Time, Tattoos and Trouble.

Third in the Decebal Trilogy

Disclaimer: Not mine never was and never will be...sigh just my own fevered imagination and the odd original character.

Author's Note: I have loosely based this small town on Sleepy Eye Minnesota, now I have never been there, or for that matter, I have never left Australia. So after researching the town etc, I have created one of my own based on it. If there is a Sleepyville in Minnesota or anywhere else that sounds remotely like what I describe then I humbly apologise.

-------------------------------

CHAPTER 10 Where are John and Jo?

Bobby fussed over both Dean and Sam like a mother hen, unsure of exactly what he was supposed to do; he did everything he could think of. The dark looks from Dean helped him to decide to up the anti and over do everything just to get a raise out of him.
Dean was slipping further into a depression that both Sam and Bobby feared he would never recover from, neither of them had seen him this morose and self-loathing before and that was saying something.

With his ankle in a cast thanks to Joshua's handiwork and his welts abrasions cleaned, he was unable to do anything except lie in bed and wallow in his dark thoughts. The irony not lost on Dean; usually it was him trying to pull Sam out of his head not the other way around.

Sam on the other hand was still seriously ill and actually needed to be in hospital but that was impossible given their current situation. He tossed restlessly in his sleep moaning softly, an unhealthy sweaty glow covered his skin and large dark smudges took up residence under his eyes.

'I don't understand Joshua, we got the device out of Sam, but he still seems to be getting sicker I am running out of ideas.' Bobby said softly his stare resting on the two sleeping brothers.

'We need to flush his system, I'd say that the cocktail of drugs they pumped into him have long-lasting effects.' Joshua said turning his head to stare at Sam's pale face, 'think it's time for me to do some ahh shopping.'

'You sure?'

'Got to Bobby we have to get these boys back up and running or our lives won't be worth living let alone worrying about that psycho demon Decebal.' Joshua grinned, 'I'll be as quick as I can.'

'Thanks Josh I mean it.' Bobby said gruffly unable to meet the other hunter's steely gaze.

Joshua slipped out of the motel and in a cloud of dust disappeared to procure some medical supplies only he could lay his hands on. Bobby watched the two boys for a while longer before he noticed Dean staring at him.

'How long you been awake Dean?' Bobby asked taking a glass of water over to the younger man.

'Long enough.' Dean replied between sips, 'how's Sammy doing? Honestly Bobby?'

'Honestly not too good Dean, nothing we're doing is making much difference.'

'It's all my fault.' Dean mumbled laying his head back on the pillows he turned enough to stare at the wall.

'Now you listen to me Dean Winchester you're going to have to suck it up, yes you're hurtin' and hurtin' bad and Sam is more than just a little unwell, but neither of you are going to be buying it anytime soon so get over yourself.'

'Bobby ... all of this started because of me.' Dean protested, 'back when Decebal first kidnapped me and had Sam falsely charged with my murder.' Dean felt the tremors running through his body, 'I should have died then Bobby.'

'You didn't die then and you aint dying now.' Bobby growled, 'your brother needs you Dean, hell your daddy needs you.'

'How can I help them Bobby?' Dean asked his voice thick with emotion, 'I'm no good for anyone now.'

'Dean!' Bobby started and then he softened his tone, the boy was breaking apart and he had no answer for him, 'Dean son, look I know damn I know I'm not good at this stuff like Sam is but the two of you are hurtin' so bad Dean and I have no idea on what to do to make it better.'

'Bobby?' Dean turned to look at the older man startled at his frank admission, 'Bobby it, it hurts so much inside. Not the injuries physical stuff I can deal ... but this shit Bobby it is doing my head in and I don't know how to stop it.'

'Talk Dean, if not to me or Sam then someone hell anyone.'

'Bobby what happened to me the first time I dealt with, I buried it and it was gone but then he kept coming back and back ... now – now all I am good for is to be handed around like some piece of ass for demons.'

'Dean...'

'I mean the beatings and stuff, they heal but when I felt ... I'm a freak Bobby one fucking big freak.' Dean's voice broke but he kept talking now he started there was no way he was going to stop, 'then that wasn't enough I had to fucking lie at his feet like some ... I can't even look at myself in the mirror tell me Bobby how am I supposed to look at Sammy? Or Dad?'

'Dean you are a victim yes, but you are also a survivor – you have survived against the odds more times than I can count, you can't give up on yourself now.'

'Why not?' Dean laughed bitterly, 'what use am I to anyone?'

'You're my brother that's enough for me.' Sam said softly interrupting the conversation, 'you will never be worthless to me Dean.'

'Sammy.'

'No Dean listen to me ...' Sam pulled himself up a little more to get a better look at Dean; he winced away the pain and concentrated on his brother's face. 'Listen to me Dean please, I can't do this without you, I can't if you give up then so do I.'

'Sam don't you ... don't you understand? How can you even look at me?'

'Dean remember when ... it first happened to me?'

'Yeah but ...'

'No buts Dean you wouldn't let me give up would you?'

'Never Sammy.'

'You know what those so-called guards did to me in every gory detail.' Sam continued to press his point home, 'I wanted to die, and I even tried remember?'

'Sammy you were just messed up.' Dean said and then the realisation hit him, 'God Sammy how?'

'You.' Sam said simply before lying back down on his pillows stifling a yawn.

'Okay you two boys have had enough sharing and caring I want both of you to get some sleep.' Bobby interjected seeing the emotion riding so high in both of them.

'Dean do you need something to help you sleep?'

'Nah I'm good Bobby ... and thanks.' Dean gave him a tired but honest grin before rolling his head in Sam's direction watching his brother sleep until his eyes drooped shut as well. Bobby sighed and stood between the beds staring down at the Winchester brothers hurt but definitely not broken.

Joshua emptied his newly acquired medical supplies on the table and turned to look down at the boys and then he glanced over at Bobby. 'I ah got some stuff, not everything they need that would have meant raiding a hospital and moving it back here but I got enough to get us through.'

'Great, they woke up before Joshua.' Bobby said showing uncharacteristic emotions, 'Dean ... my God Joshua I have no idea on how both boys have survived their previous encounters with that bastard let alone ... he broke Dean.' Bobby finished in a hushed tone making sure that his voice didn't carry to the slumbering brothers.

'Getting smoked was too good for him Bobby.' Joshua seethed his gaze fixed on Dean, 'man and they still have John.'

'And Jo.'

'Bobby if they were able to break Dean ...'

'We have to get John out of there Joshua.' Bobby finished for him.

'So let's get these boys patched up and go get their daddy.' Josh said turning his attention to the supplies spread on the table.

'Do Sammy first.' Dean mumbled struggling to sit up, 'fix him up first Josh.'

'Dean...'

'No something is really wrong with him ... I just ... fix Sam first.' Dean said slumping back against the headboard he watched the older man carefully as he drew up some injections and put everything he needed on the nightstand between the two beds.

'Sam?' Joshua said softly giving Sam's shoulder a gentle shake, when he got no response whatsoever he tried a little louder and a little stronger with the shaking but still nothing. Frowning he took Sam's pulse and watched his breathing carefully.

'Josh what's wrong?' Dean asked fretfully sitting up a little higher.

'Hey Sam come on dude time to wake up and show us those puppy dogs eyes.' Josh yelled close to Sam's ear but the only response he noticed was a soft moan and the lolling of his head. 'Damn, damn, damn,' Joshua cussed under his breath and prepared the first of the injections for Sam.

'Josh man talk to me what's going on?' Dean asked his breath hitching with panic.

'Sam wasn't asleep Dean, he's unconscious.' Josh said without looking up. 'Damn why can't the two of you cut a break lately?' he muttered under his breath so Dean couldn't hear him as he gave Sam the injection.

Putting the needle on the table Dean watched Sam carefully as he waited for the effects to start, 'Bobby can you get the IV ready?'

'Sure thing.' Bobby said grateful at having something to do finally, he hated watching these boys suffer.

'Josh talk to me.' Dean begged as he swallowed down on his churning stomach and rising bile.

'Dean I ah ... hey I think he's coming around.' Josh said as he noticed Sam slight movement and quickening of breath. 'Hey Sammy welcome back.'

'What ... happened?' Sam muffled trying to focus on the face floating above him.

'You were off with the fairies dude and they had better be hot fairies.' Dean quipped his relief palpable, 'good to see ya back man.'

'Good to be back I think.' Sam winced and tried to focus his eyes again, 'damn Joshua there's two of you.'

'Close your eyes and rest Sam, it's just the effects of the drugs that's all.' Joshua said patting Sam's leg, 'I'm just going to give you a check up ... Sam what's wrong?'

'My, my leg I can't ...Deeeaan.' Sam slurred as he dropped back on the pillows and gasped for breath.

'Joshua what's wrong with Sam?' Dean cried out pulling himself out of bed, 'what's happening?'

'I dunno Dean,' Joshua admitted as he checked Sam's vitals and shot a worried look up at Bobby. Quickly he adjusted the next injection and pushed it through the IV port instead of directly into Sam. 'Come on Sam.' He encouraged Sam watching his breathing starting to ease slightly.

'Someone tell me what the freaking hell is going on?' Dean exploded his own pain and angst forgotten as he watched Sam struggle just to take a breath.

'Dean when we found the device in Sam we got Ash to get it analysed ... the cocktail of drugs he was being pumped with son some of them are not known at all, meaning that they are probably experimental drugs. We don't know who gave it to him or why, when we first discovered it we thought it was another of Decebal's tricks but when he wanted Sam to come to him and he used the cell phone instead of just activating the device and manipulating Sam to come to him. We ah worked out it must have been someone or something else who did it to him.' Bobby explained as he sat down next to Dean and watched Joshua work on Sam. 'The device was attached to his spine, which could be why he is having trouble with feelings in his legs.'

'You, you mean that he's paralysed?' Dean asked in horror.

'No, no just that until his body readjusts back to normality he may be experiencing some degree of numbness.'

'Bobby?' Dean glanced across at the man who often became a substitute father to the boys when John disappeared on hunts when they were children. Although he would never admit it now Dean valued Bobby's opinion and trusted him more than anyone else in their extended hunter family. Aside from his father and brother that is.

'Sam's gonna be fine, he'll get through this Dean, just like you will.' Bobby said gruffly hating chick flick moments just as much as Dean.

--------------------

John blinked and tried to take in his new surroundings, unsure of exactly where he was he pulled himself up wincing as the welts on his chest and stomach made their presence known.

'John you awake?' Jo asked crawling over to the man, 'hey it's alright.'

'Where are we?'

'Dunno, all I know is that one minute we were at Ruby's mercy then next we're here.'

'Which is?'

'From what I can tell I think we're in a cargo container.' Jo said with a heavy sigh. 'They had me blindfolded and gagged, you were unconscious I honestly don't know anything anymore John.'

'Damn.' John muttered as he felt the warmth of fresh blood trickling down his body, 'Dean!'

'From what I heard Bobby rescued Dean and sent Decebal back to hell.' Jo said softly.

'What?' John shook his head to clear his muddied thoughts, 'are you sure?'

'Yeah, I was ah tied up when Ruby got the news then she disappeared and left me hanging there until ... I could only hear, she was doing the whole sensory deprivation thing at the time.'

'So Decebal is gone?' John wondered, 'so who ... or what?'

'Dunno.' Jo shrugged and then shivered violently, 'John I'm scared.'

'We'll get out of this Jo.' John said gruffly unsure on how to relate to a girl. If it was Dean or Sam he would be barking orders and know that he would be obeyed, he had no idea on how to act with Jo.

'John don't freak so much I'm my Dad's girl.' Jo said smirking much like Dean would, and then it dawned on John he was with a female version of Dean.

The doors of the container swung open flooding the small space with light temporarily blinding the two captives. 'Ah so we finally meet John Winchester shame it has to be under such traumatic circumstances.'

'Who are you?' John growled blinking furiously up at the shadowed shape in front of him.

'Who am I is not important for now what is important is what you can do for me.'

'What the freaking hell makes you think that I would do anything for you?' John snarled pushing past the pain he forced himself to stand and confront his captor.

'If you do not then I will be forced to continue with your youngest son's demise.'

'I have no idea what you are on about.'

'Your precious baby, the one who reminds you so much of Mary, the rebellious one who dared to stand up to the famous John Winchester, Samuel – you remember him extremely tall, good looking but needs a hair cut.'

'Leave my sons alone.'

'Oh that's right then you have your little soldier boy, the one who followed daddy's footsteps without question. Your deluded watch dog for Samuel.'

'Leave them alone.' John said again taking a step forward menacingly.

'You see I can't do that, poor Dean smothered by that tattoo and Sam suffering with mysterious illnesses one after the other, such a shame to beautiful and strong boys suffering because of their father's pride.'

'Let go of me.' Jo yelled as a guard gripped her arms tightly and pulled her away from John, 'let me go.'

'Oh I haven't forgotten my other little prize, Jo Harvell ... I know your father intimately.

Jo stared up at him in horror and then spat in his face with a hiss, 'my father would slay you dead in a second.'

'Shame he's burning in the pits of hell isn't it.' Their captor gloated, 'take her.'

'Where are you taking her?' John demanded, 'what do you want?'

'Hmm good question but I think I might let it remain a mystery for now, and don't worry I won't keep little Jo out late I promise.'

Before John could retaliate, he felt a sharp stinging sensation in the back of his neck and then everything started to grow dark again. 'What did you...?' He started to ask when he dropped his knees and then facedown on the floor. Everything seemed to recede into a thin tunnel turned sideways. He watched them drag Jo away and was unable to do anything else but watch and swear in his mind.

As the drugs started to wear off John lifted a shaking hand to his neck and felt the hard lump under his skin. 'Fucking hell.' He muttered closing his eyes, he let his thoughts wander to when his boys were small and Mary was still alive. She was so beautiful with flowing blond hair and that smile. The smile that Sam had inherited from her. His little family was complete, baby Sammy a quiet and content baby and little Dean who even at the age of four took over protecting his baby brother. That first photo of Dean nursing Sam was imprinted on John's mind forever. Dean's attachment to Sam was evident the first time he took him in to see his brand new brother only an hour old. The look of awe on Dean's little freckled face was priceless, the tentative tiny strokes on Sam's head immediately calming the newborn baby. Mary and John's gazes met and John had never known such love before.

The doors swinging open startled John out of his reverie, he felt them toss an unconscious Jo on top of him, a burst of laughter followed, and then they were once again plunged into darkness.

TBC