apart.

"What did you do to Pastor Jim?"

"Oh I wouldn't worry about him." She brought her lips close to Sam's. "I'd worry more about yourself."

"Actually." Sam smirked. "I think you should worry about you."

"Hmm…and why's that?"

"You know my handcuffs?"

"Mhm."

"I picked them."

"!" Susan let out a yelp as Sam grabbed her head and collided his against her. Her hand immediately went to her forehead as she fell back. Shoving her away Sam struggled to stand. His forehead throbbed. How did Dean do that? Stumbling to the altar he grasped his fingers underneath it and tossed it aside. Once the altar had fallen he heard a click. No. He turned around to find Susan standing there. Her fingers around the trigger of his gun, hammer already cocked. "Lets just skip the sex than shall we?"

"Sam!" The boiler room door was thrown open as Bobby came rushing in. Susan turned to look at him her face scrunched in a frown. She pulled the trigger. Bobby froze. The room was silent for a moment before Susan's body slumped to the floor. A small hole through her forehead began to bleed. Sam stood on the far end of the room with a second pistol raised, Dean's pistol.

Walking over to Susan's fallen corpse Sam glared down to her. "That was for my brother you bitch."