Notes: Get back in the groove, gurl. Gotta get back in the groove...

Disclaimer: I disclaim.

Chapter 12

Balthazar watched as two men walked out onto the sand. Neither looked particularly thrilled to be there, but determined nonetheless. The two took fighting stances at two ends of the arena and waited there for the referee to give the signal.

From where Balthazar sat, this didn't look like it was going to be much of a match. Everyone knew that the first fight of the night was just to get the crowd pumped for the second match. This is was just an easy toss away match to clear out a fighter that wouldn't provide much entertainment in a one fight night match up.

Clearly the smaller man was the toss away in this match. He was small, and while that sometimes comes as an advantage, this time his non-muscled frame would render that strength moot.

This wouldn't take long.

There came the bell and the men started to circle each other slowly, with measured steps. Sam didn't want to watch the provided tv to watch, but at the same time he couldn't look away.

He watched as Caleb tried a few false starts, to get an idea how Shen would defend himself. Embarrassingly, Shen didn't even bother to put up an arm, or brace his feet….instead he would cower back and shut his eyes. This was awful. It was like a tiger cornering a petrified rabbit.

Caleb seemed to pick up on the tragedy of this situation, looking reluctant the longer this was dragged on. The crowd was getting anxious. Their frustration at the lack of blood was practically vibrating through the arena. It wouldn't be long before they would start to get angry.

Caleb knew that an angry crowd was a death sentence for both fighters. If the sponsors caught on that a fighter may be reluctant to kill, they would be sure to toss that fighter in with the worst of the worst to make an example of them. Even if Caleb won a fight after showing hesitance, the sponsors would still wish to dispose of him quickly. Everyone knew what that meant….Wendigo.

He glanced across the sand to where Shen quaked in fear. What could Caleb do? He needed to get out of here. To go home. He had a mission to complete. He had to survive this.

Sam watched Caleb's face. Saw the pain in his eyes. Then he saw Caleb make eye contact with Shen and he was saying something to him.

Sam tried to make out the words.

I'll make it fast. I promise.

Even just seeing the words mouthed, Sam could hear the honesty, and Shen seemed to hear it as well because he straightened up from his cower. The small man glanced up at the ceiling, as if in prayer, and then he ran forward at Caleb full speed.

It took only a second, but Caleb didn't waste any time in grabbing Shen, turning him and pulling him against his chest. Hands flying to Shen's head, the smaller man didn't even have time to register what was happening until it was too late.

A loud crack sounded through the arena, heard even over the crowd. Shen fell to the sand with a soft thud, his broken neck letting his head turn grotesquely.

The cheers were a bit delayed, people shocked at how fast it had ended, but many had won money on this match so there wasn't too much disappointment. The sponsors' would probably be indifferent to the delay then.

Sam turned as the door behind him opened and a haunted looking Caleb came back through. He offered Sam a pitiful smile before lowering himself to the floor, leaning tiredly against the painted wall.

"You okay?"

Dumb question to ask Sam….

Caleb chuckled, "I'll be alright. He ain't the first kid I've killed. The war was full of babies trying to get back to their momma's alive. This ain't no different."

Sam was going to offer some comfort, but what could he say? Caleb was right, they had killed lots of men in the war. "Men" who probably weren't even 20 years old. Didn't make it right though.

The televid crackled the image of the clean-up crew pulling out Shen's body as the crowd's excitement for the next fight built. Sam could hear the echo of the cheers from the televid coming from the door across from him, the oppressing noise vibrating in his skull.

"Winchester, Chama. Get your asses ready."

Shit. Sam was up next.

He got up from Caleb's side, ready to walk over to the door, but he was stopped by a hand holding his wrist. He looked down into the Hunter's eyes, full of concern, "Sam, I know what you're thinking. Don't do it. Don't bother. The sponsors' will get angry. Think of Dean, Sam. You just get through this so he doesn't lose his baby brother, okay? Sam? Please."

"Caleb…."

"Let's go, Rapunzel!"

Sam winced at the call of the guard and glanced once more at Caleb's concerned face before heading over to the doors.

Dean…..please be okay. Tell Gabriel I'm sorry.

Green was usually such a lovely color on Anna, but not so much when it dusted her porcelain cheeks. She rarely ever had to watch the violence that plagued the Impala crew, so the sight and sound of a man's neck breaking was rather a shock for the Companion. Balthazar winced in sympathy but did his best to keep his cool as to not attract the attention of the brutes around them. She was holding it together very well however. Only those who knew her well would be able to see her distress.

Balthazar was suffering from his own distress. There was still another fight to go and there was no sign of their three missing crew members. Three. At least they knew Sam and Dean were here. The location of his baby brother was still as unknown as Anna's age. Was he trying to break out Sam and Dean? Was he here right now? Had he been taken from under their noses and was being held somewhere?

"AAAANNNND NOW! For the featured fight of the night, we have a virgin fighter versus a tried and true veteran! Welcome to the arena, your old favorite…..Chama!"

The crows started to hoot and holler as a huge specimen of meat and man came into the ring, arms flung up in the air as if he had already won.

"And for your first timer…..please welcome to the arena, Winchester!"

Balthazar nearly choked, and next to him he heard Anna gasp. Eagerly they leaned forward to peer into the doorway, scared to see which of their friends would be coming in.

A tall and lean frame came into view. There was no mistaking those shoulders and that hair. Sam.

Balthazar felt the bile rise in his throat, burning. For the first time this night he was glad that they didn't have a wire. There would be no way that Gabriel would stay put if he knew what was going on. He spared a thought for Dean who was probably punching at walls to get to his brother at this moment.

"What do we do, Balthazar?" Anna whispered desperately. Her hand clenching his so hard he was sure to have crescent cuts in his hand where her nails cut in.

"We can't do anything, darling. If we do anything now, we could end up getting Dean and Sam killed. Maybe even Cassy. If you must do something, pray" he whispered back, his voice cracking on the word "killed".

She looked upset, but she didn't do anything else so Balthazar let out a strangled breath and turned his eyes to the sand below where Sam was taking his stance across from the mountain of a man.