Two Hunters and a Baby.
Disclaimer: Sigh no matter how hard I try I just don't own anything to do with Supernatural or the characters of the show. Although anything that comes from my fevered imagination is ... kind of ... that's my excuse anyway!
CHAPTER 12
James opened the door and slid inside the room, his wary gaze fixed on Dean as he carried the first aid supplies over to the bed.
'This is going to really hurt Sam.' He said glancing down at the pale young man lying on the bed. 'You okay?'
Sam nodded and locked stares with Dean not willing to let his brother out of his sight, James carefully lifted the blankets away and stared down at the damage, his heart heavy as he thought of his own part in this torture.
'Sam can you move your toes?' He asked keeping watch on the blue feet, when no movement really registered, he glanced up at Sam, his face red with the exertion and shiny with sweat, 'okay relax kid.' He muttered.
'James?' Sam asked tremulously 'what is it?'
'Nothing Kid, just lie back and think of sweet things.'
Dean stood silently watching the stranger tending Sam's wounds, feeling guilty he should be the one lying in the bed. He was Isabelle's father not Sam it's all his fault and now Sam's feet ... 'I'll be back, look after him James.'
'Dean where are you going?' James demanded standing up to block his way.
'Get out of my way James; I don't want to go through you.' Dean growled setting his shoulders back he stared at the man determination firing in his eyes, 'anyway I have an ... unseen advantage that you don't.'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Just look after Sammy please.' Dean said unable to meet his brother's gaze, 'I'll be back I promise.'
Slipping past the shocked James, Dean didn't hesitate or look back with gun in hand cocked and ready he disappeared down the hallway.
'Stupid fucking kid.' James cursed as he returned to ministering help to Sam, 'your brother is one twisted mother...'
'He knows what he's doing, and he does have help.' Sam whispered he caught a glimpse of Azuraus as she blinked out of the room.
'Stupid fucking kid.' James repeated as he cleaned the wounds as best as he could before binding the padding and bandages around each ankle as tightly as he dared. Finished he risked a glance up at Sam, he lost consciousness a few minutes ago unable to withstand the pain of his injuries and the numbness of his feet, fear oozed from every pore as he tossed restlessly, moaning, and twisting his hands in the sheets.
'Fuck Sam.' James swore and hurried to the bedside table, dropping the last of the bandages and equipment onto it; he picked up a syringe and checked the contents before injecting it into Sam's arm. 'Sorry it's all I have Sam, but it'll help.' He said softly brushing his fingers through Sam's fringe brushing it away from his eyes, 'dunno if this helps but I am sorry Sam, so very sorry you had to get mixed up in all of this.'
'So am I James, only I'm sorry to see this touching little scene.' Don drawled from the doorway.
'What do you want Don?'
'Merci sent me to check on you, coz you were taking so long and dear me seems I walked in on a little love fest.'
'The kid's in a bad way Don, did you have to tie the wire so tight it cut into his ankles?'
'Such a display of concern, the kid is nothing a pawn for the Master's great plan and nothing more.' Don snarled drawing his gun he aimed it at James first and then changed the angle to aim at Sam.
'Perhaps I should be rid of both of you; the Master has the infant Winchester, that's all he needs.'
'No you don't Don.' James yelled moving with blinding speed he knocked the smaller man backwards, the gun dropped in the scuffle it was now man on man. Don fought low and dirty landing his punches expertly just under James' ribs, angling them upward to maximise the damage. His strength failing James managed to land a kick on Don's chest sending him flailing across the room. The gun lay in tantalising reach of both of them. Don recovered quickly and dove for the gun, breathlessly he stood and tried to right himself, but his legs unsteady under him made it difficult. He aimed the gun at Sam's chest at point blank range with a cold smile he pulled the trigger back ... James threw himself at the armed man forcing both of them to the floor as the gun went off.
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Dean skidded to a halt when he heard the gunshot, part of him desperately wanted to return to the bedroom and make sure Sam was okay but when he heard Isabelle's constant crying, he froze his indecision paralysing him. For the first time in his life, he had to choose, his daughter or his brother.
Knowing Sam had more chance of surviving Dean made the heart-wrenching choice and kept moving towards the baby crying. 'Az you there?'
'Yeppers I am here.' Azuraus appeared in corporeal form next to Dean, 'what's up?'
'Go back and check on Sam please, I heard a gunshot but Issy...'
'But Isabelle is mine to protect.'
'Az please I don't have time to argue and Sam needs your protection too, remember how hurt he is.'
Azuraus thought about it and then disappeared without another word, shaking his head Dean kept moving towards Isabelle, he could feel the connection between them growing stronger.
Merci paced the room trying to sooth the child, the baby refused food, refused her mother, and refused to be comforted. All she did was cry and fret for her uncle feeling Sam's pain in her tiny body.
Then, without warning, she stopped sobbing and smiled instead squirming out of her mother's arms.
'Gee Merci ... Meredith or whatever you call yourself lately your mothering skills suck.' Dean said as he hurried over to Isabelle and grabbed her from her mother, knocking Merci over in the process. Isabelle buried her face against her daddy's shoulder and sighed, her frantic tears drying on her face.
'What are you doing here? You're going to ruin everything.' Merci screeched as she attacked Dean her fingernails like claws she scratched and hissed trying to retrieve the baby from him.
'Normally I don't hit a lady, but Merci you aint no lady.' Dean said as he punched Merci in the face, knocking her against the wall unconscious she slumped down to the floor. 'Okay baby did they hurt you?' He whispered giving his daughter a cursory examination for signs of injury, he smiled when she started to giggle at his tickling touch. 'You okay aren't you Issy.' He kissed her downy soft hair and then he gazed at the altar behind him. 'This is where she was going to offer you?' Dean felt the colour drain from his face as he stared at the table draped in black with a strange looking symbol painted on it, a large silver dish lay behind it, with various knives spread around the outer circle of the symbol. On the wall behind an inverted cross with shackles on the cross beam and the standing one. This was what they intended for Sam. A white rage surged through Dean carefully adjusting his hold in Isabelle he put all of his strength into destroying the altar.
'Let's go get your uncle and get out of here.' He said when he expended the last of his rage on shattering every knife's blade. 'Before she comes too ... preferably.'
Isabelle stared up at her father with a solemn look on her small face and then she gave him a smile that lit her eyes and warmed Dean through his body, making him forget the guilt and rage inside of him.
They found Azuraus crouched next to the bed, watching over her new charge as he tossed restlessly on the bed, two men lay on the floor just inside the door, Dean checked James but the man was already dead his eyes open and unseeing, sadly Dean brushed his fingers over his eyes and closed them for him. Then he stared over at Don who watched him with a stare of pure, unadulterated hate. The wire previously twisted around Sam's wrist and ankles now bound tightly around his, cutting deep into his flesh. A gag stuffed into his mouth effectively silenced him, Dean turned a curious glance up at the spirit and then he focused all of his attention on Sam.
'Go Dean, get Issy to safety.' Sam wheezed 'please go.'
'I'm not going anywhere without you Sam, don't even think it.'
'Dean ... I – I can't walk.' Sam fought to stay conscious long enough to say goodbye, 'please get her to safety and let her know just how much her uncle loves her.'
'Dammit Sammy you are not going to die.' Dean growled, 'I'm not going to lose you too.' He turned to stare at Azuraus, 'can you get Sam out of here?'
'What about you and Isabelle, I am her spirit guardian.'
'Please Az, I'll start back to the impala with Issy just get Sammy out of here and back to the car.'
'No Dean.' Sam's hand flailed for Dean's, 'just go and get her to safety, I can't...'
'Dude you don't have to walk anywhere, just relax and let Az do her hoodoo on you.'
Before Sam could argue anymore he disappeared with Azuraus, Dean let himself release his breath he didn't realise he was holding. 'Okay baby let's get you home.' He quickly gathered as much of the baby's things as possible and carefully scrambled out of the window cradling his daughter to his chest.
Two hours later the small Winchester family bundled back in the impala with a partly visible spirit roared away kicking the dirt up as Dean pressed down on the accelerator determined to put as much distance between them and that place. Although, he couldn't shake off the feeling that their escape was too easy. Way too easy.
TBC
